The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-27

Members Look Upon Them as in The
Interest Of a Faction.

Mr.. Osborne Wants tho State to Buy
the Central-Enlarged Powers Pro-
posed for the Police Court-Eleotrie
Companies May be Charged for the
Use of the Streets.
Atlanta, Ca, Oct 26.-Chatham coun-
tvs delegation occupied front seats in the
House to-day. Messrs. Osborne, Guerard
and Doolan all introduced important gen
eral and local bills, which attracted direct
attention, and besides gave out "a statement
to the local press which shows that they
will unite in an effort to build up local
political capital out of their privileges as
legislators. The delegation claims to be
fighting ring rule in Savannah, and to-
day introduced the first of several bills
which they claim are primarily leveled
at most unheard-of clique of corruption
lists who have been running the
city for years past. The enthusiasm
of the delegation however, seems to have
caused reaction against them, and
many Of the thinking members are openly
of the opinion that the delegations pur-
pose is not so much TO purify Savannah
politicsi as TO feather the nest of the
faction which they represent. In the
statement which they give to the press,
the Savannah members criticise the ad-
ministration OF both city and county af-
fairs violently, making such charges of
corruption that the House has already
smelled mouse and will not be in any
hurry to lend its assistance to what is al
ready regarded as a plain effort Of one
faction, that is out of power, to tear
down another element in power, through
legislative enactment.
THE REGISTRATION LISTS.
Mr.. Doolan's bill to take the
registration lists out of the hands
of the clerk of the county commission
and trust the ordinary with the function
of registration was the first thing that
cast suspicion on the motives Of the dele
cation in the fight which they began with
the opening of the session. Mr.. Doolan
has not yet introduced this bill, but is
holding it back until the general bill with
the same provisions, introduced by Mr.,
Bloodworth, Of Monroe, and probably in
tended as "feeler'' has served its pur
pose.
The story that the Savannah members
are using to prepare the way for this bill,
which MIR. Doolan is nursing, is that the
county commission clique spent Sl7 900 to
keep the registration list in their power
at the last election. Messrs. Doolan and
Guerard are the most active in the work.
Mr.. Osborne claims to be willing to have
any sort Of bill pass that will give an
honest vote and fair count in Savannah.
He indorses the charges Of corruption
made by his colleagues, but processes a
willingness to abandon the kind of fight
they are making If a movement which he
and Mr.. Neel, of Floyd, are working
upon, to get general bill through giving
all cities in the state of more than 10000
population the Australian ballot A eau
Gus of members representing the
counties in which these cities are located
will be held soon and bill embodying
the essential features of the Australian
ballot law will be drawn up if it is believed
there is chance of passing it, which is
doubtful. Atlanta and Macon politicians
would be sure TO make vigorous fight
on it.
WANTS THE STATE TO BUY THE CENTRAL.
The most important bill Of the session
came from Mr.. Osborne. He presented a
proposed amendment to the constitution
providing that the bonded debt of the
state be so increased as to allow the state
to become a bidder or purchaser Of the
main stem of the Central railroad. Mr.
Osborne's idea is that unless the state
steps in to protect the property and the
interests Of the holders OF the roads de-
bentures, when it is sold it will not bring
more than enough TO pay the bonds, and
of course common stockholders would lose
all He is of the opinion that reorgani-
zation is the only hope to save the road
to its stockholders. A strong enough
company could not be formed in Georgia.
and outside interests will of course, force
the price down as low as possible at the
sale, unless the state interferes by holding
it up to its real value. Savannah alone
would lose 5000, 600 If the road is allowed
to go to outside money brokers, most OF
the loss falling on trust estates and
benefcent institutions, and for this rea-
son the state should intercede to protect
the interest of its citizens.
NEW POWER FOR THE POLICE COURT.
City Attorney Adams sent up bill to-
day, which was introduced by Mr..
Doolan, giving the police court Of Sa-
vannah Jurisdiction TO try all sorts of
gaming cases, carrying concealed
weapons, vagrancy and other offenses
This bill is also being used by the delega-
tion against the "Ins''. It is claimed
that when parties are fined in the state
courts for these offenfes the money not
only goes to enrich tine solicitor instead
OF keeping up the city, but that the So
licltor has been in the habit Of taking
promissory notes in settlement OF fines
imposed and that the effect is to
practically license gaming and
the keeping Of gaming houses, as the
court does not shut up the dives as long
as its officer holds notes against them.
CHARGES FOR Use or THE STREETS
Mr. Osborne introduced q bill giving
the mayor and aldermen OF Savannah au-
thority 10 collect charges from street
railway companies electric light COM
panies and telephone aud telegraph com
panies for using the streets Of the city for
their poles aud lines,