Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-02
COUNCILS MANY MOTIONS.
ALDERMEN GET l1XCITED AND
MAIAI8 . RINGS LIgEI4X.


The nm Boerdn Ordinance Twice
Amended ss,d Finally l'sssscd-Alder-
man Myers HIinority lepcrt on the
Retail ncAlers' Petition Stirs Up -
Spirited Debate.
The City Councilmen held lively ses-
sion last night. A cool breeze found its
way through the omen windows iuto the
Council Chamber. and when the members
finally took taeir seats they We're Ia no
hurry to get ont of them The prenmiu-
airy caucus lasted unIU after O'Clock.
The petition of the retail grocers in the
extended city limits for exemption from
the special tax of $40 upon
their business was reported upon
adversely Ply 81 majority OF the Finance
Committee.
Alderman Myers submitted a minority
report dissenting from tie majority on the
grounds thar tue tax is nos equitable, the
city having allowed a reduction Of over 30
per cent. on liQuordea,ers' licenses. at the
same time charging { be grOcers the same
license as ID they carried on their bust
ness within the old city limits where they
would be secured ali the benefits and ad-
Vantages the city affords Ia streets,
police protection and water supply Tie
per cent.
Real estate in the extended limits being
exempt from taxation for ten years, the
Alderman argued that 1t was the inten-
ton Of the Legislature to include personal
property ana business houses in the act
of exemption. He did not consider il just
tO saddle upon dealers in thinly pOpu-
lated section the same tax as charged in
the thickiy populated portion OF the city.
He believed further that a reduction of
the tax would encourage the erection Of
new business houses. vote w8e taken
and the minority report was adopted.
Mr.. Hamilton, Chairman OF the FL
nance Committee, expressed bis sur
prise at the direction the report mad
taken. AS Chairman Of the committee
which had considered the petition, he had
been authorized by a full vote to report
adversely upon it. He had received no
intimatiOn that minority report would
be submitted.
Mr.. Myers said that he distinctly stated
his views to the committee at the time
the petition was being considered. He
voted in favor of a reduction of the tax
and opposed the enforcement Of the
present law. Further than that he did
not consider himself called upon 10 ac-
quaint the committee with the fact that he
intended 10 submit a minority report
Mr.. Mills at this jUncture moved
reconsideration OF the vote adopting the
minority report and after a spirited dis
cusslon, in which Mr.. Myers vigorously
defended his position, it was carried. The
majority report was then adopted by "a
vote Of s 20 3.
The question Of enforcement OF Ord-
nances was brought up by the
granting of the petition OF Abraham
LeIiler TO erect an addition TO
his house on Abercon and Charlton
streets. The work was already under
way when the fire Committee ordered il
stopped. Mr.. Letter appeared before the
Council and asked, upon the ground that
the work had been commenced under a
misunderstanding between the committee
and his contractor, that he be allowed 20
finish il. The Chairman Of the Fire Com
lnittee reported that it was being done in
violation Of the ordinances, and that the
committee would be compelled, IL the
matter was referred TO il, to report adj
Versely TO allowing the work to proceed.
In view of the evident misunderstand-
ing IN the matter and the fact that the
work was already well under way, per-
mission TO complete it was granted
The action OF the Council in permitting
a violation of the ordinance exclted a
lively debate. A number of petit
lions reported upon adversely by
the Fire Committee, one OF them
of Mr.. Letter We're brought up, and an
unsuccessful effort was made to secure a
reconsideration of the vote by which the
committees report had been adopted with
view TO granting the petitions. The
Council by its action had sanctioned a
violation Of the ordinances, and il was a
question of equity where the veto should
begin.
The amended bill board ordinance was
M a ID,
put upon its passage, Mr.. Myers moved
an amendment providing that the permits
sion OF the Mayor and also the owner of
the property upon which IL is desired to
erect bill boards or post advertisements
must be secured before they can be
erected.
Mr.. Hamilton held the same view that
he did when the ordinance was intro
duced. he failed 20 see now any property
owner had right 20 grant privileges not
his own. The city, he believed had no
right TO grant any privilege OF the kind
either. w hen the question of allowing
fruit stands IN the streets was before the
Council the Corporation Attorney decided
That the city had no right 10 permit them
10 remain there.
MIR. Myers failed TO see if this view
were taken how the city could allow the
erection OF telegraph poles or sign boards.
vote was taken and the amendment
WAS defeated. A reconsideration was AT.
forwards voted, and the amendment and
ordinance were both passed by vote OF
10 ..
SIR. Robert J. Wade was appointed
agent for toe city under the provisions Of
section 3606 (c) Of the State Code, 10 lid
on property that may be offered for sale
for taxes when no one present at the sale
shall bid as much as the tax for which il
is 10 be sold, and TO receive and take pos
session Of the property for the city.
number OF minor matters were dis.
posed Of, after which the Council ad-
journed.
Ar.rwANT T-t,,r pprZr