The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-20
ATLANTES POLICE MIDDLE.
THE CITY COUNCIL HAS 4 LIVELY
SCRAP OVER 1T.

Charges and Counter Charges of
Rfngism, Trading and General To-
IIticaI Corruption Fly Thick and
Fast-A Scheme 10 Provide n $1,000
Berth For Ex-Cfty Clerk Wood
ward Defeated-NayOr King TO Sc
Ieet the Force n the Board of PO-
lice Commissioners Fails To Do So.
Atlanta. Ca. March 19.-The city council
had a very lively scrap to-day at an ad-
5ourned meeting held for the purpose OF
considering certain reforms in the police
system. Some OF the counciimen did about
everything but call each other liars.
Charges and counter charges Of ringism
trading and general political corruption
few over the hall thick and fast. The
police department has caused the present
council all sorts Of trouble. II has been
investigated and reinvestigated and will
probably be investigated again before it is
given a rest. One-half OF the council
claims that the other half is in a deal to
demoralize the department and then re-
organize it to suit themselves. while the
half thus accused says the accusing half
Is interested only in hiding the depart
ment's rottenness and inefhciency for po-
1itical reasons. Owing to this sort of
trouble. when the police commissioners
met for reorganization a week ago they
broke Up in a deadlock. unable to agree
on officers. Chairman English and G. E.
johnson being rival candidates for chair
man, Mr.. johnson representing the fac
ton of Mayor King. Which ever side
wins the Craftsmanship will reorganize
the whole department on April
J. If 1t is the anti-English
faction Chief ConnalIy and the whole
list of officers, it is said, viii lose their
heads. One feature of the fight, as it
transferred itself to the council was 10
provide for a superintendent of police
at a salary Of 1900. this Office being Gre
ated for ex-City Clerk Woodward, who
IS leader on the King side of the squab-
bic. This move, however, failed, the coun-
Gil to-day ordering that the officers Of
The force and the salaries remain the
same as they have been heretofore.
The bad blood was displayed over
resolution, the object of which was to
make Mayor King temporary chairman
of the police board and TO provide him
with ample authority, in case the board
shall fail TO elect a chief and other off,
GERS at the meeting Of April l. to appoint
luton was passed. but cannot become
effective until the day after the board
meets for the election of the police de-
partment, 50 that it really accomplishes
nothing.
During the discussion Messrs. Calvin
and helms, figuratvely speaking, made
a circuit of the chamber, each with a chip
on his shoulder daring anybody to knock
1t off, while Mr.. WEIGH said he denounced
anybody who had ever said the mean
things about him that he had heard they
had said. He also said that the whole pro-
ceeding was a dirty political trick and
altogether the councilmen made a nice
show of themselves.
Yesterday the council refused to grant
a license for base ball this season, but
after having the wire edge worn off TO-
day by the scrap over the police, this
action was reconsidered and a license for
sixty days will be granted at the present
park. After that time the base ball peo-
pie win have to hunt another field.