The Daily Texarkanian., 1896-01-22
PROGRESS OR RETROGRESSION
Which Shall it Be for Tex
arkana?
Discussion Before East Side Council as
to Making this a City of the First
Glass.

AoudAt ANAai hoAa az HAN~ " w
cline? This is. the real question with
us now. City has been struggling
along in a poor sort of way, under
the disadvantages of municipal
laws in cities of the second-class.
As we have reached that stage of
growth IN number of population,
allowing US to advance to city of
the first-class, our most progressive
property owners and citizens are
trying to secure the same. Laws
governing cities of the hrst-class
are far superior in every way to
those we are and have been using
for years past. And as it has been
demonstrated and proven that the
administration of the city govern
ment under the change will cost no
more than it does now, we can not
conceive of any objection thereto.
Last night the East side city
council met to look into this matter,
hear discussion from citizens and
passupon it. A full board of alder
men aud city officers was present.
CityAttorney ]. n. Cook read the
law relating to the change-then
followed discussion.
We have not time or pace to
give a resume of the speeches pro
and con.
Col. W. R. Kelly spoke in opposi-
ton to the change, as also did H.
N. McLain, L. A. Byrne, G. W,
Fouke, E. F. Friedell, c. c. Corrian
and ]. D. Ingram. The burden of
their song was that as property
owners in the business part of the
city, they were not able to put
down good, concrete sidewalks.
One or two, besides this one objec-
tion G.? strongly intimated that they
could not trust the city in the hands
of officers to be elected that our
best business men were refusing to
serve the city, etc Great Caesarl
What are we coming to, anyhow?
No additional trouble or expense
can come under the change in the
city government. Here we behold
property owners, whose brick build
ings have been bringing in good
rentals for from seven to ten or
twelve years, opposing putting down
good sidewalks, at this late day!
Remarkable, remarkablel Comment
is unnecessary.
Some fine argument was made
for changing to city of the first
class-that of Prof G. A. Hays,
W. G. Cook and Ben Foreman
deserve more comment and COM
mendation than we have space to
give. City Attorney ]. N. Cook
showed up the expense necessary.
Messrs. f. W. Mullins, the editor of
this paper, and others stated they
were heartily in avfor of the change.
Speeches of Hays, the two Cooks
and Foreman showed the necessity
OF the better laws we would get,
and without any higher taxes or
going any further in debt; showed
the Old dilapidatedl rottenl plank
walks abutting on business pro
perty, could be oncreted; that the
sidewalks in residence portion of
city, that are washed into gulleys
could be leveled off at very slight
cost; that railroads could be fined
$500 for bringing every pauper into
the city; that infectious and con-
tageous diseases could be kept out
better; that both life and property
could the better be protected.
At the conclusion OF the discus
sion Alderman Cook (who, as said by
Prof. Hayes, had done more and
better work in behalf OF TeXarkana
than almost anybody arose and
stated that he was in favor of drop.
ping the whole matter; that he
felt like resigning, because of the
opposition to progress as shown, in
the speeches made, He made a
motion to adjourn, which was car
ried. Unless matter is revived, this
indefinite postponement virtually
kills the move.
Now, we hope our progressive
citizens will not thus let the ques-
tion die. AS stated last night, we
do not believe any oppressive,
harsh, or summary measures will
result from the change. BY all
means, let us have the needed
improvement,
-
Keep Warm,
$40 will 90 a long ways, as we are
selling underwear and clothing at