The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-10
A POLITICAL COUP.
POLITICS AND RAILROADS DIS
CUssED AT A COUNCIL MEETING.

and Peninsular Railroad Terminal
Facilities at Savannah = The Gov
ernor Requested 20 Withhold His
Signature 80 O City Registration Bill
Rsilrosded Through tbs Legislature.
A special meeting Of the city council was
held yesterday afternoon. The meeting
developed some interesting facts a. TO the
business interests Of Savannah, and the dis
cussion took a general form that makes
politics more interesting than ever.
The first thing that appeared before coun-
oil was Of especial interest 10 Savannah,
but non-political In It's nature. Col J. E.
Henderson, vice president OF the Florida
Central and Peninsular railroad, which is
preparing 70 build from Savannah to
Florida, In connection with the South
Bound, which 1t has recently leased, was be-
fore council. Col. Henderson gave lengthy
description OF the route aud shows that the
road would be advantageous to Savannah
in every way.
WILL COME INTO SAVANNAH.
I'VE want TO come into the city" Col.
Henderson said. "We viii come anyway,
but we want Savannah to give US the same
encouragement that she has given other
roads that have sntsred the city"
Col. Henderson entered into an exhaustive
and very elaborate resume Of what would
be the result of the building OF the road.
He spoke OF the large expectation Of phos-
pilates from Florida, and said that with
proper management all OF this exporting
business could be done from Savannah.
Col Henderson, after fully explaining the
aims and objects OF his line, asked for GER
tain concessions on the part of the city.
TERMINAL FACILITIES WANTED.
Alderman Haines asked what particular
| grant OF land was wanted. Col Henderson
said that he was not familiar with the facts,
but that he understood that the city owned
certain lots by which they could enter the
city.
Speaking of the South Bound he said the
| closest relations existed between his road
and them, but he wished to enter the city
without any qualifications whatever. He
speaks OF the great advantages that Savan-
nah would receive from the completion
| of the road and showed that trade from
Florida, which was now diverted to other
points, would come here when the road was
| completed. He asked that council grant
him certain terminal facilities. He said
that he was not entirely familiar with the
facts and conditions, but from what he
| could learn there was nothing which would
prevent the city In giving all necessary
rights. Col. Henderson did not state ex-
aotly what concessions bis company desired
The mayor, however, said that the city
stood ready 70 literally support any
scheme that looks 10 its benefit. He
engineers OF the city and the railroad to
consult together before any decision should
be reached
REFERRED TO A CoNFERENCK.
The whole matter, after being generally
discussed. was finally, on motion Of Alder
man Mills, settled by a motion made by
him that the subject DO referred 30 the rail-
road committee, aud that a conference be
held with the railroad men as 90 what they
want, as far as concerns concessions Of land
grants by the city; Col. Henderson did
railroad really wanted. He referred,
In general way. to terminal
facilities and the lands owned
bJ the city which could be given the roads
and thus help Savannah, but he said that
he was not prepared to speak
further on the question. After
that the committee on railroads should be-
empowered to meet aud discuss with Col.
Henderson the advisablility Of carrying out
the points he suggested. Col. Henderson
said during his speech that the railroad
would be built anyway, but considering the
fact that Savannah had helped out all other
| rOaQe entering mere ne tnOuRnG ms road
should receive due consideration,
ALDERMAN cHARLToN's RESOLUTION.
The matter Of the railroad business be.
ing satisfactorily adjusted there appeared
| nothing more for council to do than ad-
journ. Before such move was made AL
derman Charlton introduced the following
resolution: That the governor Of Georgia
be requested to veto she bill now In his
hands. regulating the registration for NUM-
cipal elections in Savannah. According TO
the present law the registration hours are
from q. m. to p. m. The proposed law
makes the time OF registration from Q. m.
TO 2 Up. m. and from TO p. m.
Alderman Charlton spoke very strongly
against any change 10 the present law. He
showed that the hours under the present
law were entirely sufficient to enable every
man to register and that the proposed bill
possessed many Questionable features
| ALDERMAN MYERS UPHoLDs THE BILL
Alderman Myers contended that under
the present law all ballots could Inn.
mediately be destroyed, and that copse.
Quently there could be no appeal from the
decision Of the electoral board. He thought
this was wrong, and, although he knew
nothing about the proposed bill In the legis-
lature, he felt confident that its provisions
30 far as IL concerned elections in Savannah
we're right, and that 1t prevented fraud. IL
answer 60 questions from Aldermen Charl-
ton and Dixon Alderman Myers said that
while he understood that ballots had
been Immediately destroyed just after ar
election he had no positive proofs Of the
facts.
THE LABORING MANS VOTE
Aldermen Harmon and Mcclure spoke o.
the interests OF the laboring men In th,
premises and how the change OF hour
would benefit them, but Mr.. Charlton re
piled 60 that, as did Alderman Dixon, thal
under the present law the workingman hac
every opportunity TO register aud that the
proposed change in hours would not benefi
him at all.
SURPRISE MEASURE.
1t developed during the discussion thai
nobody in the meeting knew the exact pro,
visions Of the law and consequently IL
could not be discussed to its fullest
extent. The bill passed by the legislature il
appeared is a substitute for the one pro-
posed by Mr.. Osborne in the beginning OF
the session. Mr.. Osborne's bill was gener-
ally discussed at the time and provisions
which proved very Objectionable were
stricken out. The substitute, it is charged
was prepared with the knowledge Of only 9
few and 1t was put through quietly without
allowing Its provisions to become known.
This is the reason of councils urgent
request to the governor te withhold