Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-22
SEEKING NEW CITYLAWS.
A MENoRIABoN THE REGIsTRA-
TION BILL.

Nfght-Dr. Falligant Attacks the Pres
ent Registration Law-His Memorial
to the General Assembly and What 1t
Asks-WOrking for a Correction of
Existing Evils.
There was not so large an attendance
ut st. Andrews hall last night as those
VINO headed the opposition to the regis
tration bill were led to believe there
would be. The call for the meeting was
addressed to all taxpayers Of the city
who are qualified by age and sex to exer-
rise the right to vote, and who believe
that when a man has paid his taxes no
extra constitutional requirements should
deprive him of that right.
There were between seventY-hve
md one hundred people in the
hall when DR.. Falligaut called the
meeting TO order and stated its
object He recited the Objectionable
features OF the present registration law,
which, he claims the bill now pending
in the Legislature fails to correct.
lie referred TO the position which large
element Of the voters took AT the nomlna-
ting convention last winter when the
municipal ticket was put in the field, ana
The methods which. in his belief were re-
sorted 10 in the nominating committee TO
prevent any representative OF the anti
Registration party from securing place
on the ticket. Promises were then maze,
he said, that the evils Of the registration
taw should be corrected. And now the
present bill had been framed utterly to no
purpose and without doing away with a
single one Of the Objectionable features
contained in the bill now in force.
The meeting organized by the election
Of DIR. Falligant chairman and Z. {. Nj.
Crawford secretary.
DR.. Falligant then presented the follow
ing memorial, which he read and asked
the meeting to adopt:
10 the honorable, the members Of me Senate and
House o( Representatives in General assembly
GENrLENEN-Yo memorialsts, citizens
ami taxpayers Of the city OF savannah, having
met in public assemblage 10 discuss the regis
trFtiOu bill now up for action before your
honorable bodies, respectfully present Tor
your infOrmatOntthe following facts concern
ing registration az pr2ctlced and registration
Us It's should be practced:
FSrSt.-The managers chosen % control reg
istTation are selected not only from one
party, but from one faction, and, with
out possibly intending injustice, certainly
have put unnecessary obstacles IN the way OF
those not on their own side. The mana
gers in each district should represent both
parties where two parties exist.
NeCOn0.-lne places sclcclcu LOT Itklblidbiou
Offices seem TO have been specially chosea
with a view to confusing the majority OF
voters. The registration Offices should not be
in back offices and in rear portions Of ware
houses not fronting directly on well-known
streets, aud should have over their doors con
spicuous 10 passers-by, sign "kegsirauon
once"
Third. No persons, except the managers of
election. should decide questions concerning
The ght to vote. AT the last Mayors cleo
ton in this oity the City Scavenger was
deputed to make Illegal decisions ana DC
UTiVe voters of their rights by Illegal decisions.
And your memorasts, who have been wit
nes-es TO the wrongs Inflicted on the cltlZens
OF Savannah under the preteNt OF carrying
out the registration laws. pray your honor
able bodies 10 give serious consideration TO
the following com plants ana protests;
s. FtgSt.-1hat the poll tax, If levied at all,
isa 0cHoroi tax upon all males over q years
Of age and under 90; and that being general
tax. as much 20 as "a tax on real estate, 1t is
not optional with the voter TO pay II; that
said tax is either mandatory or cannot be
ileWed at All: and that when, in any city o1i
seounty, said poll tax is LEVIED under "
constitutional privilege permitting sH
levy, the payment OF such taMcb
not privilege, optional, by Xtorv
10 secure tho right to vote, but q maYN'eO4f
duty, and the right TO vote is a cOnsS""oonISSo
Your memoriallsts protest that ~ ioooaii
mgndatiOn Of said registration bill - -
is m aal ia, ana shaL me d, should
be required of all persQH 80 -, "
them; but such is not the YGG.USaateh,s 't r.
non lnh'cte4 on the e.dost seriously the
registration OF voters M fact we point ~
"ms." lu evidence Of ~ t i9S' W point 70 70
the registration OF ~ -'''O '0'Oi' o"' u
1900. s.-,,.. ..u. -.
The provision Of sioce NJ ="
oath that all taXKali have heen maid before
w @ ~ ofe allowed 70 register or vote
IA bsrsb aud Nuei IN the extreme. and should
a.. ssrcla,, ~ Of the organic law; that many
- go Excellent citizens, poor labOring
80 49, old soldiers, persons unfortunate
- ~ y, etc, who are willing 90 pay pres
ont an future taxes but whom the misfor-
AZ for privileges never used, or on
1,hess and assets which have
Ken wings aud flown away, are thereby for
ger deoarred from the privileges Of citizen
emp and put on political level with the con
Nsgied fclOn; and your memOrialsts are I'M
willing 10 believe that the trainers Of the con-
stitution had 80 cruel q purpose in view, and
respectfully urge that the constitution and
the voter shall be only rs TO taxes for the pre-
viOus year. And your memoriallsts further
complain that tie taxes due on property
are rociainable from the property and not
from the privileges Of the citizens, and that
thc requirement for registration should be
only the payment OF poll taxes; and the non
Payment VI said poll tax for 1879 or other year
should not prevent the payment for 1855. And
your memoriahsts further CONF plain that
large number Of good citizens who pay an
their taxes are deprived Of the right to vote
because OF "a failure to register for any cause
absence, sickness. pressure Of business. etc.
ana the law should be so changed that a
voter who may have uaid all his
taxes shall not be deprived
Of his vote by reason OF failure to register
the record of such payment being the best
possible evidence of his performance of bis
duty rs citizen. Tho tax collector should he
required TO certify such voter 40 the polls.
The placing OF the names Of all such citizens
ON the poll list would serve such purpose
satisfactorilY., " the citizen who has paid
hls taxes cannot vote, nobody should be
allowed 60 vote.
Ana your memoriahsts further complain
that the negroes m the extended non-taXed
western limits Of the city are allowed 10 vote
whilst the property owners, white aud coll
ored, M the southern extension OF the non
taxed limits Of the city are forbidden the
same privilege; and your memorialists pro-
test that such legislation is unconstitutional.
And your mcmorialisss confidently trust
That your honorable bodies will recnfy these
wrung5 by which we suffer and OF which we
complain; and your memoriahsts viii ever
pray, etc.
a motion to adopt the memorial was
being stated by toe chairman when Mr..
David Weisbeiu jumped 10 his feet and
moved its reference 20 "a committee Of five
for revision. There were "A number OF
points In which be believed il ought 10 be
modified. He desired il understood that
be was wholly IN sympathy with the
movement 10 secure correction OF
N.aa N.sNH.