Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-16
COUNCILS BUSY SESSION,
-ALDERSIF1 SPEAk THEIR MINDS
ABOUT TIE FIRE LAWS.

OF the City rbysict&ns-Dr. OuFeros,
KesignAtIon--Che OGicos in the Two
Districts to be Filled Seat Month.
The City Counciimen remained in
caucus until after 9 o'clock last nj tbt
before conyeninS in the long Room. Taey
seem TO utterly disregard the rules which
prescribe the hour OF meeting. and
assemble whenever they finish their work
in the caucus room. Three Of the board,
Aldermen OConuor, Bogart and Nichols,
were absent TIE business on the CleTk $
desk was mostly of routine
character. The thought uppermost
in the Counciimen's minds, how
eyer, seemed to be the fire laws.
Every now and then during the session
the sentiment OF one member or another
cropped out until it become pretty evil
dent where a majority OF the Council
stood on the question.
The petitions recommending a repeal Of
the present ordinance and a re-enact-
ment of the Roberts ordinance, which have
been extensively circulated during the
past week FOR signatures, were not sub
mitted, and the matter Was not formally
brought up. The Fire Committee. ia re-
porting upon a petition Of g. /. Ta2Eart
10 remove a small building from lot No. B.
Trustees Garden. TO lot No. 4, a few hun
dred feet distant, made no recommends
ton, but stated that uuder the ordinance
governing such matters the Council had
the right TO grant the petition or not as 1t
saw Mt, and referred to the code OF ISL
citing the ordnance.
MIR Thomas thought the Fire Commit
tees duty was TO report the facts concern
ing the petition. Ii the Council had
wanted the laW it would have asked the
Corporation Attorney.
Mr.. Hamlet thought the granting Of the
petition would be violation Of the Ordi-
nances. If the Council desired to grant
the petition il had better repeal the Ordi-
nances FIRST, and then 90 ahead. The mat
ter was finally tabled until the Corpora
ton Attorney could look into the Ordi-
nance, and was finally taken up and
granted, an investigation Of the code
developing no ordinance which prescribed
the granting OF the petition violation Of
the lazy.
The petition Of John w. Norton to con
tinue repairs On the frame residence, No.
IFS State street. recently stopped 10y or
der OF the Fire Committee, was granted.
A petition OF the Mutual Gas Light
Company to erect storage building
for iron and piping was brought up under
similar circumstances. In a discussion of
the motion to grant the petition 1t devel-
oped that the building had already been
erected and was complete, but that the
Chlei Fireman, acting under instructions
from the Fire Committee, had re-
ported it as a violation Of the fire
ordinance Mr.. Wells thought the
granting of a petition under such
circumstances was extremely Irregular.
il a building IL erected without permits
sion from the Council and is a violation OF
the ordinances, the builder, he believed,
should be put upon the information dock
ct and punishedin the Police Court. Then,
II he saw fit TO appeal TO the
Council, it was time to do so, but for the
Council to sanction the violation Of it's
ordinances by granting petitions to erect
buildings after they are erected, he con-
sidered an irregular proceeding.
DIR. Hamilton held the same opin-
ion. A violation of the fire ordi-
nance should, he believed, be treat
ed the same as violation Of any
other ordinance, and the authorities
should be Instructed 10 take the usual
course 10 secure the punishment OF the Of
fender. He had remarked, since the matter
was discussed ut previous meeting OF
the Council, that IN The light Of its
leniency II he had any repairs TO make or
buildings 10 erect he should feel disposed
10 so ahead and petition the Councils
consent afterward. The construction
of the permit ordinance was fully
discussed. Mr.. Thomas, the Trainer
Of the ordinance, stated that there
was no question as TO the misapprehen-
sion that existed in regard to it. Instead
of prohibiting the repairing OF frame
buildings within the fire limits it leaves
il in the Councils discretion to grant or
prohibit repairs, as it sees tit.
The question was debated at length, and
the petition OF the gas company was finally
granted.
Mai u. T. Bolts and c. F. Pendergast,
committee from the board of
underwriters, We're heard in refer
ence 10 the appointment under the
act Ot Legislature Of a Fire Marshal.
The committee urged the appointment of
such an officer, and the matter was re-
ferred to the Fire Committee for its recon-
mendati0n.
The resignation Of DR.. b. Z. Oliyeros,
city physician for the Eastern district, to
take effect at the first meeting of the
Council in August was rendered and
accepted. The Mayor officially an
noEnced vacancy in the Western
district, caused by the death OF Or. K. S.
Sanders. Dr. Duncan, Chairman Of the
Health and Cemetery Committee, moved
that the Clerk be authorized 20 advertise
an election to be held at the first August
meeting TO iii the vacancy.
DR.. Hamilton asked The committee if it
considered the salary of The Office suti-
cient 10 secure the services OF competent
ought not TO be attached to the office
The present salary is 500 per month.
Mr.. Duncan said he had held
that opiulon for a long time. He
considered the present salary inadequate
for the Office, and under ordinary circum-
stances would advocate an increase. The
present phYpi in tae Eastern district
however, had seen 1T 10 resign, il being
understood, although not stated, that the
inadequate salary was the cause of his
resignation. Had "a petition for an in-
crease been presented, Or. Duncan said it
would have given HIM pleasure TO have
advocated such measure. AS ID was he
should oppose any movement IN that di-
lection. TheQurstOu whether cOmpetent
physicians could be found 10 undertake
the duties 0i the Office tor the remainder
of the year at the present salary. and
whether an increase from $50 10 500 per
month was generally discussed, but no
action WAS taken.
THEr ann 49, 4 nnarNn