The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-06
In THE CITY COUNCIL.
A PROPOSITIONS TO OWNERS OF
GROUND RENT PROPERTY.

A Discount of Fifteen Per Cent. to be
Allowed on All Payments of Pur-
chase Money Up to Dec. 1.-The
City's Need for Funds to Carry on
Public improvements
There was little interesting business
transacted by the city council yesterday
outside of the sustaining of Mayor Nc
Donoughs veto of the club ordinance.
The Smith and Paulsen wharf shed case
was up again, and consumed considerable
time. At the last meeting work was ordered
stopped upon the building on account of
objection being made by adjoining prop
erty owners, aud the matter was referred
back to the river and harbor and fire COM
mittees. The committee reported favorably
yesterday with certain notifications.
w. G. Charlton, Esq, spoke in opposi-
ton 10 the petition and ]. K. SauBsy Ia It's
favor. The arguments were lengthy and
of the same character as those made at the
last council meeting and publ shed in the
MORNING News at the time. The matter
was finally disposed of by granting per-
mission to erect building 81 feet high and
so feet long on the western end.
NEW PAVEMENT WANTED.
A petition was pr esented from residents
of Drayton street asking that the cobble~
stone pavement be removed and new one
Of other material be put down. s. Krous-
koff spoke for the residents. He said the
present pavement is one which causes great
annoyance to residents from noise. He
favored an asphalt pavement. County
Commissioner Smart also spoke i'll favor Of
a new pavement of noiseless material on
the Drayton street front of the court house.
The noise, he said, at times is so great that
court proceedings have to be stopped on ac-
count of liability to hear testimony. The
matter was postponed until the first meet-
ing in November.
Alderman Bailey's ordinance preventing
people from trampling upon the grass plats
of the squares or paved streets, which are
to DO under the supervision of the street and
amendment exempting children under 2
years of age from its provisions.
THE GROUND RENT QUESTION.
In accordance with the recent decision Of
the supreme court on the ground rent ques-
ton the following resolution by the COM
mittee on finance was adopted:
WHEREAS, Under the recent decision of the
supreme court Of Georgia, the legal right of the
city to tax that class OF property known as
ground rent lots is clearly and finally estab-
WHEREAS, The owners of such property have
the right to perpetually retain the unpaid bal
ance of purchase money; and
WHEREAS In view of the need of the city for
funds with which to erect new water works, es-
tablish a proper system OF house drainage and
pave its streets: therefore be it
ResOlUed That upon all Of the above men
toned unpaid balances of purchase money that
may be paid by or before Dec. /, 1897, there
snail be allowed discount OF IS per cent.
The city attorney advised the council. In
caucus, that he was satisfied that the de-
cision Of the supreme court in the case is
final, and that there is not the remotest
probability OF any interference by the su-
preme court of the United States; that no
federal question Is involved In the case.
THE CIrY's OFFER.
OF course the city cannot compel the
payment of the balance Of purchase money,
as the ground rent deed is perpetual as long
as the interest is paid. 1t can only collect
taxes, but in view of the fact that the city
needs money for public improvement the
reduction is held out as an inducement TO
all who may want TO make their property
fee simple.
At the last meeting Mr.. John Rourke
complained of annoyance from privy vaults
il Broughton street lane, between Houston
and East Broad. The matter was referred
to the health and cemetery committee,
which investigated it and recommended
that the owners of the property complained
of be compelled to make sewer conneeti ons
at once. The recommendation was adopted.
The opening of Hall street through tine
park extension was not considered, because
City Attorney Adams has not yet COM
pleted his investigation as to what control
the city has over the plat