The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-09
MONEY FOR THE HARB0R.
THE COUNCIL, RECOMMENDS AN
APPRoPRI ALTON OF $4,000.

That Amount to Cover the Expense'
ofthe Harbor improvement Commit
taa,s Plan to secure DeepWater-rht
Council Divided Upon the Question
of the Legality of an Appropriation
nv the City and the Subscription
Plan Urged.
A special nesting Of ths city council was
hold Yesterday afternoon TO arrange for the
defrayiug Of the expenses necessary to the
carving out of tie deep water project.
Af.sr considerable discussion, a resolution
was nassed requesting that the council in
rag,,isr session authorize Mayor McDonough
to spend $1,000.
Mayor McDonough was absent and Vice
Chairman of Council Harris presided. He
stated the object of the meeting, and said
that Capt. D. G. Purse and Mr.. Il. III.
Conner had been invited to be present to
give the members all necessary informa-
ton on the subject.
Cant Purse explained that he was pres
emf as a member of the river and harDor
Improvement COMMITTEES 10 give statement
of the probable cost OF carrying out the
project to secure deep water. The idea is
to make q canvass OF the seventeen states
tributary to Savannah through organized
bodies. newspapers, municipal authorities,
etc He believed $4,000 will cover all the
expenses, including that already spent for
the entertainment Of The legislature and the
proposed visit of President Harrison and
the members OF congress. Galveston, he
said spent S60, 900 for the same purpose.
THE SUBSCRIPTION PLAN.
Alderman Carson inquired of Capt. Purse
II it were the intention 10 have the city
bear all the expense, and if an effort had
been made to secure subscriptions.
Capt Purse replied that subscriptions had
never been considered because it is more
equitable TO have the city bear tire expense.
All the citizens would then be equally re-
presented, and few wouldn't bear all the
burden. Another thing, the legislature
would never have accepted an entertain
meot got up by subscriptions nor would
President Harrison and the congressman
and Sc majors be likely to accept an invita-
ton except it is rendered by the city.
II. NJ. Conner urged that one thing which
inter ests Savannah almost above every
thing else is deeper water and he didn'6 be-
lieve any one will dispute the statement.
The asking Of the city TO bear the expense
he considers but small thing in COMPARE
son with the benefits which the city will
derive from the improv ement OF the har-
Dor.
Mr.. Conner spokei in complimentary terms
of the work done by Capt. Carter, WHO has
taken personal pride in the deepening Of
the harbor, and the pamphlet of interesting
facts which he has prepared on the subject.
IN FAVOR OF AN APPROPRIATION.
After the arguments of Capt. Purse and
Mr.. Conner, Alderman Haines moved that
the mayor be authorized TO spend $40, 900 in
the Interest of the project.
Alderman Bailey raised the point that a
special meeting of the council couldn't APP
propriate money withous unanimous con-
sent.
Alderman Carson said he would object,
because he thought the appropriation OF
money should be considered and acted upon
at a regular meeting only.
Alderman Cam relieved matters by Off
ering the following resolution:
Thatit be recommended to council to author
iZe the mayor TO sign bills for the purpose of
the legitimate expenses attached to
the efforts now being made by tle executive
of citizens to obtain from con Sress
an appropriation to deepen our river, said
authority to be limited to an expenditure not
TO exceed $4,000 including the amount already
expended Tor said purpose.
RELIEVED THE MEASURE ILLEGAL.
Several aldermen seconded the resolution,
but Alderman Carson gave notice that he
would vote MOI because he had been adj
vised that such expenditures are illegal, aud
as long as he is an alderman, he said. he
will not vote for an illegal measure. He
believed if the subscription plan we're tried
greater success would tie met than the COM
mittee anticipates He thought that the
Richmond and Danvilie ought to subscribe
in Wow of the great benefits it
would derive III increasing the capacity of
its steamships and business.
Alderman Cam den ed that there would
be any illegality in the appropriation of
money for such purpc SEES. The city attor-
ney had onlF advised that the council had
no legal right to appropriate moneys for the
Of visitors. The city has be-
fore speni money for dredging the Saven-
nah river, and it has as much right to spend
money for the work OF deepening tine river
as it has for building wharves or other i'm
Even in the matter of entertainment of
guests, Alderman Caun said, where the city
will derive benefit, he would be willing to
swallow the question of illegality. He
didn't believe that any citizen would raise
the question.
AS to the argument of Alderman Carson
the Richmond and Danville sub
scribing literally. he thought it was uu-
called for, in view of the fact that the Rich
mond and Danville and Ocean Steamship
Company had heretof 1re borne all the ex-
penses OF transportation for the pushing
forward Of the project.
The question was called for and Alder
man Carson demanded the yeas and nays,
which resulted as follows:
YEAs-Aldermen Cam. Bailey, Mcclure,
Reid, Haines.
NAY-Alderman Carson