Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-12
A NIGHT IN THE COUNCIL.
TIRED ALDERMEN HOLD A
THREE HOURS SESSION.

Two Hours Discussion OF the Report
of the Committee on Rules-The Man
ner of Lighting the City to be Investi-
rated-The Aldermen to Review the
Procession on st. Patrick's Day.
Tie City COuncilmen spent the greater
part Of last nights session in discussing
the report OF the Committee on Rules.
The committee submitted its report at the
meeting two weeks ago, but owing to the
numerous changes it recommended the
Council deferred action until last night
in order that opportunity might be had
for their consideration. The report was
in some instances disagreed to and
number Of amendments were made, but
the greater part OF its recommendations
were adopted.
Among the most radical changes which
the Council failed 20 adopt was the change
in the hours of meeting from O'Clock in
the evening to o'clock in the afternoon
between June and Sept. 80. One pr0mi-
uent member objected to the change on
the ground that be was not elected TO SIT
in Council in the middle Of the afternoon
10 the NEGLECT Of his business. This opln-
ion was shared by a majority Of the men,
bers. and the old rule was retained.
uuIsion was stricken out. The committee
reported in favor Of eliminating the words
Indecent conduct as a ground for
expulsion, leaving the Council the power
TO remove, by twO-thirds vote,
anv member for ungentlemanlY con-
duet. whether before the Council or
in his capacity as an Alderman.
Alderman Duncan was in favor OF strik-
ing out the entire rule. He understood it
to be one Of the fundamental principles of
parliamentary law that any body had the
right to remove any of its members
for unseemly conduct. He could see no
necessity for the rule, particularly in so
harmonious a body as the present Coun-
ell. After considerable discussion as to
the advisability of the move, the rule was
done away with.
The regulation Of the office hours of the
city officials in the Exchange building
was 4 stickler, and was only disposed OF
after half an hours discussion and half
a dozen or more amendments to the CON-
mittee's report. The hours remain as
under the present arrangement, from 9 to
, and from to O'Clock daily, Sundays
and holidays excepted. Under the new
Iule, however. the Clerk. Treasurer, Sur
vevOr, Marshal and Messenger of Council
are specified as the officials whose offices
/ are required to be in the Exchange.
FINING UP THE OLD RULES.
The rule regulating the filing of bids for
contract work was discussed in all its
/ bearings. Under the present arrange
ment, not regulated, however, by the rules
/ OF Council, all bids are required to be
( handed to the Clerk on the Monday pre-
cedIng the meeting at which they are TO
| be opened. The committee recommended
change providing that bids
! may be received up TO the meeting of the
Council. The recommendation did not
meet with the approval of number OF
( members. and lively discussion followed.
/ The Chairman Of the committee stated
Z that the reason for the change was the
/ complaints that had been made by
/ contractors whose bids had been re.
I iccted. and the hint that they
/ had been tempered with, after having
/ been filed, for the purpose Of giving in
| formation to interested parties. Ice
/ object Of the amended rule was 10 dc
away with any opportunity for suspicion
l by allowing the bids to be filed up to the
I hour Of meeting. so that they need not re-
man in the Clerks Office, where they might
/ be accessible to members OF the Council
! and others whose duties connect them
with the office. The committees recon-
mendatiOn was finally adopted.
4 number of other changes Of more OF
/ less importance were made. Several eX
| listing rules were abolished, and new rules
were created. The principal changes
\ which were recommended and excited
/ the most discussion, however, were those
/ in regard to the calling of extra meetings
/ the manner Of paying the police, the time
/ for filing bids for contracts, the office
! hours Of city officials, the grounds for eX
1 pClsiOn OF members, the time allowed fol
/ individual debates and the hours of meet
ing.
/ INCREASING TIE POLICE PRIVATES PAY
The Joint Committee on Police and Fl.
/ nance, to which was referred at the last
meeting the petition Of the police priYates
for an increase of pay, reported that they
/ had carefully considered the reasons con-
tained IN the petition and appreciated
| fully the character of the duties imposed
upon the members Of the force. They
realized that the police, as a branch Of
I the municipal service, had attained
high standard of efficiency and
/ excellence. The petition was presented
/ however. at most inOppOrtune time, at
/ ter the contemplated expenditures for the
/ wear in the various departments had been
I agreed upon. There are many obligations
/ resting on the city, the report went on to
/ saw, and il is only by an honest, jul
/ diciOus and economical admInistra-
/ ton of its affairs that they can be
/ successfully performed and the prosperity
! Of the CITY enhanced. The police, how
! ever. had submitted strong and potent
| reasons why their request should be
I granted. When the force was first organ
/ lied the priVTtes were paid $40 per
/ month. Since then their pay had been
/ reduced to $50 and duties more ardu-
| GUS bad been imposed upon them.
I Upon them depends, however, the pre-
/ servation of public order and protect ton
/ to life and property. They had faithfully
/ aud cheeTfully complied with these
I duties. but had frequently called atsen-
\ ton to the inadequacy of their cOmpensa-
/ ton. Desiring to evidence the Council
/ recognition Of the services rendered by
/ the members OF so important branch OF
| the public service, and believing that its
| appropriation of an additional amount
/ wheTcwith TO increase the pay would not
| endanger the operations OF the other
! branches of the municipal government,
| tke committee recommended that from
April 1 the privatcs be paid 500 per
/ month. An ordinance was Introduced by
/ the committee authorizing the increase,
aud by unanimous consent was put upon
/ its second reading and was unanimously
1 passed.
TO INVESTIGATE THE CITY'S LIGHT.
The Street and Lane Committee was in
| stTucted to investigate the lighting of the
/ city, and report such plan, after COM
I plete and exhaustive investigation, as
I it deem best for the lighting of the
/ streets after the expiration Of the present
/ contract with the Brush Electric Light
/ aud Power Company. This contract runs
/ for nearly year yet, but the Council de-
/ sires to agree upon some plan, so that am
| pie time may be given for awarding the
new contract before the present one ex-
| pir5s.
The Health and Cemetery Committee,
| to which was referred the proposition OF
the Southern Bell Telephone Company TO
construct a telephone line from the city
/ to the quarantine station for the nominal
rental of $500, reported adversely To its
acceDtance. This dispOsas of the third
proposition that the company has made
to build the line.
The ordinance prohibiting smoking on
tue wharves and in warehouses and stOr-
age yards where cotton. naval stores and
other inflammable merchandise is stored.
and in the holds of vessels, introduced at
the meeting two weeks ago, was passed.
TIE Council was invited to review
the procession from the Exchange balcony
on st. Patrick's day, and also to attend in
body the exercises and address at the
Theatre. The invitation was accepted.
Anumber of other matters were brought
ND. and the session was prolonged until
after IL O'Clock before an adjournment
was reached.
THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.