Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-11
MACON NIATTERS.

t'4+- uc empty Al INV 9fAA"S'
MACON MATTERS.
Under the ClOuds-Our New City Gov
ernment-Its Troubles and Conflicts
Superior COurt-Evans' viii Case
Public Library-HOIidays and EIec-
tiOns-PersOnal and Other Notes.
MACON, Jan. 9.-Our city is neither lovely
nor brilliant in appearance under the clouds
that rule the day. The streets, according to
the corner yernacular, ''are simply awful"
especially IN places. Our merchants are
wearing long faces. as they overlook their over
stocked shelves and their unbalanced ledgers.
The ladies are indignant at being housed up
continually. The rain comes down all the
same, however. and the Ocmulgee is on a
sweeping bender, cOquetting with the fences
and hills way out of its banks. On yesterday
the sun came out from behind the clouds. Just
to LET the world know that his face still shines,
but he quietly withdrew, as his engagement
was short.
Our new city government, called into eX-
istence in an extraordinary way by the citi-
Zens themselves, meets with more obstacles
and adverse criticism than any of its immedi-
ate predecessors. Two questions have come
up which have caused considerable street cor
ner discussion. One was the seeming conflict
between the office Of MayOr and that of CITY
Recorder. some claim that the creation Of
the Office of Recorder stripped the Mayor Of
all judicial authority as to Onenses and Offend
ers. Mayor Corrupt rejected all such efforts to
restrict his prerOgative as the chief officer of
the city. The question was submitted to
board of arbitration consisting OF
three prominent attorneys-Messrs. Gustin,
Dessau and Bartlett. Their decision was
rendered on yesterday, and the matter Is am
icably adjusted. there being no personal feel
ing involved. The Mayor has jurisdiction over
the police TO order arrests of ViOlatOrs of law
and dismissal on bond before the cases reach
the Recorder Court. After once having been
tiOcketed. ne has no further control as MaVOr.
although the law declares that IN the absence
OF the Recorder the Mayer performs the du-
ties OF that officer. The conflict arose from
the arrest of "a horse drOyer carrying his stock
through the streets in what was supposed to
be a reckless manner. and the arrest ordered
bv one of the Aldermen. The man was not
the owner of the stock, and as they were all
out and liable to go astray. and were to be de
liNorpd in Laurens county. Mayor COrput did
not seG fit TO hold the man arrested,
and on the trial yesterday dismissed
him. Mr.. Howard. the offender, was
up before the Recordep according to pro-
mise. but was acquitted, and thus the whole
question ends. The object of Recorder Pat
ierlon in this matter was solely To have the
duties of lie two offices defined, 50 that no
further complication could arise.
The new Council, cOI3pQsed of some of our
hest business men. and who were selected be-
eause Of their success aS practical men. have
had under consideration the general interests
OF the city. Several changes nave been sug-
gested. and a very radical one in reference TO
the case OF Rose Hill Cemetery. They have
passed an ordinance making such changes as
in their best judgment were necessary for the
government of that property. adopting some
gbat the same rules and regulations that con-
troll i9urel Grove Cemetery IN your city.
They are aaQfrOnt98 this morning with an I'M
mense petition OF citizens against their action
in the premises, the petitioners claiming that
the changes proposed are lmPEacticable and
unwise. Whether Council will have the back
boHe tG stand up To their convictions OF what
il right sield to this popular clamor VIII
early be developed Truly the honor Of Office
holding Is not without its thorns.
Our Superior Court Is now IN session, Judge
Simmons presiding. The docket Is full, but
Judge simmons dispatches business rapidly,
The Jail will soon be cleared and much Of the
esEil business disposed Of.
We haye had peculiar contest Of a Will be-
fore the Court of Ordinary. Mr.. VIM. Evans,
who was murdered last March by negro
wOman-Carrie Massey~it seems became dis
satisfied with the manner in " hlch his klns-
folk treated him. andresolved that they should
not enjoy any Of his property, amounting 10
some S30. coo; and, J. = said, made Will, leav-
ing it all 10 a niece, Aifs MOseiy. Of this city.
The will. however. was never recorded, and
after the murder it could not be fOHnG. Foul
play was suspected. MOsely brought the case
before the Ordinary TO establish the VIII;
Hs failed. it is said, on legal
fechnieaiiry He had only two witnesses
who had seen fhs document, the law re-
qulring the testimony Of three. There Is a
shadow hanging over this n b0le transaction
which the future alone can Feye5a The end
is not vet The miserable creature 8tlg u IS
said did the killing. after being sentenced 10
the pepifentiary for life, implicated other par
ties in ihe 4Eurder, Whether true or false
the public mind Il mol clear as to who really
did the killing, Detectives afe ~ work, and
the tangled problem may yet be s0lSeq.
Our public library has just closed very
l.,csDerOus year. IL increases in popularity
ana usefulness. The membership have done
wisely in fdscing Judge i. j. simmons IN the
Presidency Pew snen have maintained q
aHfa or fnVz - worth a
r0tiOn to the interests of the Young tran Judge
Si1ar4cns. All the influence and enetgy he
commands sill be cheerfully given To advance
the interests of tnis Institution. Forthe elghth
time AfF. Charles HeIalsI it2s been elected Ii
brarian. Ha has proved MOST cthcIent ON
Ger. and viii continue IN place 50 long IS lie
may choose to remain.
The holidays ana the elections are over. The
holidays come hut once year, but Hnt9rtu-
nateiS Ter the peace Of society and the wet
fare OF the c.untry. the eieetiohs are lioIe
frequent. The elective franchise j. price
less boon TO the American citizen. All be
wants is an opportunity to exercise il. not that
he aiWAys improves the opportunity ~ vOt-
ling, but demands the privilege so that he can
exercise his own free agency. The election
ON the % inst. is an example. ont OF Vot-
ing population Of between four and ave thcus-
and, only eight hppcPsa and f0rty-rye votes
were cast. True there " a. no Opposition, and
il Is claimed that the issuing 0f bonds for
kuilding Jail and TO pay or county 1Bdebt-
ncss has failed. not receiving the twO-thiFds
lldlgIAAF AtfEecdlls nhMENNAs NAANe aAN NnT
deavoT1ng to esercOme this difficulty by get
ting some legal gentleman TO say that II did
not require the ciglt slEndreU votes as they
first supposed. Jail gaast ,5e had and a
small technicality will not stand iB t4ie way.
The election Of Captain RaOui TO the fFest
dency II the Central gave intense satisfaction
To Macon aAG especially to the employees. The
officials of the CeniTal management at this
point are all efficient ana popular. Superin-
tendent Sheilman and Captain Knapp are both
gentlemen OF fine business qualifications. and
are held in high esteem by the business com
munity. And this is true as 10 messrs, Gugel
and Knight. in the mechanical department.
Another graceful thing the stockholders did
was placing Hon. j. j. Gresham Dack on the
board OF directors. from which he had been
voted out by the Alexander party Macon apS
preciates the honor IN thQe hOnoflng one OF
her most worthy citizens,
The demand for houses continue, NQt
vacant dwelling in the market. The builders
have been fighting manfully against the
weather II order 10 meet the demand, but
every house is reatcd before IL Is finished. Ihe
building boom seems to mage no ''let up" ana
preflerafions are being made 10 ereS; 2 greater
number fiiiz next season than were butiI cur
ing the past. although that exceeded in number
ANYTHING ever known in the oily before. Work
on the female college has been suspended
uasil next summer.
Anotne~ fire on Sunday night destroyed over
SO, 900 worth o. property, and no arrests vet,
although All the evidence goes TO show lhat Il
was iucendiary.
Our fire department last night dia itself the
honor Of elecfing George y. Furpin, Esq, &s
Chief He viii make a splendid oficer, ana
viii impart new life and vigor 20 the 9fgasiza-