The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-12
MAY GET A SETTLEMENT.
THE CITY TO TALK 1T OVER WITH
THE GROUND RENTERS.

A Conference committee Appointed
by the Council-The Water Tax on
Improved Property Not Supplied
With Water Reduced to Cents Per
Front Foot-The Cable Company's
Petition Refused.
At last nights meeting of council an
other step was taken in the ground rent lot
matter, by the passage of Alderman Falli-
gant's resolution, slightly amended, and the
appointment of Aldermen Falligant, Myers,
Harris, Cam and Bailey to carry out the
resolution. The resolution, in the amended
shape in which it passed, is as follows:
Resolved, That special committee of five be
appointed to recommend to council a plan of
settlement between the city and the owners of
that class OF lots heretofore called ground rent
lots with view to securing the paying I'D of
the balances of purchase money and interest
due the city, and such committee to have power
to confer with the owners Of such lots with that
object IN view
PASSED WITH LITTLE DEBATE.
There was very little discussion on the
resolution. Alderman Falligant supported
it in a few brief remarks, in which he
pointed out that from 1925, 900 to S15O. 600
will be required to secure house drainage
system and get rid of Bilbo canal, arguing
that the life Of Savannah depended upon
its health, and the grand security for
health is in wise system of house drainage
He believed that the money must be raised
this way or by direct taxation, and he be-
lieved that compromise might be effected
and the city relieved from general taxation
in this way.
Alderman McDonough didn't see much
use for a conference committee. 1t is
wasting time, he thought. He opposed
assessing the ground rent lots in the first
instance, but now he thought the best plan
to pursue is to get the matter into the
courts as soon as possible and have it
settled.
Alderman Cam didn't agree with MIR.
McDonough. If by a conference al com
promise can be reached and a portion of
the purchase money paid in he thought it
would be very fortunate for the city. A
discount on the balance of the purchase
money, or any similar plan thar can be de-
sired to bring about this result would GER
tainly justify the appointment Of confer
ence committee.
MAY USE IT'S DISCRETION.
Alderman Mills asked Corporation Attor-
ney Adams if discount of that kind will be
legal
Mr.. Adams answer in brief was to the
effect that the council may legally exercise
its discretion in case where there is an
cation of this definite question has been
had. The council may excuse the owners
of the ground rent lots for back taxes for
four years, on an agreement that they shall
be paid hereafter without contest and it
may, for the same reason, make discount
on the balance of the purchase money for
prompt settlement.
1.-The council passed an amendatory ordi-
nance which operates to reduce the charge
of SO so on improved lots where property
owners do not take water aud known as
the fire protection ordinance. making the
property cents per front foot. The section
of the ordinance amending the one recently
passed is as follows:
All improved lots, or parts of lots, located on
streets on which the water pipes have been eX-
tended, or may hereafter be extended, be
charged and assessed a water rate of cents
per front foot per annum, which charge shall
remain and be collected until the water is in
troduced into the premises when it shall cease S,
and the regularly established water rates shall
then be charged for the use of said water.
THE CABLE CoMPANY's PETITION.
The committee on streets and lanes re-
ported adversely to the petition of the Postal
Telegraph and Cable Company, and the
council sustained the report. The Gable
Company asked the privilege TO erect poles
and run wires from the corporation line
through Bay street to Barnard, thence to
Day sbT6SU lduo, Lu0uCo W OTdJ GOu duQ W
an Office in that neighborhood. The COM
mittee's report was as follows:
That we cannot recommend that permission
be given to use the streets mentioned in the
petition, but that the committee is willing to
allow the petitioners to use streets to be desig-
mated by this committee, provided always
that the petitioners agree to pay tax to the
city, or some proper sum for the use of the
streets in lieu of such tax, and the use be per-
mitted on this condition.
Permission was granted to make repairs
to the Harnett house. The water closets
are to be removed to the rear of the lot,
the reading room extended to the south and
new roof put on and ventilators put in.
Bills to the amount of $11 ,049 Go were
passed.
LOOKING OUT FOR CHRISTMAS.
Alderman Bailey called attention to the
fact that the next regular meeting will fall
he didn't want to serve that night.
AS the tax ordinance must be taken up ct
the next regular meeting, Alder
man Myers asked the corporation
attorney il there is any way to
obviate the meeting on Christmas night,
and Mr. Adams gave the board to under
stand that there is but one way of avoiding
it, and that is for members to absent them
selves, and thus prevent quorum. They
can meet, however, and adjourn to another
day, and it was understood among the mem
bers that this course will be pursued, and no
serious delay or complications will interfere
with the taking up of the tax ordinance at
the adjourned meeting.
The council adjourned subject to the call
ha ma