The Day (Waco, Texas) Vol. 2 No. 117, Tuesday, March 17, 1885

              Waco, Texas, Tuesday Vol. 2 No. in. Evening, March 17, i88v \ Price ; Cent,
32tp (ConfiB
SANGER BROS
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST
ALL THE CANDIDATES FOB MAYOK HAVE NOW
DEFINED THEIR POSITIONS
Mayor Wilkes Completes the List and Presonts His
Views Fully and Clearly—What Re
Does and Does Not Favor.
Embroidery and Lace Department.
This department has received more than its usual share of attention from our buyers this
season, anil every line is now complete, and as we import these goods in large
bulk direct, we can without boast say, that we can and do give better values
than any other house. Our new lines comprise all the new novelties m
the following goods.
Hamburg Embroideries in Sets,
Namsook Embroideries in lets,
Swiss Embroideries in Sets,
We have these from one inch wide to thirtysix inch flouncing, with insertion and alloveis
to match. We have received such an enormous stock of these, that
we have marked them at very low prices.
SPA NISH ALLOVER NETS,
SPANISH GUIPURE ALLOVER NETS,
ORIENTAL A LLO VER NETS,
CIIANTILLl'ALLOVER NETS
, NEVADA ALL'over nets.
These Lace Nets we are showing in White, Cream, Black and Beige Colors, all with
laces from one inch to thirtysix inches wide. Flouncing to match.
THIS DEPARTMENT
But our space to show them in, is limited, and they cannot all be displayed on our counters.
Ask to see them and we will be pleased to show them to you. We also
have also just received
HEW LINES OF LADIES LINEN COLLARS,
New Styles of Fancy Veiling,
New Lines of Ruching.
SANGER BROS.
Unsurance.
The Mutual Life Insurance Co., of New York.
ASSETS $103,876,178.51
The Oldest Company In America.
The Largest Company in the World.
No Other Company „in. the EWorld has Furnished Insurance at so Small a Nett Cost to
Policy Holders.
W. P. HOWLAND, District Manager,'
For (Central and Western Texas.) WACO. Room 5, Sturgis Building, Opposite Pacific
Hotel.
JJreBtripffou Bcusatsis.
CASTLES & MORRISON’S.
OLD CORNER IRUGSSSIORE IS THE
Leading Prescription Drug Store In The City.
Best Stock Of Patent Medicine.
e=z=THE TRIUMPH cigar.=—
To the Editor of The Day.
Solomon has said: “Of making many
books there is no end,” and the same may
be said of platforms during the present municipal
canvass. No man has tried more
fathfully, during the past two or three years,
to acquaint himself with the duties and obligations
of municipal governments, and especially
with the wants of the city of Waco,
than the writer has done; and I do not hesitate
to put on record the conclusions to which
I have arrived. While I cannot expect everybody
to coincide with my conclusions, I do
sincerely hope that I will be credited with
honesty in expressing those views, and with
the truth, that I have only in view the best
good of the city we all love so well. I do
not lay claim to infallibility but I do claim
to be sincere and honest in my convictions.
1 oppose the levy of a special tax in addition
to the one levied for the support of our publie
schools, as being onerous and oppressive
upon the small property holder, who, like
myself, handles but little ready money. When
the proper time comes to make expensive
or permanent public improvements
it can only be done by issuing
bonds, but that .time has not come,
nor will it, come during the next mayor’s
term of office. I take the position that
no question of bonding the city should be
agitated during the term of office of the
mayor to be elected on the seventh ot April
next and that the present prominence given
to tfiis subject in the mayor’s race seems an
attempt to throw sand in the eyes of the man
who is an extremist, either as a bond man
or an antibond man, in ordes to catch his
vote. It may be more important to question
the candidates for. aldermen, as. half of them
will hold two years, but the mayor is
elected for only one year—he will take part
in shaping the financial policy of the city
for only one year—the taxes for one year
only will be fixed during his administration.
The pertinent question to ask the candidates
for mayor is: “What tax do you propose
to load us with next year?” After that it
does not matter in the least degree whether
he is a bond man or not, as a new mayor
will hold the office. During the present financial
pressure, which is felt more or less
by everybody, and which, judging
from the history of the past, will be felt
more in the south this year than it was last,
it would be unwise and unjust to increase
the rate of taxation for next year above what
it is at present. It \vould be unjust to a
large class of citizens to load them with any
greater burden of taxes than they are now
paying—one and one fourth per cent If
elected, I will oppose any effort to inc.ease
the rate for another year.
Then where would we obtain the money to
pay interest and create a sinking fund upon
another bonded debt? The completion and
equipment of our new public school buildings,
and the current expenses of the
scholastic year, will leave us in debt on the
school fund. Besides, wejare compelled to
have school houses for our colored schools.
The colored schools are now occupying
three buildings which do not belong to us,
and on which we will have to pay rent, and
yet they are so crowded that it is impossible
to successfully teach them. We have built
elegant houses for the white children and
justice demands that the colored schools
should have more comfortable quarters than
they now enjoy. So that it is apparent that
the school tax cannot be materially
lowered for another year. Again, hav ng
compromised the railroad bonds held by
Judge Walker, no material reduction can be
made in the railroad bond tax. This, without
increasing the rate of taxation, will leave
only one half of one per cent for all other
purposes. Out of this, the city will have to
set apart enough to pay the interest and
sinking fund upon the twenty thousand dollars
in bonds already ordered by the council
to pay past indebtedness. Next, the first
great duty of municipal government is to
protect the health and the lives of citizens,
and every dollar that can be spared from actual
necessary expenses, ana especially the
revenues derived from license and fines,
should be used in enforcing strict sanitary
regulations,in cleaning the city and perfecting
thorough surface drainage, before the hot
weather and the sickly season is upon us. I
believe this can be done by an occasional use
of the funds at our disposal, but should cholera
reach our country and threaten our city
and our means prove insufficient for thorough
sanitation, in this emergency the credit of
the city should be used and thorough cleanliness
enforced at all hazards. With
this duty attended to we will be
able to show, as we did last year,
as healthy a city and as low a deathrate as
any city in the union. But all this leaves no
room for bonds during the coming year.
Again, it would be unwise and impolitic to
attempt to float a second series of bonds
during the next municipal year.
Owing to the pressure of the financial crisis
we are having trouble now in negotiating
the $20,000 in bonds already ordered
by the city council. It will be far more
difficult if we agitatethe issuance of a second
series during the next year. From the same
cause, to issue more bonds now would necessitate
putting them on the market at a
sacrifice. Bonds for next year, in addition
to those ordered, means an increase of taxation
for next year upon those who are poorly
able to bear the burden.
Again, it is unwise and dangerous to issue
bonds for general purposes until we are
provided with efficient water works.
Our water problem is still unsolved and we
are still to a large extent unprotected from
the ravages of the firefiend, for a large
amount of valuable property is without a
pretence of protection, and in many places
where there is apparent protection adequate
pressure cannot be given on account
of the size and distribution of the water pipes.
Next to the protection of the health and the
lives of the people is the protection of the
valuable property which constitutes the
wealth and beauty of the city. It is true
that since the city ordered explorations for
a water supply the present water company
has made valuable improvements and has
shown a fairer and more kindly disposition
toward the city, but still we may utterly fail
to make a fair and just arrangement with
that company. Then, should we advertise
for a new stock company to build such water
works as the city requires and should have,
and fail again in that, what then shall we do?
Shall we be left to the mercy of a monopoly?
If we bond the city for other purposes to
any considerable extent we would be unable
to build water works, and, bound hand and
foot, we would be powerless to defend the
city from aggression and imposition. Let
our people guard against this danger. Let
us permanently and satisfactorily settle the
important questions of water supply and
adequate fire protection before we bond the
city for other purposes.
Though favoring progress and improvement
under favorable circumstances I have
been prolix in showing why extensive public
improvements for next year, under the
present financial pressure, are inadvisable.
No doubt by another year the school tax
and the railroad tax can be materially lessened,
andif good crops are made and money
becomes easy, permanent improvements may
then be made. But the discussion of these
subjects belongs more properly to those who
may be candidates for mayor twelve months
from this time. The question now is: how
much will you tax us next? and for what
purposes? This question I have tried to
answer. Respectfully,
Waco March 17. W. H. Wilkes.
“CHIP.”
The Brightest ol Soubrettes Welcomed to Waco
Again.
As Chip in Fogg’s Ferry, Miss Lizzie
Evans last night added to her established
reputation here as a talented little soubrette,
and made many new friends who will ever
remember her with delight and welcome
every return with hearty pleasure. Certain
it is, that a more winsome little actress has
never graced the boards of either house and
the frequent and enthusiastic outburst of applause
told full well how highly her efforts
were appreciated and admired. All in all,
she may well be termed a bright little
“comedy sunbeam” whose radiance illumines
with pleasure every auditor from gallery to
parquet. Her support has been decidedly
strengthened by the acquisition of Henry
Warren, who is an exceedingly clever and
talented young comedian as well as vocalist;
his impersonation of Still Bill being extremely
ludicous and a good piece of acting.
The Martha Blodgett of Lizzie Ingles
fairly convulsed the audience and made a
very good impression. The support in general
was well up and did effective work. A new
feature added, is the vocal selections given by
Miss Evans, which were very prettily rendered
by a cultivated voice of moderate strength.
To night is her last appearance this season,
and as Devjdrop she is even more attractive
than as Chip, the play also being if anything
superior to Fogg’s Ferry. There is no doubt
but what the brilliant talents combined with
the irresistible grace and magnetism of the
talented little lady will in time render her
the unrivaled favorite of the theater going
public and crown her with the success which
she so richly merits.
The best lawn mowers in the market at
Horsfull & .Cameron’s.—317201
MR. SELEY ON BONDS.
A Business Man and Financier on the City’s
Necessities.
A representative of The Day called on
Mr. C. W Seley, president of the Waco
State Bank, this morning, and requested,
for publication, his views on the question of
raising money for public improvements in
Waco—whether by issuing bonds or direct
taxation. Mr. Seley is recognized as one
of the ablest financiers we have in Waco and
The Day asked him to speak out plainly, as
his opinion will necessarily have weight with
conservative and thinking men. Mr. Seley
said in effect:
“I will give you my ideas in regard tq
some items of interest to our city. I am in
favor of early action to provide sewers and
drainage for Waco; and to raise money to
do so and to liquidate the present indebtedness,
I believe the better way is to issue
bonds, drawing a smaller rate of interest than
most of our business men pay, and less than
the current rate here. The amount need not
be large. The issue of bonds is but another
form of indebtedness There are now outstanding
city orders to the amount of about
$16,000.00. When the city has not money
to pay, these are equivalent to a forced loan,
and burdensome to those who are not able
to wait for their money. They have to sell
their orders at a discount; in many cases
the mechanic and laboring men would suffer
most. Those who are able to hold them, do
so about twelve months. If city orders are
presented and pay demanded and no funds
to pay, they would draw eight per cent interest
from date of demand and be equivalent to
an eight per cent bond.
I believe the city should build cisterns in
localities away from the hydrants for the
better protection of property, where now the
engine and firemen can do very little good.
The cisterns can be located at points where
they can be filled from the small fpipes from
the waterworks and be accessible forthe engine,
which is now of very little use. Property
that is beyond the reach of hose from
hydrants pays taxes, and is entitled to better
protection.
I believe the city should only make the
large sewers. The gutters and improvements
of streets and side walks should be
charged to the lots fronting on the street or
alley where such improvements are made. I
know that is the way such improvements are
made in Chicago and other cities, because 1
have paid for such. In conversation with
some of our physicians they say some of the
sickness in our city may have been caused
by the effluvia from some parts of our city,
and that worse results are greatly feared.
I believe the citizens would be pleased to
have the needed work to improve our city
done at once, even if the city has to issue orders
drawing 8 to 12 per cent interest for
what may be needed, then provide by tax or
bonds to pay as may be thought best.
City councilmen are usually slow to order
improvements where an expenditure of
money is required and ours do not appear to
be an exception. The putting in of gutters
where needed will not be done until ordered
by the city council, otherwise some in a
block might put in theirs and others not and
in some cases a vacant lot may occur in a
block. The owner would not be likely to
put in gutters unless ordered. I think in
most cases the property owners would prefer
that, the city make such improvements,
then the work would be uniform and all in a
block done at the same time. This is about
all I have to say on the subject at present.
Everybody, I believe, admits we must have
ipmrovements, and that they will cost money.
The only question is how to raise the money.
As I have said bonds appear to me |to be
the most effectual and economical means.”
The Day is obliged to Mr. Seley for his
frank expressions and feels confident his
views will not lack the weight they deserve
with this community.
FROM AUSTIN.
What the Solons m the Legislature Accomplished
Yesterday.
Austin, March 16.—The house was
seized with a regular spasm of economy this
evening, and knocked out three state departments
on the first round. The whole job
was neatly executed by simply striking them
out of the appropriation bill. The
office of insurance, statistics and history came
first, and the vote to cut off rations stood
55 25.
After this the fisn commission fell an easy
prey to the economists, and the office of
state engineer expired almost without a
groan. Flushed with their victory the vandais
next attacked the commission of appeals
but after a hard fought contest they were
overwhelmingly repnlsed.
The house this evening, by a vote of 65
to 19 passed to engrossment the joint resolution
to submit a constitutional amendment
on the question of prohibition to the people
on the third Tuesday in August, 1885.