San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-02-23
CAFES AND SLASHERS

of past experience, that word
"reform" has become a stencil
in the nostrils of the people.
What is demanded is the draw
ing of party lines, and the nomi-
nation Of party candidates "irom
governor to constable"
Incidentally while discussing
the sewer matter, the gentlemen
who have interested themselves
in the subject should devote a
line or two to the water and street
car questions. Either merits and
could easily stand a column or
two instead of as many lines.
Fort Worth, Galveston and
other Texas cities and towns
make it a point of honor as we'll
as Of sound public policy, to pay
their teachers, police, firemen and
and other employees their salaries
promptly when due. Why cannot
such policy be inaugurated and
adhered to in San Antonio? Sure
ly 1t is not because of lack of tax
collections for in this respect old
San Antonio sets the pace for all
Texas municipalities.
Shall the sewer work be delayed
or shall the public health be
jeopardized by tearing up the
streets and letting the muck and
mud and filth disseminate their
disease inviting gases through
the air? Unfortunately, when the
work should have been done, it
was criminally neglected.
The people of San Antonio-re-
publicans and democrats-repudi-
ate and condemn bossism. Men,
flattered by temporary success,
may imagine that they hold with
in their hands the destinies of in
dividuals and parties, but disap-
pointment and grief will sooner
or later overtake them.
San Antonio presents a ripe
and inviting field for Good Gov
eminent club; that is, provided
each and every officer and member
does not select public office as
the guerdon of his aims and the
price of his services. Membe of
such an organization should "fling
away ambition" but how many
of them will?
1t having been determined by
the courts that the San Antonio
street railway company owns in
fee simple all the streets and
thoroughfares upon which its
tracks are laid, the authorities
should endeavor to retain the re-
manning ones for the benefit of
the public, or at least insist upon
some remuneration for further
concessions and donations. In fu-
ture, when. that selfish and ar
rogant corporation applies for
municipal favors with an empty
hand 1t should be rendered a
"marble heart"
Were it not for their own un-
fortunate differences and dissen-
sions, every republican in San
Antonio could and would extend
the assurance of his sincere SYM
pathy and distinguished consid-
Grafton for the domestic divisions
and trouble which environ the
unhappy local democracy. Be-
tween the "gold baron" and the
"silver lunatic" there is an irro-
concilable hiatus, an unbridge-
able chasm.
This is the season Of the year
when the "lawn rate" of the water
company, like the bulb in the
thermometer, is liable to take an
upward tendency. But unlike the
bulb in the thermometer, it never
takes a downward tendency, no
matter what the temperature. At
least, that's the experience Of San
Antonio consumers.
Reforms are only brought about
through constant and persistent
and intelligent agitation. Let the
sewer matter be constantly, pre-
sistently and intelligently agi-
tated.
With an exuberance and enthu-
sissm which challenged and COM
pels admiration, Mr.. Expert
Engineer Gray has unreservedly
bore testimony to the high efflcien-
cy, wide experience and unques-
toned abilities OF City Engineer
Pancoast as a sanitary engineer.
Now to preserve the comities and
bring about an seven and SYM
metrical development" of the Pyth-
ian bond which exists between
these eminent sayants, let Engi-