The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-03
The county commissloaers.

Petitions have been circulated in this
county for several weeks ia which the legis-
lasure is asked 10 50 change the law relating
to the commissioners Of this county as 70
make them elective. They are now ap-
pointed by the governor on the recon-
nendation Of the grand jury. The reason
alleged for the proposed change is that the
rate OF taxation is 700 high.
Those who will take the trouble 70 inquire
into the matter will find that the commits
I sioners have rot absolute control of the ex-
( penses OF the county. Indeed, their CONT oil
I OF the expenses is quite limited and, there
/ tore, they are not responsible for the rate
OF taxation. They fix the rate. OF course. but
( they are compelled TO make 1t sufficient
( TO provide a sum that will meet the
expenses. The commissioners, for instance,
/ have not the power TO say how Il uch shall
be expended for the courts, the public
schools, maintaining the poor, interest on
county bonds, salaries for county officers.
supporting the jail, etc. ALI of these matters
are provided FOR by law, or fixed by the
grand juries. The money needed for them
must be raised by taxation.
The chain-gang costs a good deal, but
does any one begrudge the morey that is
spent upon it, For more than dozen years
it has been employed in draining the
ccuuty, and what a wonderful effect its
work has had upon the health OF the
county! Maiarisl fever and chlls and
fever, which were so common. have almost
disappeared The drainage done by the
cbain-gang has been worth to the city many
times what it cost.
A new court house has Just been COM
pleted, and a very handsome building it is,
but 1t cost a great deal Of money. Win
anybody say that cheaper building should
have been erect ed, or that the present build
irg cost too much2 or course not. But
the taxpayers must pay for il, and part Of
the taxes collected this year will so toward
the payment or that debt. And there is
the amount that is devoted to public educa-
ton Il is s65,000 this year Is there any
desire on the part of any body TO have it re-
ducedi There is q constant demand that
the amount shat be increased. The superior
court alone requires $50, COO annually for its
maintenance, and tie jail and chain-gang
s27 900. There are a good many ways for
the public money TO 20, but none Of it
is wasted
As matter OF fact, the grand jury care
fully scans the county budgei. IL has the
right to Gisapprove OF any item not autho-
rizsd by law, and it does not hesitate to
exercise its authority. II, therefore, there
was disposition on the part of the COM
missiorers TO ba extravagsnt, the grand
jury would cheek it
But perhaps the alleged extravaganza OF
the commissioners Is not the real reason why
those who are directing the movement
against them want the law changed. The
commissioners appoint the managers Of
the elections, and no charge has ever been
made that the present commissioners, in
discharging this duty. have not always
Keep in mind the best interests OF the peo-
pie. They may not have gwen satisfaction
to some Of the politicians having selfish
ends to gain.
May not the desire 10 control the appoint
ment OF the election managers be at the
bottom Of the NOV ement to have the COM
missioners elected instead Of appointedl
Let those who have signed the petitions in
favor OF a change In the law think of this
point carefully. Was it not to purify the
politics Of the county that the board OF
commissioners was established And Is
il now desired to 90 back 70 system that
was abandoned because Of the evils con-
nected with IT. The interest which the
average citizen takes in county elections is
so little that it would not be difficult, under
the elective system, TO get majority of
board Of commissioners that would serve
the purposes Of q political ring.
Those who are signing the petitions should
inquire who it is that Is at the head OF the
movement for change. Having found
out, they may be able to determine whether
the movement is in the interest of the tax
payers or few politicians
II the people are dissatisfied with the
present commissioners it is an easy matter
to get rid OF them. l; any considerable
number of respectable taxpayers will ask
them to resign it is pretty safe to say the
request will be complied with. TIE CON-
misSioners are not the men to hold on to
Office against the wishes of their fellow
citizens, particularly as they receive no
compensation whatever for their services,
aud have no hope OF reward OF any kind,