The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-25
THE CITY OFFICE BILL.
THE EFFECT IT'S PASSAGE BY THE
LEGISLATURE WOULD HAVE.

Mayor McDouough's Views on the
Proposed Meaeure-It Would be a
Bad Thing for Savannah aud any
Other City-Ihe City Needs Compe-
tent Men in It's Departments.
The bill introduced In the legislature, to
make all officers now elected by city coun-
ellis subject to the suffrage of the people, is
creating considerable talk in Savannah.
The hand of master politician can plainly
be seen behind the measure, and bitter
fight will no doubt take place in the legisla-
ture when the bill comes back from the
committee.
Should such a bill become a law the
municipal departments, it is claimed,
would in short order be thoroughly de
moralizedi
Mayor McDonough was asked yesterday
for his views upon the matter. He said if the
bill passes Savannah will soon be in state
Of political turmoil. The offices which are
now filled by competent men, would prob
ably be filed by those who have political
pull, irrespective Of eligibility. Besides. the
city would lose enormously in the matter in
a financial way.
MEN FIT FOR THE OFFICE.
1t takes time TO educate even competent
men to I'LL the positions in the various de-
partments and as a matter Of course money
as we'll. Incompetent persons could never
be educated, and probably after two years
of service those holding the office might
offend some of the bosses aud the result
would be the putting in of some one equally
as Incompetent or even worse. This would
be an after consideration. All that would
be required would be the bowling TO the die
tateS OF the political masters irrespective
of what the city would suffer.
Mayor McDonough said he hopes there is
O sufficient number OF conservative and
clear sighted members in the legislature to
defeat the bill
Alderman Cam said with such law the
city offices would soon be filed with class
OF politicians which is anything but desira-
Bile, both on account of incompetency and
otherwise. AS things now are the city
council is body which is calculated TO be
discriminating in electing men TO office and
getting men who are up 10 requirements.
with the matter left TO the popular vote,
discrimination would be the last thing.
Everything would depend upon whether the
candidate had political pull.
ALDERMAN CAMS VIEWS.
Alderman Cam doesn't think there is
much likelihood of the bill being passed, but
ne lntimaUed That IL 1t were seen such q
thing were liable to occur an ordinance will
be worked through ahead of it to make the
measure inactive as far as Savannah is con-
cerned. The bill provides that all officers
now elected by city council shall
be elected by the people. The
scheme would be to pass an
ordinance amending the city's Code so as to
take the offices ont of the hands of council
altogether and made the officers appointive
by the mayor. This is thing not to be de-
sired, said Alderman Cam, but it is
far more preferable than to have it left to
the popular vote.
A citizen who was discussing the office
bill said things under such state of affairs
would not augur well for tho city. There
would practically be no head to affairs, and
the Office of mayor would be an empty title.
The chief of police could run his
department to suit his own tastes.
irrespective Of the mayors wishes, because
he would be responsible only to the voters.
1t would be the same thing in the fire de-
partment and everything else. II the mayor
undertook to interfere with any of them
the officers could very promptly tell them
to mind his own business.
When the measure has been carefully
looked into it is hardly probable that the
legislators will have the temerity to pass it,
The bill would, If it should become O law,
be detriment TO the city's progress. The
movement would be backward instead of
forward. The city's affairs would be liable
to be placed in the hands of dishonest men,
who would Zurich themselves at the expense
OF the Taxpayers.