The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-03-08
THAT THE PEOPLE MAY KNOW

THAT The PEUPLE MAY kNUW
That the voice OF the people rather than
the voice OF the politicians may be po-
tent In the selection OF the, city govern
ment for the next two years 1t becomes
doubly important that the lovers Of good,
business-like, non-factional management
Of city affairs should not neglect the
civic duty OF registering. Whether pri-
mary be the proper thing or not. pri-
mary we are to have. and to vote In that
primary it viii be necessary to display
registration certificate. Don't forget this
And don't forget either that the politi-
CLANS representing the administration, and
tho ward heelers and all that noisy mass
that respond to the appeals of spoilsmen
and partisanship--the floating vote" that
has so little real concern but assumes
such an overwhelming interest in muni-
cipal affairs--ncver fail to equip them
selves early with certificates and to vote
solidly when the time comes.
The Post has no interest 10 the pend
ing election but the future OF Houston.
Do the taxpaylng, commercial, intelli-
gent. progressive citizens OF Houston fully
appreciate the vast interests at
stake in this contest? Do they
grasp tho great central issue properly--the
struggle between rapidly growing boss
ism" on the one side and n-factional
business government on the other? This
is the real fight. the oyershadowing ques-
ton. and all other specific issues arc but
subordinate In Importance. Plain talk Is
necessary-if Houston does not enamel
pate itself from personal, fractional boss
government this year, 1t Is doubtful II she
will do so for the next twenty yearsl
The milestone OF factlonal political ad-
ministration devoted to the personal ad
vancement OF ambitious young politicians,
will hang around her neck and hold her
down. commercially and in the matter OF
the prestige of good government. until It
will have cost her millions.
~
There ought to be more light shed by
the mayor ON his financial administration.
The figures furnished by the auditor, by
the treasurer and the statements made by
the mayor in his message, do not exactly
tally, or explain matters fully. For ex-
ample. the auditor and mayor tell us that
the actual operating expenses for 1899
amounted In round numbers to 1888 900
The treasurers report shows $40 600 paid
out Now everybody knows that Treasurer
szabo has not paid and would not pay
out dollar without ample warrant and
authority for so doing. Here then is sI5,-
600 more paid out by the treasurer than
the actual operating expenses" for
1899 amounted to. But, say the auditor
and mayor, the treasurer's report repre-
sents payment of part OF tho expenses
incurred in previous years" Granted.
Does not the s62.56O floating debt men
lloned by the mayor In his message OF
February. 1899. as "all the then outstand-
ing floating debt" represent these left
over" expenses Of previous years? Was
It not the balance of deficiency" brought
forward? But it will be seen that tn,
treasurer paid out sum last year not
only sufficient to meet Che stated operat.
ing expenses and this see $50 fUatinl
debt. coming over from previous years
but more than $4,000 additional! How
about this $i2,00o7 What was II for
Where has it gone?
Then again, another obscure item an,
pears In this tabulatlon by the mayor o
his actual Operating expenses" for 1894
Nobody has heard OF any reduction o
water and light rates under the contract,
with the water and light companies Bu
IN the table of Operating expenses" re
ferred TO the water and light charges sr
put down at about one-half only of tn
amounts for which the bills must hav
been made out II the contract charge
were adhered to. How was this rnagl
reduction in the water and light account
effected? Or were the other half of tn
bills which would amount to some $50 90
under the usual conditions. inadvertentl
overlooked by tho mayor. when ne state
that the city was free OF a floating deb
and ON a cash basis? Or was 1t his reck
less organ" that made these claims? |
Is sometimes difficult to remembe
whether some OF these gauzy campaign
stories emanated from the mayor or simpl
originated with some of his noisy 900
friends!'
1t might be OF interest TO the public I
md the hgures OF the auditors report an
those OF the treasurer covering last yea
placed side by side in order that tn
specific discrepancies may be noted. TIL
treasurer OF course has vouchers an
warrants TO account for every dollar h
paid out and we have seen that what h
paid was sufficient to wipe out the de
ticieney of previous years." So, $50. me,
operating expenses and run more tina
$4,000 over. Here are the tables:
Auiitor's Treasurer
Report. Report
Fire department =. S5f.S7s ss ss6.54s {
Streets and bridges. 5izl7 70 74.4ss
Police department :. 3s.s57 50 55.99s
Electric light com
mission ~. ~. 1888 50 1los
Scavenger department
tne) ...... ...... 100 a 2.I7
Engineer department 692i n s.eTe
Health department 2o1es 42 24.s99
Quarantine expense. 2ls 90 800
sewers account g.... 2,5G IA 1859