San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-03-23

sewers. They have already re-
ceived for the "a miles Of COM
pleted work the sum OF $9S,3l9,74,
exclusive of 1921 retained by
the city upon the engineers esti-
mates. The original system calls
for a mileage OF about 70 miles, in
round numbers, which the con-
tractors bound themselves to COM
plete within 400 days from the
time OF signing the contract for the
sum of 1891. 209.45. More than the
specified 400 days have elapsed,
only one-third Of the work has
been completed and the contrac.
tors have received S9S,3l9.74 with
ST. ,332.7l due them, or total OF
$ll5,652.45, a sum considerable In
excess of pro ratio cost OF the
entire work.
Not content, however with ride
ulous demand, and with a mod
esty which would put to blush
the demands OF a buCcaneer, the
contractors naively assent under
oath that their future claims for
extra work, in order to complete
their contract(a and the measure OF
their desires) will amount to $685.
02l.30! Note the eXactness OF the
figures summed up to a penny
II these practical demands are
sustained, it is unnecessary to say
that to complete the sewer sys'
TEN will practically bankrupt the
city, for the cost of the 70 miles Of
sewers will approximate.
Original amount Of contract S32l, 2O9.45
Claims for extras to date. III 90
Future claims for extras. .369, O2l, 80
Total sSl7, 336. "A
That might be called "expedit
ing" with a vengeance. A con
tract originally awarded for 1881,
2O9.45, swelled to 1917, 326,44! Ant
it should be remembered that thi
sum does not include any eXpen
ditures for sewer farm, right-of
way, outlet sewer, incidentsls, ant
last though not least, salaries ant
perquisites for Mr.. S. NJ, Ora.
and the army mustered under tn
banner Of the city engineer.
conservative estimate would. plac
these expenditures, based upo
past experience, az 100000, thu
swelling the aggregate cost OF
haIf COM y,ered system OF sewerag
no something over one million
dollars-more than double Tn
amount of the original estimate
Upon these absurd demands an,
the equally absurd claim that tn
liability of the city under the con
tract is limited to the proceeds de
rived from the sale OF the $5OO,OO
Of sewer bonds, the contractor
pray that the city be restrained
from expanding any moneys be
longing to the sewer fund, save ant
except only such amounts as shall
be appropriated to pay warrant
drawn in their own favor. The cit.
is bound, in 80 far as legal lisbilit.
shall attach, to the payment OF al
Just claims Of the contractors
whether: the money to liquidat
such claims shall be appropriate
from the sewer or some other fund
While it is true, the fund derives
from the sale of the sewer bond
could not legally be diverted t.
other uses or purposes, the respon
sibility of the city for any obliga
lions it might assume did not emf
there. The city obligated itself Il
pay a certain sum for the compile
ton Of specified work, and it is NJ
concern of the contractors from
whence or from what fund, specia
or general, the money is sppro
priated, so their legal dues ar
promptly discharged. The claim
OF the contractors in this regard, il
on a par with their other equally
untenable and ridiculous allega
tions.
The actions of all men have al
underlying motive. In an action
OF such nature as that brought BY
the sewer contractors, other mo
tive than that Of hope OF Apr ova
must evidently have controlled
Surely they cannot be so credulou
as to have for a moment believed
that their absured claim would b.
recognized by the city or sanctioned
by any court Of equity or law
What then, was their motive? APP
narantlv IN intimidate. coerce anC