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

lied as an attempt to put swindIe upol
the people.
In 1876, when the city was bankrupt, the
bonds below 80 per. ceat on the dollar and
less than that pzid for the coupons, anC
when the city was on the verge of bank
ruptcy and degradation, a few of toe
ground renters, Capt. Guerard said iuciud
ing himself, had conceded the right to tar
the ground rent lots to help the city out Of
its financial straits, and after he had paid
four quarters of taxes the city treasurer
notified him that only two persons were
paying, and he quit doing so. 1t was a
voluntary act, he claimed, by the few who
| paid 10 relieve the necessities Of the time,
since which time the right TO tax had never
been asserted until the wastefulness of the
present city council had led it to attempt il
now. They say that they want to tax the
ground rent lots to reduce taxation, but
they may put the rate Of taxation up to
per cent.
HARD ON THE ALDERMEN.
Capt. Guerard said that the whole system
of finances of the present board of alder
men is a blunder, and they are acting as if
all knowledge begun with them and will
die with them. The speaker said that out
side Of the city property holders return Just
such valuations as they please. and the
counties of Bulloch, Effingham, Screven,
Bryan and other neighboring counties, re-
turn their property at only about one-quar-
ter of its value, but that next April the
county will take the valuation made by the
city, and the widows and children will have
to practice self-denial and do without their
breakfast to pay the increased state and
county taxes.
Capt. Henry Blum said that former city
council had sought to tax the ground rent
lots, but after an investigation aban-
doned it.
Wolf Barnett advocated paying the tax
under protest, and testing the right to tax
afterward. He seemed to labor under the
impression that the city might levy and sell
and the ground renter would lose his prop
ertV.
Ex-Alderman David Wells replied that
ground rent is one thing and the tax is
another. The city could re-enter on very
short notice for unpaid ground rent, but If
it levied on the property for taxes an in
junction could be obtained to prevent an
execution, and where the property is sold
for taxes the ground renter will have year
in which to redeem it.
WANTED COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
He favored the appointment of a commit
tee to get the ground renters to sign an
ing taxation. April l, he said, is nearly
here. when the taxes will be due, and action
should not be delayed. SIN time of peace"
he remarked, ''we should prepare for war,
as there may be some judgments" 1t is
mo funny business" he added, and he sug-
gested that all present put down their names
to raise fund.
A. R. Fawcett offered the following reso-
luton:
Resolved, That a committee of five be APP
pointed by the chair, which shall Ldraw up
q form OF apreRmPnt which fhay Gba n ~ bai
best effort 10 get signed by every ground rent
lot holder which form of agreement shall bind
said ground rent holder for an assessment not
exceeding one half of per cent. on the present
city valuation of said lots, and said committee
is hereby authorized, after getting one-half in
value OF said ground rent lots, as soon as the
city takes legal action to enforce their supposed
rights, to employ counsel and fight.
Mr.. Gilbert opposed proposition by Sal
ONION Cohen to make the fund not to ex-
coed one-half of per cent. of the unpaid
purchase money. He said it was not equi-
table.
THE RIGHT WAY OR NONE AT ALL.
Mr.. Wells said there is no use going into
the fight without going in right Some
will be able to contribute to the fund,
and some will make their lots fee
simple. 1t will take from $1,000 TO $4,000,
he said, as the case may go to the Unitei
States supreme court, as some of the ground
reuters are residents of other states, ana
he is advised that the resident
ground renters can take it to the United
states supreme court, as, the taxation of
such property is a violation of a contract
An arrangement may be made, be said, to
pay counsel 50 much if the ground renters
lose, aud contingent fee if they win their
case
Capt. d. G. Purse moved to amend Mr..
Fawcett's resolution by making the fund
not to exceed 5000, and on motion of Mr..
Waring Russell the committee was enlarged
to eleven, in which shape the resolution was
adopted. The chair said he would take
time to consult with some of the ground
renters, and they would appoint the COM
mittee to-day, after which the meeting
adjourned.
Mr.. Wells said that he was in favor of
opening the list for signers at once. las it is
best to know how many signers we. have"
and the table was taken down from the
stage and the subscription lisu opened, but
the ground renters fairly tumbled over each
other in getting down stairs, only thirty
two out of over 100 present signing the
agreement to contribute to the expense
fund.