The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-29
THE CONFESSION BILLS.
sim Under Discussion by the COun-
eiImen and Representative.

Notice was given in yesterdays Morn
ing News OF Intention to introduce at
the approaching session Of the legisla-
ture bills providing for boards Of police.
FIRE, water and park commissions for
the city. and also 20 create the Office Of
commissioner of public works.
A Morning News reporter, who made
inquiry as to these commissions, was
Informed that the bills have not yet been
drawn. committee Of council is now
in conference with the members Of the
legislature as to the forms which the
bills shall be given. Two Of the mem
bers Of the legislature being also mem
bers Of council, the conference is made
easy
1t is understood that the bills viii be
drawn by the city attorney. Mr.. S. y.
Adams. and by Alderman Garrard. The
notices given were in compliance with
the law, which requires notice of
the introduction of a local bill thirty
days previous 70 its introduction.
Mayor Myers, when seen by a Morning
News reporter, said that informal con-
ferences had been going on for some
time between the members or the lesls-
lature and the members OF .council on
the subject of the bills for commissioners.
These bills, he said, pertaining strictly
to city affairs, should have the lndorse-
ment Of council before their lntroduc-
tion In the Legislature. The details have
not yet been agreed upon, and the mayor
said he was unable 10 give any further
information than that contained IN the
advertisements.
The bill to provide a commissioner of
public works has Mayor Myers unquali-
ned approval, and is also generally ap-
proved by the aldermen. The pubic works
commissioner will have entire charge or
the several city departments, whose Work
is now superintendent by the chairman OF
the committees or council, ana IS lnLenden
TO relieve the aldermen Of this work OF
supervision. The principal departments
of which the commissioner Will nave
charge, are the street and lane depart
ment, the scavenger department, the
drainage department and public improve
ments generally, such as street paving,
for instance.
such an officer is very much needed"
said Mayor Myers, and can save the city
thousands Of dollars annually. As 1t IL
now these various departments are ali
maintained separate and distinct from
each other, and the work of each depart
ment Is directed by the chairman OF
the committee having il in charge. 1t If
not to be expected that an alderman who
has his private business TO attend to
should give the same attention TO inc
citys work as a salaried ofhcer would
do who Is directly In charge or the work
and responsible for 30. The system of d.
recting public work which mas been N
vogue in Savannah is peculiar and the
need of a change has been apparent for
some time Where the saving to the city
Will come in is in this way. Each of
the departments now maintains separate
gangs of men with separate teams and
wagons. 1t is frequently the case that
work is slack in one department. while
II Is pressing in another. The forces and
teams are often idle or only partially en-
plOyed.
"The present system" the mayor said.
prevents an interchange of forces from
one department TO another. The chair
man of the committee doesn't like to
discharge men simply because work is
temporarily slack and when he knows
a few days, and he cannot provide work
for his idle teams. A commissioner Of
public works, having the entire work un-
DER his direction, can consolidate his
forces and transfer men from one depart
ment to another. For instance, the work
Of the scavenger department is much hea-
Vler IN summer than in winter. In win
ter the extra teams and men can be
transferred to the street and lane or
some other department.. The work Of
the drainage department is heavier at
some seasons than in others, and similar
transfers can be made here. In other
words, the consoiida ton of the work I'M
der one head will result in a considerable
economy in administration. The commits
siOner will be elected by council, and
will be an officer Of the city He will
have no authority to map out work of
his own accord, but will work under the
direction of the mayor and council 1t
VIII, OF course, be necessary for him to
nave OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Ol the various UE-
partments under his care"
The establishment of the office of com
missioner Of public works will not inter-
fere with the work of the committees,
Mayor Myers explained. There will still
be committees for the various depart
ments of city work. brt instead of taking
active direction of the work the commit
tees will simply make recommendations
to council.
Mayor Myers is also strongly in favor
of the bill to do away with appeals from
the police court to council. A great deal
of the time of council during the last few
years has been taken up in hearing APP
peals, which are often made in trivial
cases. As the decision made by the may
or or recorder in the police court is usu-
ally sustained b. council the time taken
in hearing the appeal is consumed to no
purpose. Should the bill become a law
appeals will be made hereafter to the SUI
perior or city court as is done now in 9TH
er cities.
Among other legislation which will be
introduced in this section will be a bill
to repeal the special law by which cleo
tons in Chatham county are held at the
court house and to put the county under
the state law which provides that the
election shall be held in the districts.