San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-04-15
THE MAYORS CONTINGENT FUND

The mayors contingent fund, con-
tinues to be a much discussed ques-
ton. The Freie Press attempts to
give a history of this fund, and how it
originated, it says: I'VE have been
asked the question how the contingent
fund originated and whether a mayor
has the authority to pocket the same.
We reply: The contingent fund was
created at a council meeting of the
| 4th of December, 1878, when F. Giraud
was mayor, by q resolution offered
| by Alderman Michel, to-wit: Resolved
| that the sum of 800 per month be al
| lowed the mayor for his disposal to
be used for extraordinary emergencies
and in the expenditure of which he
shall make a statement at the end of
each month This" says the Freie
Presse clearly shows the purpose of
the contingent fund and that it is not
to be considered as a part of the ma
yOr's salary"
There is no single item of city ex-
penditure that has brought more crit
icism upon city administrations dur
ing the past ten years than this So
called contingent fund.
If any mayor at any time has pock-
eter this fund or used it for his own
private use, he has simply taken what
did not belong to him.
When Mr.. Giraud asked for this help
from the council the mayor was re-
ceiving salary of $500 per year; the
provision Of the charter read: The
several officers hereinafter named, of
the city. shall receive the compensa-
ton fixed by this act, and no more,
except by the unanimous vote of the
city council" Mr.. Giraud had a big
Mexican pauper list on his hands and
he paid for medicines for the sick as
well as food for the poor; he never
thought of considering il a part of
his salary nor does it seem that this
800 contingent fund was continued af-
ter this first appropriation until 1881.
when the late Mr.. French was serving
his third term, and the council only
met twice a month. Mr.. French call
ed on the finance committee to help
him meet emergencies not provided
for in the general apprOpriatiOns-such
as prevailed during small pox epidem-
les. Mayor French called attention
to the precedent under the Giraud ad-
ministratiOn; his request was granted
and it was the custom then for the
mayor to report all the bills paid out of
this fund, nor does it appear that the
fund was ever used up during any
one month. But as time went on the
contingent fund" became a perma-
nent institution, and the mayor failed
to account for it's expenditure and at
last came to be considered as pocket
change for his honor Mayor Gala
CHAN, during his former administration,
had some experience about the con-
tingent fund, and finally he was chal-
lenged in the city council to give an
account of it's expenditure when he
put qietus on the business by stating
that he considered it too small a mat
ter for discussion; that the mayor
should not be questioned as to his dis
posaI of the contingent fund.
The late Mayor Paschal seldom call
ed on the contingent fund, he did not
consider it part of his salary; but
it was drawn by the CITY clerk and
used, without being accounted for. Mr..
ElmendOrf during his term as mayor
and made no account of it, in fact, he
drew it for the month IF February
when he was superseded about the
middle of the month.
The fact is this mayors contingent
fund should be wiped out the present
city charter gives the mayor a salary
of $1,000; and provides that he shall
receive no more" Mayor Callaghan
has made it a point in the beginning
Of his present administration that he
will render an account of the contin-
gent fund, but the best way would
have been to have cut it off. The
general appropriations cover all the
legitimate expenses Of the city.