The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-16
DR.. Fallgant and the Ground Rent
Issue.

Editor Mornfng Netus: After the supe-
rior court of Chatham county had decided
the case OF David Wells ct al. VS.. the mayor
and aldermen of the city of Savannah (be-
ing the case of the so-called ground rent
lots in favor of the city, that is in favor of
the position taken by me, that they be-
longed to the holders, that the balances due
on them were in effect mortgages, and that
these lots were taxable property the came
as any other lots, the city council,
realizing that the city must find
some legitimate means of raising
money to put IN new water works and
a system of good house drainage, and also
realizing that whilst these lots were tax
able there was no power vested in the
mayor and aldermen to compel the owners
OF such lots TO pay up the balances of pur-
chase money due on them as long as they
continued to pay the interest thereon,
falsely called ground-rent) took under
very grave discussion the means of inducing
the holders to pay up these balances. A few
wanted 70 give a large discount, others
favored q smaller discount, whilst Nc
Donough and myself, as nearly as
who confined themselves to a legal
position. McDonough arose in his scat in
open council and stated that "if tho CITY
was entitled Co this money. she was entitled
to every dollar of it" | honored McDon-
ough for his strict integrity of expression,
and yet differed with him and all the
other members OF council to the folio wing
extent These balances had an unlimited
time to run so long as the interest was paid
and thought the city had a right to pay a
reasonable premium TO get the money paid
in, just as she has to pay premium to buy
in her bonds So long as that premium was
reasonable and just it would stand
the test OF legal attack. Whenever
it exceeded that figure it was
open to the charge of being "a grab
When the council voted for the so per cent.
discounUawhich meant gift to the ground
renters of about SIZE, 600. If they all &C
copied the terms / voted against it and
filed minority report in accordance with
the aforementioned views. 1t was my
opinion, expressed i'll caucus, that not over
one-fourth of the total would be paid under
that 80 per cent. that the city would lose
some S25, 900 10 $50, 900 by the experiment,
and that the balance would take MIR.
Saussy's unwise advice and fight. So far as
l was concerned, / 'OiShed they tOouLd all
right, as | was sure the city would win the
fight and would save the $lT5. 900 discount
generously offered them, and which they
were so ill-advised as to decline, but which
the city itself SO greatly needed.
After the decision of the superior court
and whilst the discount proposition was be-
ing discussed by council, prior to the final
decision OF the supreme court, q member Of
the ground renters committee called on me
at my Office and said that he wished TO have
a private conversation with me (which he
desired me to keep as secret as the gTduei
as close as the secrets Of our order" odd
Fellowship
"You understand said he 70 me.
20, yes. understand" replied.
He then proceeded as nearly as l can re-
cali his language as follows:
II have come TO see whether we can't get
you to stop lighting the so per cent dis
count which we want council to give US.
Now, doctor, you know that you are am
bilious, and, l expect, would like TO be
mayor Of this city. aud from what l have
gathered in conversation, think If you will
vote for this 80 per cent. reduction we can
make you mayor OF the cityw Recalling
himself suddenly, he continued again:
"Now don't mean to say that the COM
mittee have authorized me to make you
this propositionl only mean to suggest
that the result | have above mentioned
would probably follow. indeed, feel per-
feotly satisfied Of it!'
Explained 20 him that the city was in
the greatest danger in regard TO the pos
sible wearing out of the pumps at the water
works, aud that large ndmber of the
water mains in the city would have to be
replaced with new and larger ones, and
that we were in danger every season Of
almost an epidemic Of typhoidal fevers by
reason OF our bad system OF house drainage,
and that the city would be compelled for
the safety Of the lives Of her citizens TO pro-
vide very large sum for these two abso-
lutely vital works, and had no other way
of obtaining the money except by getting
in these balances, or by an enormous in
crease in direct taxation, which the people
were absolutely unable TO bear; that the