San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-05-04
COUNCIL SESSION
MAYOR OALLAGHAN DEFINES HIS
POSITION.
The Method Proposed to Put The School
Department Out of Politics Is Costly
And Inadvisable.


afternoon at 4:3O the aldermen were all
present except Aldermen Richter and
| Hamilton, whom the mayor had eX-
| cused. After the usual preliminary
reading and adoption of the minutes of
| the previous meeting, petitions were
read and referred to the appropriate
committees as follows.
John A. Ettler-Notifying the coun-
Gil that work on Main and San Pedro
avenue had been stopped because of
failure of city to give the contractor
weekly estimates of work done, in
view of which he asks that the coun-
ell declare the contract at an end.
The mayor called for the contract
with Ettler which was produced and
read to the council. The city auditor
also made statement of the account
between the city and Mr.. Ettler. Mr.
Hicks introduced a. resolution direct
ing that Contractor Ettler be given ten
days to proceed with the work, and
providing that in the event Ettler fail
ed or refused to do so that the city take
charge of and complete the work on
Main and San Pedro avenues. Alder
man Hicks resolution was adopted.
Citizens-That Upper Labor ditch be
re-opened. Referred to committee on
bitches and irrigation.
H. J. Dietler-FOr reduction of as
sessment. VIM. Dobrowolski, to pay
taxes; Assessment committee.
]. E. Castle-FOr building permit fire
committee.
Citizens on Palmetto avenue-To
have water mains extended. Commit
nd
Mexican Benevolent association-FOr
use OF. San Pedro Springs park June
5 and 6. South Heights NJ. E. church,
South-FOr use of San Pedro Springs,
May 8, for picnic. School No. 2-For
use of San Pedro Springs park May IA
for picnic. School No. 3-For use of
San Pedro park on May for a picniv.
Referred to Joe Cooley, custodian of
the park.
John Eichmann-For appointment as
janitor of one of the public school
buildings. Referred to the school
board.
Frank Talerico-For permission to
have fruit stand on corner of Military
plaza and West Commerce street. Re-
ferred to committee on sidewalks.
Citizens-PrOtesting against the re-
mOval of street lamp at the corner of
East Commerce and Monumental
streets. Referred to committee on gas,
water and electric lights.
Louis Seidel-To have alleys and
side streets grubbed in Fifth and Sixth
wards by city prisoners. Referred to
committee on streets and bridges.
The city marshal made report as fol-
lows:
On street lamps failing to give light
during month of April. The time in
hours lost amounted to 1876 hours. Re-
ferred to committee on gas, water and
electric lights.
Number of meals furnished city pris-
Oners during April Referred to po-
lice committee.
OF fines, pound fees, market rents,
finance committee.
Expense account for April, amount
ing to S201O. Referred to police COM
mitee.
San Antonio Gas and Electric Light
company-Permission to erect poles on
Soledad street, from Houston to RO-
mana streets. Committee on railways,
telegraph and telephones.
The mayor stated that he had been
served with mandamus from the dis
trict court to show why he had not
called an election for trustees of the
city schools. He said he had never
been opposed to the trustee system,
but believed that if the trustees were
appointed by some one outside the
city and not in any way connected with
our interest it would possibly do some
good. But as long as the trustees
were elected by a popular vote of the
citizens the school question would be
in politics. He saw no necessity for
precipitate action. If our finances
would justify the expense he would not
| object. But there is a large debt al
| ready piled up on the city which
should be paid first. He was receiv-
| ing anonymous letters daily threaten
| ing his life because some of these debts
| owed to the people were not paid. The
| question is a Serious one and he made
| this statement so the council could I'M
| derstand his position in not granting
petitioners request. He then called
| for the report of the finance committee
but Alderman ROnse moved that the
course of the mayor be approved.
Alderman Hicks thought the mayor
should act as he saw fit. 1t was not
proper to commit the council accord
ing to Mr.. Ronse's resolution, as there
were some aldermen who were in ia
vor of the trustee system. He called
for the ayes and nays on his position
that the council take no action to en-
dorse the mayors position. AS a sub
stitute this was voted and carried.
The quarterly statement of the audi
tor was presented and ordered print
ed.
Petition of R. Friedrich for $50 70
land taken by the city from him wa
referred to the city engineer.
F. F. Collins was allowed to cree
public fountain on st. Mary's street
The ordinance nrnhihiting bringin