The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-26
nEEnIAI

sisteutiy made tor euiorrculeut 90 the law ln
one case and ats enforcement Ina tho
other
40 bar rooms arc to be closed and other
business permitted % 60 on q petition 10
the legislature backed by the warm support
OF members nom this district might sue.
coed In getting "a law passed 90 suit the
wishes OF petitioners but until this IL done
the law should be enforced a. IL Is. 10 IS
not within the power OF the Mayor OF Sa-
Naunah 20 enforce the laws OF the state but
IL Is his duty as he views 70 10 See that such
violations of the laws as affect the good con-
duct OF our streets and the conduct OF places
OF business coming directly under the
public eye be reported ,es pecially In the alb
Sence OF City ordinances ON the subject, TO
the state authorities.
II has not been the policy OF the Mayor 10
view these matters from any religious
standpoint but To endeavor to the best OF
his ability 10 carry ont and secure a compi-
ance with the ordinances of the city, and of
the state laws where they bear upon sub
Jecls connected with the good4order OF the
community.
1.-THE enforcement ofany ordinance land
there are very many in The codel is over
looked by the Mayor, his attention being
called TO 10 by any citizen, will result in
prompt efforts towards it's enforcement.
Licenses to sell liquor should be issued
only to bar rooms, and the sale Of liquor
not permitted in connection with any busi-
/ ness other than hotels and restaurants.
| such result, one which obtains in many
| OF the most prOSpero cities would tend to
/ the advantage OF the poorer classes, especi-
| ally the colCred people, many of whom deal
| at corner groceries and spend most of their
wages for liquor,and that too Of the poorest
/ quality, sold ut such places.
| The practice of licensing houses ofill-fame
and other places of questionable repute to
! sell liquor should be discontinued and to
! this end forbidden by ordinance Upon In
! formation obtained by the Mayor, on en-
! ployment Of a special detective for the pur-
! pose, a number of proprietorS of houses OF
| this character were placed upon the docket
and convicted OF selling liquor without
| license. The testimony demonstrated the
| fact that liquor was sold ad ltbitum nj these
| houses to the habituates thereof at high
| prices without license and without the sur
! veillance provided by ordinance regulating
| the conduct of places where liquor Is sold.
| This practice has been carried on to such
an extent that a large number of these
houses seem to be established for the sale OF
liquor with decovs in the shape OF the wo-
men occupants TO attract patronage. The re-
| suit of this is that such places are on the In
| crease throughout the city and frequent
complaints from respectable citizens testify
| 10 the disorderly conduct OF houses in
| nei9hborhoods formerly free from such
! characters. This state of affairs would not
prevail If the sale of liquor under such cir
| cumstances was prevented by ordinance, as
without the revenue from this source many
| ofthese characters could not exist at their
| calling and would be compelled TO work for
! living. Instead of permitting any person
| to sell liquor under the conditions now pre-
scribed which amounts practically TO simp-
| ly bond conditioned to comply with the
! ordinances and laws governing the sale of
| liquor signed by the applicant and two
| freeholders (and signatures for the purpose
| are always easily obtained the ordinance
should invest In the Chief Executive Of the
city the power to pass u pom all applications
and TO refuse such as are not consistent
with the public good, with privilege to APP
| plicants to appeal from such decision to
| council for final action. Such appeals
would bring the circumstances under which
| the license was refused before council and
before the public and this Of itself would
! tend towards q correction of tho evils which
exist under the present manner OF granting
| liquor licenses some of which are not gener-
ally known and certainly not properly un-
| derstOOd.
The Mayor desires TO call the attention Of
Council and of the public towards the Inn
| portance of establishing in the city a prop
| err place for the temporary care OF the insane
| until they are received at the state ASy lum.
| Many insane persons, especially colored,
have been taken from of the streets by POI
| licemen and brought before the Mayor in
| the Police Court for disposition. In many
| instances these unfortuuates wandered to
| Savannah from adjacent counties and even
! states and on being brought to the attention
OF the county authorities here the said au-
thOrities seemed indispoSed TO take charge
! of them and in some instances absolutely
| refused. under which circumstances they
were sent back from whence they came,
| when this could be ascertained, at the eX-
pense of the city, and when this could not
| be done and the cases were of a harmless
| character the city authorities were COM
PEELED To release ana let them out upon the
public streets for want OF place to confine
| and care for them properly.
Savannah needs a new Code or Ordinan-
ces Many Of the ordinances dating back to
the early days of the city are unsuited to its
needs and tend TO interfere with and prove
a hinderance TO its progress and impor-
lance. At present we have more ordinan-
ces than can be enforced and as many OF
them conflict at least in part If not entirely
their intention becomes vague and uncer,
tain and compliance with them thus rem
dered impracticable IL not impossible. The
| Mayor recommends that this matter be
taken up and carefully considered by the
| different committees and ordinances Pegu-
lating each branch of the public service
submitted by them to Council. A better
| system would thus be provided for the guild
| ance and benefit of all concerned. This Is
an important matter as 1t affects the public
| service and the entire community,
| Savannah should have a chamber for the
meetings OF the government suited to her
| progress and In keeping with modern times.
| A table furnished with Is chairs around
| which sit the members of council in a social
| circle as IL were. Is not in the opinion of the
! Mayor compatible with the dignity with
! which should surround the meetings of the
board. The Council Chamber should be so
| arranged that each member would have
| desk and be thus seated. This arrangement,
which could be accomplished at very it,
! tie cost, would improve the sittings of coun-
| Gil and in the opinion Of the Mayor tend
10 the advantage Of the public welfare.
The aldermen of the city have
| attended carefully TO her interests and
| the service rendered by them
| has been busiDess-like and intelligent
| and the honest purpose to do their duty
! which pervades every member OF the board
| as well as the officers of the city govern
| ment accounts for the proper administra-
| ton of public affairs and the proper treat
| ment OF the trusts placed in their keeping
! by their fellow citizens.
During the past year business through
out the country has been uncertain and un-
satisfactory, yet we have not suffered as
much as some other sections and Tor this
reason should not complain. The conserva-
tive spirit of our citizens and ofits bust
ness men serves us,well and holds Savannah
firmly in place among cities recognized to
be of sound credit and solid standing
Respectfully submitted,
JNO. J. McD0NOUGH,
Mayor.