San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-02-17
COMMON SENSE TALK.

Written for the SUNDAY LIGHT.
AS an instance OF the manner in
which the rights and interests of
the people are frittered away in the
bestowal Of valuable franchises to
favored individuals and corpora
tions, the recent purchase by the
city of New Orleans Of the wharf
franchise from a private company,
paying therefor the sum of $780,
eco, furnishes a most practical
object lesson. Several years age
the city council of New Orleans
granted to a private corporation
the exclusive wharf privileges of
the city for term of years, with
out receiving a single cent or cor
responding benefit In return. The
exactions Of the monopoly finally
grew so burdensome upon shippers
that the commerce OF the city was
seriously crippled, and shippers
threatened to transfer their bust.
ness elsewhere. The situation was
critical, and the municipal suthori.
ties appealed to the generosity OF
the wharf cormorant. Their ap-
peals were sneered at, but the Off
Gals were finally informed that il
the city was anxious to recover
that which belonged to the
people by right, and which no
municipal body or creature could
ALLEVIATE, the corporation would
vacate its franchise, having eight
years to run, for the trifling con.
sideration of S450,000! Having
placed itself in the power OF the
pirate, the city was compelled to
pay whatever ransom demanded,
and thus the tax payers OF
the city were forced to pay
$45O,O00 for that which rightfully
belonged to themselves, but had
been usurped by com bination Of
sharpers through the consent and
connivance OF the public officials.
Texas cities are experiencing SINH
lar trials; valuable privileges and
franchises belonging to the people
have been given away without re-
oonlpense Of any character, and to-
day the creature has grown greater
than the creator. Vide, the San
Antonio Street Railway company.
Apropos Of the San Antonio
Street Railway company, 1t may be
remarked, that under the terms of
the recent decision in Judge
Green's court the city has no rights
which the San Antonio Street Rail-
way company is bound to respect,
and that ownership and control Of
the public streets and thorough.
fares is vested in Mr.. Weiss street
railway company, and not in the
city,
The sound money faction of the
democratic party-if such an an.
omaly can exist-are unkind in
their efforts to sneer at or ignore
Mr.. Wright Quincy. In 1892 the
same element was very willing,
nay, eager, to secure the support
and adherence Of Mr.. Quincy and
his followers. All will remember
with what joy the announcement
was received, after the Fort Worth
conference" that Quincy would aid
in the movement to "Turn Texas
Loose" Mr.. Quincy Loyalty fought
under that banner, but subsequent
developments showed that he
failed to deliver the goods in bulk,
became Hogg's hireling, came in
on the last train and "paid the
freight" Hence, the failure OF
Judge Clark to carry ithe strength
Of the "black belt" But 1t was not
Mr.. Cuney's fault. He Loyalty
stood by the sound money demo-
Gratis or those who now. represent
them.
Divisions and dissensions in
local republican ranks are not
likely to inspire the public with
confidence or draw to the support
of the party new and desirable re.