The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-09
An Attorneys plea

San Antonio Light,
The special pleas that are made for
the surrender OF valuable franchises by
the city OF San Antonio are not even
specious. They are decidedly suspicious.
These special pleaders would have the
people of San Antonio believe that unless
the charters of the street car aud light and
power companies arc extended for years,
without single valid consideration on
the part of those companies. The city would
be without light power or electric transit.
We are told that there would be blood on
the moon, mourning In all our houses
tallow dips on our tables mule trains ON
our streets. No progress. no comfort, no
prsiness, no anything. There must be
reason for this wonderful interest taken
by these special pleaders in the affairs OF
these syndicatcs some profound cause
underlying this demand for the extension
OF valuable franchises without real con-
sideration. What that cause Is the Light
does not seek 10 enquire. content 10 mind
its own business and defend the rights of
the people. When It is said that the fran
chlses sought to be thus extended are
worth nothing to tho city, save perhaps a
concession of some OF tho eXtortionato
charges rated upon the consumers OF light
and fuel, there Is no proof off :ered to prove
this assertion IL these franchises are
not worth anything TO San Antonio. why
Is 1t that they are worth 50 much to other
cities? Why is it that similar corpora
lions for the supply or light and fuel aud
power in other cities pay a per cent of
their receipts into the city treasury for
the privilege which San Antonio companies
demand for nothingy Why Is It that II
these franchises are worth nothing there
is such a pun to secure theme To ask
it, l. -. -
Antonio Is paying more, almost double.
for her light and gas fuel than any other
city of her size In thcS outh, and II this
is necessary, and in addition to this the
supplying companies must have their fran
chises gratuitously extended In order to
cor tinue business. then it Ia time that San
Antonio quit business us city. She Ia
out OF her class. To talk about the street
car company that is asking this extension
running at loss IS nonsense. There Is
not merchant In San Antonio who
would not jump at the chance OF losing
money In just that way. These properties
of the electric light and gas companies are
In the some boat. Look al the condition
of these properties now. Compare them
with their condition ten or twenty years
ago, or when fairly on their feet See how
these properties have grown Who fed
them? The receipts from their patrons.
After enjoying these until they have grown
strcng and influential. they come afkinS
n renewal at the expense OF the people
whose patronage has built them up. The
reform city council. elected to study only
the interest OF the citizens. grants the
franchises. and It's agents fight the State
attorney who accuses the companies OF
such non compliance with law as works
forfeiture OF the charters already possessed.
Prominent newspapers, supported by the
citizens OF San Antonio. appear as the
champions of the infringement on the
purses and rights OF the people and SO II
goes. There is something rotten in this.