San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-11-16
SHORT STOPS.
WHAT the People Are sayIng.

mayors past record on the same SUBJ
ject; when he championed the giving
away franchises ad libitum to Tom,
Dick and Harry, as they came along.
Street railway companies, telephone
companies, etc.
That how unfortunate it was when
the late Col. Belknap while alderman
under Mayor Callaghan's previous re-
gime, proposed to place a percentage
upon the receipts of all additional
street railway franchises, that the
mayor did not see the matter then
in the same light as he does today.
Further unfavorable comment is to
the effect that the attitude of a major
ity of the city council is inimical to the
mayor. state of things that was new
er contemplated under Callaghan ad-
ministration.
| Mayor Callaghan has displayed a
firmness in the face of the opposition
of a majority of the city council that
| commands the admiration of a large
body of our citizens.
The attitude he assumes today may
be a later day conviction, but it is
| correct one. In taking his position in
favor of a fair remuneration for the
use of the public streets by private
corporation he is abreast with the
best experience and thought of the
| day.
In this particular instance the mayor
finds himself between the fire of our
two great breweries-a position that no
local politician would like to occupy
But Mayor Callaghan has risen above
personal consideration and placed the
seal of his disapproval upon an ordin-
ance granting a franchise to use the
public streets without remuneration to
the city.
In doing this he has cody calculated
the effect of the opposition that will be
laid up in store for him hereafter, as
well as the advantages to be gained by
his nervy position.
In his veto the mayor makes three |
points: The first embraces several |
propositions, only one of which is per- |
these valuable public franchises were |
paid for. The day of gratuity to pri- |
vate corporations should be considered |
done.
The proposition that the overburden-
ed condition of our taxpayers justify |
the veto, is farfetched. 1t is too late
to lift the tax burdens from the should |
ers of our property owners by selling |
franchises.
The second objection is the claim re-
quiring the guarantee of at least three
carloads of freight a day from the
Lone Star brewery before building the |
branch of road to that institution.
The mayor holds this requirement as
illegal. We believe he is wrong, al |
though argument in favor of the fran |
chise includes equal facilities to the |
Lone Star brewery. How is it, Mr..
Callaghan, that the other corporations
supplying light and water and street
car service to the people require GER
tain number of takers or stipulated
subsidies before extending their works
and you do not include them. The
practice of requiring a paying return
for the extension of railway facilities
is universally recognized.
The third objection is technical in
its character, but quite fatal to the or
dinance as 1t now stands. The ordin-
ance recites the title of the corporation
that does not exist: 'The Alamo
Heights Railroad company" it was
meant the San Antonio Rapid Transit
Railway company. This would re-
quire amendment to be effective, and
for this reason the veto should be sus-
tanned and the council try it over
again in a new ordinance.
The strongest position taken by
Mayor Callaghan is that franchises
should not be given away to any one.
| The breweries are our pet industries,
| but their ability to make an adequate
return for valuable privileges is I'M
| questioned. If a new ordinance is to
| be brought forward, let it be for a di-
rect grant to operate a freight line for
a stipulated amount to be paid the
city
The breweries are handicapped by
their lack of freight facilities. Their
plants are too valuable to be abandon
ed for new sites. The city should
come to the relief, and in this sent
meni the whole business community
is unit.
The strongest argument in favor of
the ordinance as it now stands is the
proposition to use the present street
railway track, thus saving further OBJ
struction of the streets by putting
down additional tracks.
Any attempt to break quorum of the
city council to prevent legislation is