Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-12
The Consolidation of Sheriff and
Taller.

Editor Morning Nel0S: In your issue Of the
9Th appeared what was intended, l suppose,
as an answer to a little squib from "Looker
on in Venice" but which, unfortunately,
failed of accomplishing anything whatever,
If furnishing light to the public as to
whether the jail should be taken from the
city Of Savannah and placed in the keeping
of the Sheriff of Chatham county was its
object. confess to some feeling of disap-
pointment that "Reform" does
not give US a few facts upon which to base
his claim to the change as being ga measure
of public economy, conceived in prejudice
to no one, and advocated in justice to all"
As the lawyers would say. we would like to
see some authorities upon this point. If
reform" will furnish the public with facts
and figures to sustain his position, then we
will say let not only the "sOber
Judgment of our lawmakers be
influenced" but let this community,
also, be convinced and act accordingly. The
case of the jail, In behalf of its present
status. is pFinid fdc1e The matter has been
investigated by the Board Of County Com
missiOners and the City Council of Savan-
nah, and both have declared in favor OF
allowing matters to stand as they are. Would
"Reform" make application here of the
whole context In which my "adopted" and
'inopportune" signature is to be found. 1t
would be hard for him to find excuse for its
application to the conduct of the jail. The
issue, narrowed down, invalues the Jail,
nothing more, at least so far as l am con-
cerned.
As TO Mr.. Romans wishes In this connec-
ton, l have to say that l do not know of
my own knowledge what the views of that
gentleman are. All l know Of them is
hearsay, and l so stated. have never con-
versed with him on the subject. And l
may here add that l have never spoken
word to Mr.. Warlng Russell,
or even one OF the name, on the subject.
NV conclusions have been formed from
observation as an outside "Looker on, If
not Gin Venice"-since Reforms appli-
cation Of the "cOntext" may, as a citizen,
affect his digestion-at least in Savannah.
As such lOOker-on, l have found the Su-
perior Court of Chatham county grooming
under the weight of unfinished business
business that would take the Judge, the
Clerk, the Sheriff and all his deputies years
to work off, and leave no time for tn latter
in which to play the part Of liler.
have found, on the other hand, hat the
jail is the poorest field for retornier to di-
rect his efforts to In the whole city perhaps.
have seen grand jury after grand jury, for
years and years past, prOclaiming in their
general presentments a jail well kept and
clean, prisoners " ell cared for, and ReOer an
escape; 1 have heard rumOrs of political
rings, so called, for the purpose of
retaining hold upon Office, but always
worked, so far as the Russells were concern
ed, in the interest of the Democratic party
first, themselves neLt. l doubt IL ere
forms" reformation ~ would be any bet
ter. The danger is that while It might be
sbundantly fragrant with odOr"-the
worse kind-it would be sadly lacking in
2ussell's peculiar genius"
This is all have to say as mere locker
en-. "Reform," however, is big sounding
name, and it is possible that he may know
things that l don't. II he does, and will
come out with his facts and air them in the
light, l may see a reason to apply that con-
text, which seems to have tickled him so
much, to Waring Russell and the present
management OF the jail. But with the light
before me l shall, without the context, sub
scribe myself
"a LOCKER ON IN VENICE