The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-12-16
Ex-MAYOR HANCOCK's LAST MES.
SAGE.

Ex-Mayor Hancock's last message to
the city council, on laying down the ardu-
GUS duties which he has so acceptably
performed for the past two years, is a
document that should be read by every
citizen of Austin 1t is n clear cut ex-
position of the city's affairs. Especial.
! ~ is this the case as regards the finan-
cial condition of Austins great enterprise,
the d;m and the income and expenses
| thereof He does not mince matters in
the least He gives an unvarnished ac-
count of what the dam now represents
to Austin. and points out with fearless
ness what must be done with it i'll the
future to make it II financial success. His
first suggestion, the supplying of meters
to every water and light taker strikes
to the city but to all users of the city's
plant. He is right in saying that every
body should be willing to pay for what
he gets Under the present "flat rate"
there can be no question about it that
hardly any one pays for value received.
No private business would be conducted
on such principle, and there can be no
good reason why the city's business
should stand on any other basis than
controls in private affairs. This change
to Il meter system would not work Il
hardship OH the poor man, for he is now
paying much nearer his correct proportion
than is the man of better circumstances.
1t is the man with the large house and
extended lawn to sprinkle who is pay
ing far too little under the flat rate
and he is the man whom it would not
hurt to have the meter applied. And he
should be willing to have the above
equitable rule applied to him.
The second plan proposed by Mayor
Hancock. that of raising the rate for
water and light should not be adopted
until the meter system has been given
fair trial. This, we understand, is his
idea, and is the correct one. For it has
been the boast of our city that we give
exceptionally low prices for water and
lights. This was the first and is almost
the only product of the dam to this
time. and should he II cherished boon.
YET. while this is so, if it is shown that
even under the meter system revenue
sufficient to make the dam self-sustain-
ing. or nearly so, can not be realized,
then the rates should be judiciously rails
cd to that end. This would be fair and
equitable alike to all users of the city's
products and to tax payers.
En- Mayor Hancock's recommendations
aS to street work strike us as especially
pertinent and strong. There can be no
question that Austin has squandered
many thousands of dollars in desultory
and patch work on her streets, all done
without any fixed or permanent design.
This being so, should not there be
change in the system of street work, and
thar of Mr.. Hancock's, the doing of per-
work under contract and not by
piccemcal? This. with the fearful dust
Of the summers. are the two crying evils
Of our city, and should be remedied at
the earliest possible moment.
Taking the message as whole, as said |
above, it is a public document that vital |
y concerns and should be read carefully |
by every citizen of Austin. We believe |
Austin has never had mayor who tried |
more conscicntiously and pcrsistently to
10 his duty than Mayor Hancock, and |
low thai he retrcs to private life he |
caves this last note of warning and add |
vice that should be needed. We felic- |
tate him upon his excellent closing mes
sage, and wish him all happiness in his |
ares and veXations.