The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-28


Thomas and DR.. Falligsnt Are H.
terssted.
SAVANNAH, Ca, Dec. 2T.-Editor Morn
ing Netcs: As your issue Of Dec
%, in the account of a speech of DR.
L. A. Falligant made the evening before
contained charge which reflects upon my
personal and official integrity, beg that
you will, in Justice 60 myself, publish tbe
following correspo ndsnce between my at.
torneys and DR.. Falligant and a short state
ment from me:
sAvANSAH, GA, Dec. %, 1899.
Dr.. L. 4. Fdlli0dnt, Savannah, Ga.
DEAR SIR-RepreSenting Mr.. d. K. Thomas,
we beg TO call your attention to the fact tina c
the MORNING News of to-day reports you "a
using the following language concerning Mr..
Thomas in your speech last night: "The first
name shall notice is d. r. Thomas When
seven or eight years ago l was a candidate for
alderman Mr.. Thomas was one who put up
scheme that would put me of the board and
put in my place a man who voted for the cleo
trio light bill, which sold TO the city lights at
$3.50 per light In the ODenin0 uD Of River
street Mr. Thomas sold his lots at prices four or
fre times thew udlue, and he teds an alderman.
SO much for Mr. Thomas"
Your attention is particularly re quested 70
the language UNDERSIGNED.
You are respectfully asked to state whether
you are correctly reported, ana whether this
publication Is authorized, or confirmed by YOU
Respectfully yours, DENMARK y ADAMS,
Attorneys.
SAVANNAH, GA. Dec g. 1892
Messrs. Denmdrk Dc adams
GENTLEMEN--In reply 20 yours OF yesterday
representing MIR. d. r. Thomas, have to say
that did not say that 'Mr. Thomas was one
who put up scheme that would put me Oft the
board, etc, but that "my information was
thatit was at that Office that a scheme was
concocted, etc do not even know whether
Dir. Thomas had q hand in IL or not.
In the matter OF the underscored lines / said
that lin the opening UP Of River street Mr..
Thomas received for a little strip which was cut
off his lot an amount largely in excess Of its pro
rata value as represented by the tax assess
ment on the lot "
recollect saying that an adjoinlng lot owner
who had agreed to take a certain sum about
5000 for his strip put up hi price to some $500
worth) and got IL. and justified the act on the
ground that he wanted as much for his piece as
Mr.. Thomas wanted for his. as they we're ad-
Joining. So that the city treasurer stated to
me some time afterward that the widening of
the street cost between $40 600 and $500
when 1t was originally expected that &c would
cost only 1908 to $4,000 Respectfully yours.
LOUIS A. FALLIGANr.
1 wish TO add that received from the
city of Savannah the sum OF S448 70 for
l. 432 square feet of my land, taken for the
widening of River street, and for the
grading of the end of the remaining lot SO
as to conform to the portion taken, this
grading being made necessary by the WIDEN
ing of the street, and that, including this
(which was the committees estimated cost
of the grading, the price paid me was less
than that paid any other property owner
on the block, and less than / afterwards
paid for the adjoining land. / Was not
only not paid a cent more than the
market value, but less than value,
although IL may be true that l was paid
in excess Of its pro rata value as repre-
sented by the tax assessment on the lot -"
It will be reoollected that In those days the
city of Savannah pursued the policy OF a
high rate Of taxation (2h per cent, and OF
assessing property at very much less than
its market value. Neither in the open
ing of River street nor In any other mat
ter did ever advance, or seek 60 advance,
my private interests at the public expense,
and l am confident that no one will so
charge over his own signature. | now state
that il the city, will bring suit against me /
will waive the question. as to the statute of
limitations, or settlement, and every other
technical defense, and will agree to pay any
excess over and above the fair market value
OF my property that jury may find have
received, with interest Under this state
meut 1t would be the duty OF the mayor and
aldermen TO institute this suit, if this, or the
succeeding board, should come TO the con-
clusion that have received a dollar more
than / am justly entitled to. As to the
widening Of River street, and as to any
other matter, invite the closest scrutiny
into my official conduct.
Concerning the cost of widening River
street, beg to say that have the data be-
fore me which shows the amount assessed
In each case and the amount paid in each
case, that the entire assessed cost was $l2,-
965 50 and the actual cost, including re-
moval OF electric tower, changing machinery
OF rice mill and building retaining walls,
was $19.6l5 II.
In his letter DR.. Fallgant states that he
does not know whether / had a hand in
keeping him off the board or not The fact
is, had nothing TO do with il.
1t therefore appears, MIR. Editor, accord
ing to DR.. Failigant's letter, that he has not
been correctly reported. The published re-
port OF his speech contains very serious
charge against me. His letter to my at
torney makes none. Respectfully yours,
ID. r. THOMAS.
WHAT THE REPORTER SAYS.
In reference to the speech made by DR..
Falligant on the night of Dec. 81, at Odd
Fellows hall, these facts may be stated:
l reported the speech for the MORNING
NEWS. and gave DR.. Falligant's exact
words In his remarks about the various gen.
tlemen prominent in the mass meeting that
nominated Mayor McDonough for re-elec-
ton. In order that there should be no mis-
take as to his language, l went to DR.. Falli-
CANT after his address and asked him for his
manuscript. He said that he only had some
notes, but he repeated his remarks about
each of the gentlemen, and they we're writ
ten by me just as he gave them. / had
taken full notes of the speech during its de-
livery, but not being stenagrapher,
wanted to be sure that what was written
was exactly right. My notes correspeuded
almost exactly with what DIR. Falligant
said, but at his suggestion a number Of
changes in the phraseOlogy, and a number
Of additions we're made. DIR. Sheftall and
another gentleman, whom do not know,
were present when DR.. FalIigaRt dictated
from his manuscripts to me.
PAUL, NJ BRICE.