Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-04
The City Election.

Our city election is close at hand. 1t
is Of great Importance to our citizens.
All who are anxious for the prosperity OF
the city should feel an interest in it. A
wise, liberal and progressive city govern
ment is essential to the city's growth.
Let the City Council be weak, yacillating,
divided or Influenced by cliques or fac
lions, and the welfare of the city is GER
tain to suffer. Let it be earnest, strong,
capable and controlled by desire to do
what is best for the whole community,
and not only will there be no complaints,
but there will be feeling Of hopefulness
and confidence that will be productive of
the most beneficial results.
OF course, in order to get the right sort
of Council, care must be taken TO Sc
lect the right sort Of Councilmen. 1t is
as great a mistake to select a weak but
Well-meaning man as to select an incom-
petent or thoroughly unprincipled man.
Men who have private ends to serve, or
who would be under the influence of indi-
Yiduals, companies or corporations, ought
not to be chosen to places in the Council.
Everybody knows the kind of men who
ought to compose the Council, but it is
not always an easy matter to get them.
Many who are thoroughly identified with
the community, and have something at
stake, are not only not anxious to take
part in the city government. but are sell
dom ready to respond even if their ser
vices are sought. For that reason it is not
always an easy matter to get satisfactory
Councilmen, even when a special effort is
made. Many of those who want capable
and conscientious Councilmen, although
in the majority, are not as active as they
ought to be, and it often happens that
while they are discussing the situation
and trying to secure harmony of action
the opportunity to exercise a controlling
influence is lost.
Savannah is now enjoying a fair degree
of prosperity and her future looks promis-
ing. The reduction in the rate of taxa
ton that has just been made will be pro-
ductive of excellent results. In proper
ton as the taxes are lowered improve
ments of various kinds will increase. A
wise administration of municipal affairs
will help the city wonderfully in many
ways. 1t is for the citizens to determine
by their choice of Councilmen whether
they will have the city government admin
istered wisely, and in the interest of all,
or badly, and in the interest of few.
Several gentlemen have been suggested
already for COuncilmen. There are
others whose names have not been men,
toned who could be induced, doubt
less, to accept place in the Council. If
a Council is elected that does not prove
to be satisfactory, the people viii have
only themselves to blame, They have it
in their power to choose Councilman of
real worth and capacity, and if they do
not exercise their power, taey ought
not to grumble if at any future time
they discover that the affairs of
the city are not being so administered as
to produce the best results. 1t is not I'M
frequently the case that the greatest
GROWERS are those who are the most in
different at the only time when a reason
able amount Of activity and vigilance
would secure for the public the services
of the best men in the community. If the
men who are trying to build up Savannah
want Council in sympathy with their
efforts they must not wait for others to
make the ticket. They must take a hand
in the work