Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-10-19

To T-cFease the Powers of the City
CouncfI-AFe They Wise - Light
Wanted On the Subject.

E1itor Morning Neaos: In your paper Of the
18th instant the following notices appeared:
''Notice is hereby given that the General
Assembly of the State of Georgia will be asked
at its next session to pass local bill to be en-
titled:
ian act to repeal sections four and five of an
act entitled An act in relation to the officers
of the jail Of Chatham county, approved
February 18th. 1874 and to repeal an act en-
titled AN act to repeal so much OF the cnarser
tory thereof as provide for the election or
1ailer and the superintendent or the jan OF
Chatham county by the Mayor and Aldermen
OF the city of Savannah and TO vest the man
agement and care of said jail in the County
Commissioners OF Chatham county, approved
September 29th, 1881. ="
Notice is hereby given that the General As
sembly of the State OF Georgia Will be asked
at its next session to pass local bill to be en-
titled:
San act to authorize the Mayor and Alder
men of the city of Savannah to lay down and
construct in the streets and lanes OF said city
such sewers or drains as may be necessary,
and to asses upon the owners or lots aouttlng
on so much Of such street or lane In which
sewers or drains may be laid, under this act,
the cost of such improvement pro rata to the
assessed value of said lots and improvements,
and to provide for the manner of collecting
such assessments"
Notice is hereby given that the General
Assembly of the State Of Georgia will be
asked at its next session to pass local Dill TO
be entitled:
AN act to amend section 4s75 of the Code of
1873, comforting upon the Mayor and Aldermen
Of the city of Savannah power to require the
abatement and removal OF nuisanceS within
the jurisdictional limits of said CITY,"
AS the proposed bill on the subject of the
jail contemplates only the repeal of existing
laws, it is easy to ascertain its scope.
But the other bills proposed seem to have
in view an increase of the powers Of the
City Council, and one would wish to know
the extent of the proposed increase.
A power to the City Council to construct
whatever sewers and drains they please at
the expense of the owners Of lots abutting
on the streets and lanes where they are
placed, is a very large and dangerous
power, and may be used to the detriment
and oppression Of many people. What are
to be the details of the bill?
Similar remarks may be made as to the
proposition to enlarge the power OF Council
over the abatement and removal of
nuisances.
1t does not by any means follow that a
bill affecting the rights and interests Of the
people of Savannah ought to be passed
because the members of Council for the
time being favor or desire it. 1t may be
that the citizens generally do not agree with
them. And in such case our delegates to
buS OCHSThl ASc6nbly OuSub W COuhlucI
well before they give It their support.
The titles of the second and third bills
above given afford us no information as to
their details. think 1t may be safely
assumed that they ali emanate from the
City Council. Will rot Council give
the people the bills in fulP
The writer is authorized to say
that they will be published in your paper
without charge. There are many citizens
who desire to know what is intended, and
they cannot know 1t in any other way. The
letter of the constitution is, perhaps, com
piled with by the publication of the title
alone, but we want to know what is in the
body Of the bills. We want to see the full
extent of the new powers the Council desires,
SO that We may have an opportunity to ad-
vocste or oppose them, as the case may be.
CITIZEN.