The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-13
nc ABoLrsH THE cHARaEs.
The Council Takes. a Step in Quaran-
tine Reform.

The Council Takes Step in Quaran-
tine Reform.
The question of the reduction of port
charge was discussed at yesterdays meet
ing of council. 1t is very likely that an
ordinance will be introduced at the next
meeting to do away with quarantine
charges altogether, and other ordinances
TO reduce the expenses of vessels loading
at this port may follow.
Mayor McDonough brought up the
quarantine charges by referring to the
action Of the board of trade on Monday
The mayor said that on account of the
national government having taken charge
of the quarantine of Brunswick and other
ports competitive with Savannah, and
other competitive rorts having reduced
their charges or done away with them
altogether, it had become absolutely
necessary for the protection of the COM
merce of the port that Savannah should
do likewise. The effect OF this step by
neighhortng ports was already beginning
to be felt, he said
The quarantine charges, Mayor Nc
Donough said, are considerable in the az
gregate including tho fees of the board
ing officer, the discharging of ballast,
charges Cor disinfection and other charges.
He said he considered it necessary that
these charges be removed.
The resolution passed at the meeting of
the board of trade was read BIZ Clerk Re
barer. The resolution was published in
yesterdays MoRNING News. Alderman
Charlton said he thoroughly agreed with
the mayor, and gave notice that he would
introduce an ordinance at the next meet.
ing OF council to abolish these charges
Alderman Wells said that while he
agreed with the mayor, he thought there
were other port charges which needed
attention. IilotaEG, towage, stevedoring
and brokerage are all said TO be higher
here than at other ports he said The
mayor said he did hot think it was in the
province of council TO regulate these
matters, particularly brokerage charges,
which, he said, were largely regulated by
competition. However, he said, some of
these charges could be reached either by
ordinance or legislative enactment.
Mr. Wells said that the council had
power to regulate the wharfage charges,
2s there are now ordinances limiting
these charges.
Alderman Mcmillan brought up the
subject of the difference now existing be-
tween the longshoremen and the ship
brokers. lie said that while council was
reaPranging the various port charges he
thought that it would be well to make
some effort to settle this difference and TO
secure an agreement between the parties
upon satisfactory rate forlabor, either by
the day or by the hale
The mayor said he thought the labor
| question is one in which it would DO
better for council not to intermeddle and
the other members present with the ex-
ception of Alderman Mcmillan agreed
with him.
After some further discussion the
communication of the board Of trade was
| referred to the committee. of the whole.
II appears to be reasonably certain now
that the quarantine charges will be re-
moved entirely at All early date, and
there is n likelihood that other port
charges will be materially reduced.
"A communication was received from
the Savannah. Florida and Western rail
way, and w. w Gordon & Co., stating
| that it was desired to connect the Cor
don wharf with the railway wharf for
the purpose of trucking cotton and
other freights back and forth between
the two wharves, and for this purpose
they requested the permission of
council to build bridge across the
| Bilbo canal to connect the two wharves.
epetitiou was referred TO the com
mittee of the whole. II will doubtless be
granted.