The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-13
THE MORNING NEWS: THURSDAY, MARCH 49, 1890.
POINT OUT Or RETRACr.
Alderman Cam Throws Down the
Gloves to Capt. Guerard.

Alderman Cam Throws Down the
Gloves to Capt. Guerard.
Editor Morning NetCs: Let us for few
moments try to look at the groupd-rent
question in a comparatively cool manner.
notice in the report Of last nights meeting
that our good friend Capt. john N. Cue
rard seems to have become excited on the
subject, and, during his excitement, to have
made some very serious charges against the
present council. Now, it is very wrong for
such good men as Capt Guerard and Lieut..
SauSsy to get mad. They ought not to do
1t, especially in the present instance, or
some uncharitable individual will be mean
enough to find 'method in their madness
Now, my dear captain and dearer lieuten-
anti say dearer not from any excess of
affection, but because, in this matter, the
lleutenant'S services will come higher than
the captain's-iet US, with little ice prop
erly applied for cooling purposes, look the
position of the majority of council fairly
in the face.
There is a certain class of property in this
city, the owners of which claim exemption
from city taxation, basing their claim upon
an existing contract. Certain other prop
erty owners resist such claim, and hold that
they the latter are made TO bear an unfair
proportion of tax alton because of the nom
taxation of the class of property first
alluded to. Now, a resolution is introduced
asking the city attorneys opinion as to the
legal right of such property to exemption
from taxation. No harm in that, is there!
His opinion is given to the effect that such
property Is not legally exempt, and that his
research can find no contract erempting it.
Now we come TO the point. Aldermen
sworn to support the laws of
the state, which include an oath
to levy taxes upon all property liable
20 TO- .NuwN. g
Georgia, an opinion from their legal ad-
wiser that certain property is subject to
taxation-no contract to the contrary ex-
isting-the question, ''Shall we adopt the
opinion of our legal adviser, or shall we
cast such opinions aside and practically say,
You do not know what you are talking
about. These property owners say they
are exempt by contract, and we propose to
accept their statement, constitution and
laws to the contrary Notwithstanding. "
Under these facts tue majority of the coun-
ell decided to solve whatever doubt might
exist ia favor of the city, and, if contested,
to let the courts decide the question for all
time to come. And this action is called
robbery" ''swindling,n and several other
understanding pet names. WAS it not
the duty of council to be governed by its
legal adviserP is the question TO be put
to every far-minded man before criticising
the action of that body.
Now, my dear friend the captain, writh-
ing in the agonies of ground rent taxation,
seems to have been for time attacked with
delirium, and the use OF the words
''swindling," ETC., so pleased his ears that he
launches out in general damnaion of the
course of the present administration. Let
us see his charges: Extravaganza" about
covers them. So good a lawyer as Capt.
Guerard would hardly make so serious
charge without ability to substantiate, and
l now challenge him to point out the items
of unnecessary expense during the present
administration. Let him particularize or
retract. As aldermen aud public servants,
we must expect our actions to be criticised,
and cannot look for the unanimous support
of the community on any matter of import
ance, but we do expect, and, in my humble
jud gment, are entitled to honorable criti-
cism from honorable men.
W. G. CAM.