The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-18
WILL BE NO FAT PLACES.
THE CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSING COM
MISSIONS.

AlsSlOASs
NO Conclusions Arrived At Yet-FOur
Commissions Likely, Police, Fire,
Water and FOrestry-A Committee
10 BE Appointed TO Confer with the
Local Members OF the Legislature.
The Aldermen Not in Favor OF
Creating Any Fat JObs-senatOr
Osborne and Representative Screw
en- Decline 60 Discuss the Subject.
The questions OF police and fire commits
sion and commissions for other depart
rnents. the extension Of the powers of the
police court and the relieving Of the city
of the burden Of the city court are being
considered by the city council.
Mayor Myers was asked about the mat
ter yesterday but he said that nothing had
been done and he did not care to make any
forecasts as TO what the council would do.
"a committee viii be appointed to con-
fer with our members Of the legislature
when we have arrived at some conclu-
sion" said the mayor. Concert of action
with them is necessary to effect anything
of course"
A member Of the board in talking with
q Morning News reporter said that while
the council had not decided upon anything
as yet it will probably recommend four
commissions, police commission, a fire
commission. water commission and
forestry commission. The commissions are
TO consist Of three members each, to be
elected by council for terms Of two, four
and six years. In this way one member OF
each commission viii be elected every two
years, insuring that experienced men will
be in charge Of the departments while al
lowing for the addition of new blood when
1t might be deemed advisable.
There is a suspicion that the repre-
sentatives have some ideas of their own
on the subject of these commissions,
and that they do not entirely agree with
the views OF the councilmen No con-
firmation of this could be obtained yes
terday, however, from either the alder
men or the representatives who were seen.
Senator Osborne and Representative
Screven were approached, but on this sub
jest they were as mum as oysters. They
were willing to talk about the war in
Brazil and various other topics, but NOT
about their views on legislation affect
ing the city.
Alderman Garrard said that the council
has only made a beginning, but that
something would probably be arrived at
in a few days.
"The time is Short he said, cas- the
legislature is to meet soon and the bills
must be advertised the prescribed length
Of time before the meeting of the legisla-
ture. Speaking generally I regard these
commissions as a step in advance. 1t
should not be expected of aldermen that
in addition to attending to the public bus
mess generally that they should also SUI
pervise the police department or the fire
Ganortmpuf mr. whatever other dpDartment
they may be assigned to. Such work
properly done requires a great deal of time
and study. An alderman who has other
important duties to attend to should not
be expected TO pass upon the fitness Of
an applicant to serve as a policeman or
a fireman. Then with non-partisan boards
the city departments will be taken out
of politics, which is something greatly
10 be desired"
"Is it proposed to make the commission
erships salaried ofiices?" Col. Garrard was
asked.
Il hardly think So" he replied. If
there are any salaries they should be nom
inal something like S100 or $500 year.
Perhaps they might receive an honora-
rum similar to the directors of our banks,
who receive a certain sum for each meet
fng they attend, varying all the way from
$3.50 up to $40 a meeting. don't think
there is any intention Of creating fat Of
fees for anybody"
as there any constitutional objection
that can be raised to increasing the pow
ers of the police court?' Col. Garrard
was asked.
None at ALL" he replied. ION the
contrary the constitution specially pro-
Vides for the creation of inferior courts,
which is what it is desired TO make the
police court. There viii be no trouble
about that, and 1 think it will prove
a great benefit to the city. Many petty
criminals would be punished who are
now allowed to escape because the cases
are not considered of sufficient impor-
lance to carry to the superior court.
IN a case of carrying concealed weap-
ons, for instance, where the man is
caught red handed and the evidence is
right there, there is no reason why such
a case should be sent up to the superior
or the city court, and the county taxed
with his keep and the various attend
ant expenses of a trial and conviction.
let him be tried right in the police court,
and if convicted put on the street gang.
The same with vagranrs, cases of as
sault and the numerous other petty
crimes which are continually coming be-
fore the police court. A street gang
could be maintained of the prisoners
convicted in the police court, which could
do a great deal of needed work in put
ting the streets in order and keeping
them So"