The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-28

CLERK OF council. y. ManuCy.
City Treasurer-Charles S. Hardee.
City Marshal-John Power.
Clerk Of Market
City Engineer -
City Attorney-W. r. Leaken or s. 3.
Adams.
Chief Fireman-w. B. Puder.
Assistant Chief Fireman-John E. Ma
suire
Superintendent Fire Alarm -
Harbor Master. j. Graham
Chief OF Police-Frank McDermott
Assistant Chief Of Police-John B. Kill
ourhy
Health Oficer-W. F. Drummer.
Superintendent Scavenger Department
II. /. Dreeson.
Keeper Laurel Grove Cemetery-A. p.
LaRoche or George w. Alley.
Superintendent Water Works
Recorder-A. L. Alexander
Messenger of Council-John Harrison
Mayor Myers and several Of the alder
men are believed to be in favor of retain
ing Mr.. Adams as city attorney, though
a majority OF the new board are opposed
70 him Mr.. r. Z. Rebarer has several
friends on the board who are urging his
retention rs clerk of council but Mr.
Manucy is said 10 have a majority Of the
board pledged TO his support.
The new board viii 90 into caucus at
o'clock to finally decide upon these mat
ters and IL Is expected that the caucus
will be a lengthy one. IT is desired that
the public action of council as to the cleo
ton Of officers shall be unanimous and
that each officer elected shall receive the
fun vote of the board.
Assistant Chief Fireman George Mouro
is making a noble effort to retain his posi-
ton. Mr.. MOuro is very popular with the
members of the fire department and his
retirement would cause general regret.
He has been connected with the fire de-
partment all his life beginning as a torch
boy OF the old Washington fire company
at 10 years Of age. He was an active mem
Der Of the volunteer fire department and
has been an officer OF the department for
over 20 years He has been first assistant
chief Of the fire department for twelve
years and has always been a faithful and
efficient officer
President Osborne Of the Citizens Club,
whose views are believed to be those Of
a majority Of the members Of the club and
of the new board of aldermen, was asked
last night about the report that he was in
favor Of a clean sweep of the city Offices.
You can put il that way II you choose"
he said, but that does not precisely
state my position. I am one Of those who
believe that when the people change their
views as TO public policies they have a
right to change their public officers and
agents. This is a free country and the
majority is entitled to rule The officers
Of the government are the agents and
servants of the people and not their
masters. When the people see fit to adopt
new policies they have clear right to
have officers of their own way of think
ing. No man has a right or title TO
an office. He IS a mere agent of the
people and a majority have a right TO
officers of their own choice"
you think, then. that the recent city
election Eh0KVC that Oaon1a va
change Of oficers?"
Certainly. What did the people do?
They changed every single one that was
elective by the people. Does any sane
man suppose that if the election of the
other officials besides the mayor aud al
dernen had been submitted to the people
last Tuesday they would not have made
a change? The people have acted on
all that were elective by them and made a
complete change. and they expect and
have a right TO demand that their will
shall not be thwarted as to the others"
you think, then, that the people ex-
pect the mayor and aldermen to follow
their example?"
Il know it. What was the use or sense
of changing the mayor and the entire
board, as the people did il they did not
mean change of officers? They might
as well have left the old mayor and alder
men in Office as to put IL new men who
WOAAl 10 just what LlE Olu ones WOulQ.
Suppose the charter provided that the
people should elect the mayor and then
the mayor appoint the aldermen as the
President does his cabinet, or suppose
that the people elected the board OF al
dernen and then the board elected the
mayor. what would be thought Of a
newly elected board, as in the present
case, who should re-elect the old
mayor?"
But don't you thing there is a diff
ference between the case of the mayor
and aldermen who make the city laws,
and the subordinate officers whose duty
is merely 10 carry them out?"
Not a bit. There is no difference be-
tween no law and one that is allowed TO
remain a dead letter on the statute
books. The mayor and aldermen may
make good laws, but if they are not car
rled out by those whose duty ii Is to
do 80. they might as well never have
been passed. It is just the same to the
people One is just as bad as the
other"
You think. then. they ought TO make a
Glen sweep as they say, from cellar to
cupola?"
mo, I have never said that. There are
possibly some officers there who would
have been elected by the people. If so.
] think the new board would be justified
IN retaining them"
Your idea IS that they ought to do
what they think the people who elected
them would have done?'
Yes, every time. think it is an i'm
portant, you may say a vital, principle
in free government that we are dealing
with. say that no agent Of the peo-
pie, elected by them on a plain issue, has
right TO accept the trust and then
knowingly and deliberately defeat the pop
ular VIII. Understand me, ] am not
talking for the oftiCe-seekers. / am talk
ing for the 1900 people who constitute the
recent majority the people who hold no Of
nee ana who want no Office. They are