The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-09
THE FIGHT TO PAY TAXES.
The Police Ordered on Duty 10 Protect
TAXPAYERS.

Few EeopAe OAIe 20 huI-4A4 OO44ec'
tor MCGOWAN Opens His once Under
Police Guard-A Rush in Which One
Man Goes in without His Trousers.
Taxes smuRgled Pass the Police in a
Cigarette Box A Police Detective
Charged With DisobeyinF Orders.
Scenes Around the Collectors Office.
The Collectors Force About Worn
Out.
Tax Collector MCGOWAN was unable to
proceed with his duties at the court house
yesterday morning until the police had
been called in. The scene which greeted
the eye Of the tax collector when he
reached the court house was one
that beggars description. A mass
of excited. angry men filed the
western corridor, and the Bull
street entrance, and the sidewalk in front
of it. Since early morning the heelers on
both sides had been gathering and pre-
pairing for the fray. A large crowd Of
spectators had also gathered in anticipa-
lion of the rumpus.
II the average citizen who has gazed in
dismay at the long line ranged in front of
the tax collectors window when he went
there to pay his taxes has any idea that
all those men were in line for the purpose
of paying their own taxes he was very
much mistaken. There is nothing slow
about Savannah politicians and they rec
pgnized the fact some time ago that on ac-
count Of the large number Of voters who
had delayed paying their taxes and the
short time allowed by the registration in
which to do so, that hundreds of voters
would be deprived of the privilege of pay
tng their taxes and registering because
they could not spare the time to wait in
aine for hours at the tax collectors win
dow.
The committees Of both sides secured Of
ices at the court house. The Duncan men
located in the county attorneys office and
the Myers men in that of the county
treasurer. An expert committee was placed
Sn charge by each side. The male citizen
who wants to pay his taxes now intrusts
the matter of the committee act
ing for the candidate whom he is
supporting. He pays his money over to
the committee. They put his name
through and give him his receipt next day
If he is a property owner he can mail a
check for the amount of his taxes to the
collector, make a statement of this fact
10 the registrars and be registered with
out further trouble. 1t is that large num-
Der of citizens who are due only for poll
tax for whose benefit the committee is or
ganized. Each committee has a large num-
Der of helpers who range themselves in
line before the opening of the door in the
morning. Those first in line are armed
with the names of half a dozen citizens
and the money with which to pay their
poll tax. Collector MCGOWAN will not re-
ceive a larger list than six names from
any one person. The helpers along towards
the end of the line have neither money nor
names in their possession. They are simply
holding places for their side. AS they
near the head Of the line they give up
their places to some more experienced
worker or are furnished with lists of
names and money with which to pay their
taxes.
1t is the struggle of the partisans on
both sides to get places in line near the
window that causes all the trouble. The
system itself is not bad one as it greatly
facilitates the payment of taxes. 1t was
the attempt Of each side to out do the
other that caused the trouble yes
terday. All the sluggers in town appeared
TO have been gathered at the court
house yesterday morning. Yamacraw was
there in force, mostly arrayed under the
Myers banner, and the old Fort was there
in still greater force, chiefly arrayed on
the Duncan side. The latter seemed for
q time to have the advantage of muscular
5orce. James Mcbride was on hand with
picked team of muscular fellows. big
Flonie" Sullivan and Jerry Shea formed
the center rush, while Maurice Sullivan
and young Jimmy Mcbride brought up
the ends. Dick McKenna captained the
Duncan forces, with Frank Gaffney and
several other able-bodied heutenants.
John Power. Harry Willink Frank Nc
Dermott and several other Myers leaders
were on hand and handled the forces from
that side. For the most part, the crowd
was in fairly good humor. As the time
approached for the tax collector to ap-
pear the excitement increased. AS fast
as men got in line they were pulled out
by their opponents and frequent scraps
resulted.
After viewing the crowd Capt MCGOWAN
decided not to open the door, but man
aged to get into his office through a win
dow. The crowd outside. expecting the
door to be opened. fought, pushed and
scrambled and climbed over each Others
heads. Clothes were torn and men
knocked down and walked on. The crowd
was too tightly packed to allow of any
serious sluggicg, but many blows were
exchanged.
Capt. MCGOWAN wisely decided that he
would not open the door while this state
of affairs existed, and that he had best
consult the electoral commission before
doing anything further. A meeting was
held in Judge MacDonells private office,
at which were present Judge MacDoneu.
Judge Ferril, Mr.. J. J. Dale, chairman of
the county commissioners, J. r. Saussy,
county attorney and Capt. MCGOWAN 1t
was decided to call in Mayor McDonough
and Mr.. S. B. Adams, city attorney. After
the arrival Of these gentlemen the matter
was discussed at some length Mayor Nc
Donough stated that he had always held
II was not the province of the police to
preserve order or Interfere in any way
with matters inside the court house ex-
cept by special request of the proper au-
thorites. squad of police had already
been ordered to the scene under COM
mand of Lieut.. Reilly by Mayor Nc
Donough and was awaiting orders on the
outside Judge MacDonel and Capt Me-
Gowan at once united in a request to the
mayor to have the police preserve order
IN the corridors, which request was at
once acceded to. The mayor ordered
Lieut.. Reilly to take charge and clear the
corridor of all persons not there on bust
ness. This was something easier said than
done. Lieut.. Reilly entered the corridor
with his squad and ordered those who de-