San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-05

because of its lack of knowledge Of the
eompany's affairs, is not in position
to combat the rates now being charged
for, the various utilities services. The
Public Service Company, he pointed out,
expects the city to run all the pitneys
off the streets. permit it to operate one
man street cars, accept all rates it es-
tablishes and accept the value it places
on its property.
81 am willing for the Public Service
to have all that is coming to it," the
police commissioner said, but i want
the people to have what is coming to
them
Mayor Votes for Ordinance.
Pfeiffer opposed the resolution on
the ground that the commissioners, in
caucus already had employed Ed &.
Common of Dallas to assist the city in
procuring the necessary information in
the gas fight and that the railroad COM
mission might make the appraisal it.
self. Commissioner Wright reminded
him that one member of the railroad
comission had expressed the belief that
the city should make its own audit. he
also pointed out that his resolution pro-
vided for an appraisal Of all the proper
ties. not alone the gas properties.
1t was at this juncture that the
mayor complained that the resolution
had not. been brought up in tn; caucus
and that hereafter he would insist that
AL important matters be brought up
at the private meetings.
Il know of no rule in the charter or
ordinances which would compel me 10
submit a matter of this kind to pri-
vate caucus" Commissioner Wright
said. Il don't know of any better place
TO discuss it than right here in open
council" adding that the ordinance APP
propriating $1,000 from the police fund
for pro rating the cost of certain i'm
provements had not been discussed in
caucus.
Commissioners Rieden and Pfeiffer,
who had been unusually friendly during
the discussion, voted against the resolu-
ton while the mayor voted with Wright
and Lambert.
Claim Budget Exhausted.
1t was at this jupcture that Commits
sioner Pfeiffer turned on the street
commissioner and charged TT in max
ing an investigation he had found that
appropriations totaling $4,000 in the
street department which have been
made. had not been paid out.
with what already has been spent"
the finance commissioner said, 1T
means that the street commissioner al
ready has exceeded his budget. And
the major portion of this amount was
spent for permanent improvements.
Rieden attempted TO explain that the
streets he is building are of a five
year, permanent nature and cost no
more than macadam streets. The tax
commissioner reiterated that money
from the general fund should not be
spent on permanent street improve
ments and that no man, mo matter who
he is, should exceed his budget, but
should carry out the trust placed on us
by the people"
Then Rieden became peeved and talk
alive.
"Pfeiffer crosses bridges before he
gets to them" he shouted. why does
he jump on me? Why last year !
helped him, Lambert and all Of you
when l had more money than l needed.
He's trying to freeze me out"
He then read statement which he
contended showed that he was within
his budget. Commissioner Pteiffer
couldn't understand it TO mean that
however.
ANY little school boy in the second
grade could figure it out" the street
commissioner expostulated. you might
talk from now until the world comes to
an end and you couldn't change those
figures"
Questions Permanently OF Streets.
But the commissioner insisted that
contracts already have been let in the
street department. which will exhaust
the budget.
IF Rieden closes down his depart
ment tomorrow and fires every man."
Pfeiffer said, "he couldn't operate on
his budget"
Commissioner Phil Wright interrupt