The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-21
A BREEZE IN COUNCIL.
ALDERMAN SMITH AND THE QUAR-
ANTINE CONTRACT.

an E8plaueblOus dEO LuS uASU CSA 9 "a
Council Have a Good Many Cues
tons to Ask-The Contract Question
Proving a Very Interesting One-A
Formal Investigation TO Begin To-
Day The Improvements at the
Quarantine Station.
The city council does not often furnish
sensaton. Last night, though, it came
very near furnishing couple Of them.
After the council had been in session
for something over two hours
and was about to adjourn
Mayor Schwarz gave the proceedings
a very unusual turn by stating that he had
received an intimation Of "irregularityn
in connection with the proposition to place
a stevedore in charge of the work OF dis
charging ballast at the quarantine wharves.
He asked the council whether it desired to
take the matter up at once or at future
meeting.
Alderman Smith, who was most directly
mn at once. The mayor
called upon Health Officer Drummer
to state to the council the substance of a
conversation that he had with Alderman
Smith in reference to the contract for dis
charging ballast at the quara 1tine station.
Or. Drummer statedt that on recent visit by
the members Of the council to quarantin,
Alderman Smith, in a conversation with
him. had invited him 10 visit the Savannah,
Florida and Western railway wharves and
inspect the alderman's system of discharg-
ing ballast there. DR.. Drummer accepted the
invitation, and several days after drove to
the wbarves with Alderman Smith, and
saw the workings of the system. After
leaving the wharves DIR. Drummer
said that Alderman Smith asked him how
much his salary as health officer was.
DR.. Drummer replied that it was 81, 800
but he intimated that he would apply for
an increase of $500 Alderman Smith told
him that he did not think he would
get it, but said to him that there ought to
be money in unloading vessels at quaran-
tine, and if he would advocate his plan to
DR. Harris, who is chairman of the health
and cemetery committee, he would pay him
$1,000.
The mayor stated that Dr. Drummer had
brought the matter to his attention, and
in connection. with the Alderman
Smiths advocacy of the contract
system Of discharging ballast and the
fact of the alder mans partner having
petitioned for appointment as stevedore at
the quarantine, he deemed 1t his duty to
bring it to the attention Of the council
After relating the substance of the con-
Yer a ION WHICH Hb udu Will hiubTUldn
Smith, Dr. Drummer intimated that he
might say more.
Alderman Myers-We want to know all
there is in the matter.
Dr. Drummer went on to say that he told
Alderman Smith that he could not accept
his proposition.
Alderman Smith in explanation OF the
conversation that he had with DR.. Drummer,
said that as chairman of the committee on
-. IL Il
matter a good deal of study and be
was convinced that the best way
to regulate the discharge of ballast was to
do the work by contract His idea was
that DR.. Drummer was the proper man to do
the work and in that way he would receive
the 81 600 Smith 81 Kelly, Alderman
Smith said, did not wish to have anything
70 do with the work, and would not be
connected with it in any way. Turning to
DIR. Drummer the alderman said, You can
not say otherwise, unless you lie.n
The alderman denied that there was any
effort or intention on his part TO bride DR..
Drummer, and he said that he was working
with an eye single to the city's interests.
Alderman Bailey-How was the 81, 900 to
be got1
Alderman Smith-From the vessels.
DIR. Brunner-You said that you would
guarantee me 81 600
Alderman Smith, did not
Alderman Bailey-Was Mr.. Kely's ap-
phcation for appointment as stevedore at
quarantine before the council when this
conversation took placei
Alderman Smith-No, sir. it was not.
DR.. Drummer to Alderman Smith-What
did you mean when DR.. Harris drove ND to
my office enc day while you were there and
you said, ''pm sorry DR.. Harris caught me
herep'
Alderman Smith explained that he may
have said something of that kind, but he
did not recollect it.
Alderman Candid you say to Or.
Drummer that you would vote to give him
the control at quarantines
Alderman SMITH did.
Alderman Falligant-You mean to say
that you told DIR. Drummer that he would
make 5 900 from the contract?
Alderman Smith-Yes, sir
Alderman Wells-lf the health officer
was stevedore at quarantine, would it not
be an inducement to him to keep vessels
therel
Alderman Smith-YeS, sir. 1t most GER
tainly would.
Alderman Wells to DR.. Brunner-Are
you a stevedore?
DR.. Brunner-No, sir.
Alderman Wells wanted to know WHY it
was then that Alderman Smith should have
selected DIR. Drummer as the proper man to
undertake the contract.
Alderman Smith asked the city attorney
II there was any ordinance against the
health officer undertaking a contract of
that kind.
The question led to an investigation OF
the code and TO a lively tilt between Alder
men Falligant and Myers. A rule Of coun-
Gil provides that no alderman shall be inter
ested in any contract with the CITY. There
is an ordinance against any CITY officer
being interested in a city contract Alder
man Falligant referred to the recent apph-
cation by "Chas. F. Prendergast and others
representing the Savannah Electrical Com
pany for permission to erect poles in the
streets Of the city. Among the organizers
of that company were two members Of the
council.
Alderman Falligant said that he was OBJ
posed 10 making fish of one aud flesh of an
other. If tho veil was TO be torn from Mr.
Kelly to find Alderman Smith he
thought that with equal aptitude
the veil should be taken from
the Savannah Electrical Company,
and that the aldermen who are interested in
that enterprise shall be brought 10 light.
Alderman Myers, who wa one of the or
ganizers Of the company, jumped to his
feet and accused DIR. Falligant of casting a
slur upon the promoters of private enter
prise, which DIR. Falligant cody denied.
Alderman Myers-You did, sir.
DIR. Falligant-No sir, / did not l must
deny any such charge. The alderman be-
lieved though in the enforcement Of the
ordinances and rules OF council.
Several aldermen jumped 20 their feet to
take hand in the tilt, AID for a moment
there was some confusion The CITY mar