Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-18
TAXPAYERS PROTESTING.
SEEKING RELIEF FROM AN
ONEROUS BURDEN.

ONEittll = III IlDENs
The Meeting at Metropolitan Hall Last
Sight-The City Council to be Memo
rallied with View to Relieving
Property Owners Of the Tax for Ce-
meutinE Privy Vaults-The Vault
Question Revived-The Views OF Lot
Owners and Business Men.
In pursuance to a call signed by several
citizens, a meeting Of property holders
and agents was held last night in Metro
politan Hall for the purpose of taking
some action with a view to obtaining
relief from the burdens0me tax which
has been levied upon owners of property
in the city since the cementing of the
bottoms OF privy vaults.
Capt. Henry Blum was called to the
chair, and J. l.. Walthour was made Sec
rotary. The Chairman stated the object
of the meeting as expressed in the call,
and invited discussion of the matter.
X. ID. Guerard Dr.. l.. A. Falligant,
Capt. j. II, Johnston, j. j. Dale, VIM
Swoll, Alderman Wells and Cant. Blum
addressed the meeting. Mr.. Guerard
among other things, characterized the
present system of taxation on cemented
privy vaults as oppressive and I'M
AC0aOAdNANs A4E lubuAuL Il ulOIG uHl-
form and less burdensOme system
should be adopted, and expressed a doubt
whether the cemented vault was as good g,
in sanitary point OF view, as vaults haY-
ing an earth bottom. The city authori-
ties, he said, were in the habit of collect
ing a tax on vaults every time they
were cleaned, and he believed that
less oppressive system would be adopted
by the City Council if that body were
vfg,Te gr,,. u al T.
no ObiectOntO paying a reasonable yearly
tax tor having the vaults cleaned, but he
would not willingly submit to
having the vaults cleaned in many
instances, as under the existing system,
every three months and sometimes often
er, simply because they were made recep-
tacles for slop water instead Of eXcre-
ment. He therefore moved that a COM
mittee, consisting Oftive property holders,
be appointed by the chair to memorabilia
the City Council, with a view to relieving
house owners of the present onerOus tax.
The motion was seconded, but not i'm
mediateiY pressed to a vote, as the meet
ing wished to hear the views Of other gem
temen.
DR.. Falligant spoke at length, and Ques-
toned the wisdom Of the authorities in pro-
yiding cemented vaults where eXcrement
and slop water combined in process of
fermentation, which was exceedingly
deletorious to health. One of the best
deoderisers of eXcrement, he said, was
the earth and the atmosphere, and
the practice of permitting slop water
to be thrown into cemented vaults, and
not allowing it to be thrown elsewhere,
was a nuisance which should be abated
rather than enforced as law. If rain
and slOp water were excluded from
cemented priyy vaults he believed there
would be less fermentation and less stench,
as well as a elimination of expense
which property holders are subjected to
in the form of a tax for having them
cleaned every two or three months. The
doctor also referred to the sewerage sys-
TEN as applied to the drainage of streets
and houses.
Capt. Johnston believed that if the city
authorities were to levy a certain annual
tax to defray the expenses OF keeping
cemented vaults clean it would be less
onerOus than the present system.
j. j. Dale believed the memorial sug-
gested in the motion of Mr.. Guerard
would receive the earnest and careful at
tentiOn of the council, as that body was
composed Of business men deeply inter.
ested IN the welfare of the city.
Alderman Wells said that the CITY
/ Council was governed in its legislation
I upon subjects similar to that under con-
sideratioL by an honest desire to assure
practical and thoroughly efficient sys-
tenn, and that it was endeaYOrlng to pro
vide thorough system of sewerage, but
/ that all such measures required careful
/ consideration, and that the work when
decided upon could not be undertaken
/ this summer. The Council. he said. had
/ already invited Mr.. George L. Waring ia
visit the city and consult with the au.
thorities in reference to sanitary ques.
tons.
After brief discussion by Capts. Blum
| and SwOll, a vote was taken on Mr.
! Guerard's motion, which was unanimous
ly carried. The chair appointed the fol
I lowing committee to memorabilia Council
as suggested by the motion: r. ID. Guerard
DR.. James b. Read. John Cooper, j. j
Dale, Capt. Henry Blum.
The memorial will be prepared at once
and will probably be presented to the
/ Council at its next meeting.