The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-16
ALDERMANIC FISTS FLY.
THE COUNCIL IN = MELEE OVER
The POLICE SBRGEANTCY.

hitting the RsappOintment OF Sergt
KnIourhy to the Police Force-Ihe
Ordinance Finally Psssed-Aldermau
Follierd Takes the Oath OF ONCE
Police Not to Receive Pay During
Absence From Duty.
Last nights meeting OF the city council
was probably one Of the most, if not.the
most, sensational that has ever occurred IN
the long room OF the city exchange. Mayor
McDonough and alderman Dixon lost their
tempers, and for a few seconds it looked as
If personal difficulty between the two
might result.
The case Of ex-Assistant Chief Of Police
Killourhy was the cause Of the trouble.
The preliminary council caucus lasted
tUo hours, and the exchange clock was
striking 10 when Mayor McDonough aud
the board 1led into the long room.
As soon as the meeting was called TO or
der Alderman Thomas A. Follisrd, the new
member of the board, was sworn in.
a QUESTION OF CHARITY.
Another case, almost parallel with that
OF Policeman Masters, which was acted
upon four weeks ago, came up. 1t was
that Of Policeman Neidhnger, who asked
the council to refund TO him SIS which was
deducted from his salary during the time
be was compelled TO attend his wife during
her recent fatal illness. The majority OF
the police committes-Aldermen Myers
and Dixon-reported unfavorably, aud
Alderman Haines, the chairman, submitted
q minority favorable report.
Alderman Wells moved the adoption OF
the majority report, which was seconded
by Alderman Dixon in a brief speech, IN
which he said that under the oath he had
taken TO protect the peoples money he did
not feel that he could conscientiously favor
refunding the money asked by Policeman
Neidlinger. Alderman Dixon sYmpathized
he said, with anybody placed in such pO-
sition and would be willing, as matter Of
charity, to give his pro rata out of his
pocket to make up the amount asked, but
he felt that setting the precedent asked for
by Policeman Neidlinger would be wrong,
and would only open the gates to fraud.
THE CITY NOT A CHARITABLE INSTITUTION.
Alderman Myers justified his report on
similar grounds He said that the city
could not b run as a charitable institution
If charity were to be considered, the poor
men discharged from the corporation who
had large families to supports we're more
deserving than a policeman earning a good
salary. Alderman Myers believed the set
ting of such precedent would eventually
cost the olty thousands Of dollars.
Alderman Halnes secuted the bad prece-
deny idea. He said the argument that
ina who was compelled TO attend the bed
sic.e Of his dying wife or child should have
bis salary deducted for the purpose Of pre-
venting a possible fraud by some one else
was ridiculous. Take the case home,n he
gaid, land ask yourselves what you would
do under the circumstances It is inhu-
manity to cut mans salary when the cir
cumstances are like those which surrounded
the cases of Policemen Masters and Neid-
hnger."
NOT AFRAID TO SPEAK.
In seconding the minority report Alder
man Mcmillan said: I'm secondinR the
adoption of the minority report, / want to
say that l am not afraid to express myself.
We often let bigger things slip through, in
volving considerably more money, and |
think it is small policy to get back at poor
policeman. hope there are Sc ven alder
men around this board Tonight who have
enough humanity in their hearts to give
Policeman Neidlinger back his money"
The appeal Of Aldermen Haines and
Mcmillan, however, proved unavailing, the
majority report being adopted by vote Of
to on a call of the yeas and nays as fol-
lows:
eas-Aldermen Dixon, Bohan, Myers,
Folliard, Cam, O'Brien and Wells.
Nays-Aldermen Screven, Mills, Harris,
Hsines aud Mcmillan.
To the surprise OF nearly everybody pres
ent at the meeting Mayor MoDonough de-
feated the ordinance offered oy Alderman
Hsines to permit making Mr. KilIourhy a
sergeant. The vote of the alder
men on the ordinance was a
tie, and when Clerk OF Council
Rebarer announced, 1.-THE vote is six and
six, - and Mayor McDonough repeated the
words, six and six, the ex-chiefs friends.
who were we'll represented among the
spectators, frightened up, but the brighten
ing was only like the Elusive sunshine pre-
ceding storm.
Mayor McDonough said: Gentlemen, I
feel constrained TO vote against this ordi-
nance on the ground that it is class legisla-
tion. l opposed a similar ordinance several
months ago, and therefore vote mo-
THE MAYORS VOTE A SURPRISE.
The look which overspread the oounte-
nance Of Alderman Halnes and the five al
dermen who voted with hum was q puzzled
one. The blow came from q quarter least
expected.
Since Mr.. Killouhry's defeat for re-eleo-
ton as assistant chief, Mayor McDonough
had expressed a desire TO the ex-chief's
Trends TO appoint HIM TO the vacant SER
geantcy, and said that the'only thing IN the
way WAS the age ordinance which prevents
the appointment Of a man over 35 years
old. Alderman Halnes drew his
ordinance 20 assist Mayor MoDonough, and
when the mayor voted against it the alder
man was naturally SURPRISED.
When the ordinance was read Alderman
Bohan moved its adoption, and Alderman
Screven seconded it. The yeas and nays
resulted as follows:
Yess-Aldermen Bohan, Soreyen, Myers,
Folliard, Mills and Haines.
Neys-Aldermen Dixon, Harris, Cam,
Mcmillan, O'Brien and Wells.
Then came the deciding vote from Mayor
McDonough.
Alderman Haines, who has been Mr.. Kill
lourhy's stanch friend, determined to make
one more effort for him.
ALDERMAN HAINEs' ORDINANCE.
After few routine matters had been dis
posed of Alderman Haines offered an ordi-
nance empowering the mayor 70 appoint as
sergeant OF the police any oitizsn who had
performed faithful service as police officer
Tor ten years.
81 suppose l am leading lost cause y
said Alderman HaineS, by requesting
unanimous consent to have this ordinance
read a second time aud acted upon to-
night"
81 object" said Alderman Wells.
"We have a full board present tonight"
said Alderman Dixon, land ask Alderman
NJ Id H. L.