The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-13
ALL THE BILLS WENT THROUGH
CHATHArS LEGISLATORS MAKE A
RECORD As LAWMAKERS.

The Monroe Bill worked Through in
the Closing Hours of the Session
and Municipal Slate for Commits
sioners Saved-severaI Aldermen
on the Anxious Bench Until IL Was
Passed-The Bills That Have Be-
come Laws.
Chatham's legislators viii be at home to-
dav ready 10 tell their friends all about
how Judge Norwood came TO be appointed
and other things of interest which the
politicians and busy people Will inquire
about.
Chatham's representatives put through
so much legislation at the ses-
sion just closed that it Is hard to keep
up with it all The present representa-
tives nave the record Of having accom-
plished more local legislation than any
delegation Chatham has had In the legis-
lature for long time, and what is more.
they seem to have been remarkably sue
cessful with it.
Although 50 many measures were in
troduced every bill appears TO have gone
through, and most of them have already
been signed by the governor. il is pos
Gible that some one Of the several local
bills may have been overlooked, but that
does not appear 10 be the case.
Even the Monroe amendment making
aldermen eligible for appointment to mt
nicipal offices hy the mayor TO Office dur
ing the term for which they were elected
went through by a close shave. Although
not introduced by the savannah delega-
ton it was essentially a Savannah meas
ure. and the members from Chatham were
very much interested in it. since. if it had
F.Har 1arfar 10
have been seriously interfered with, and
some of the local legislation which had
been enacted could not have been car
ried into effect as they desired. The al
dermen will have to resign, however, be-
fore accepting such appointments, ana
this win prevent the mayor from appoint
ing aldermen as members of the commits
siOns unless the aldermen prefer serving
as commissioners to serving as aldermen.
Mayor Myers viii now be able 10 90
ahead and appoint Alderman Wiliink pup
lie works commissioner, which appoint
Inent is understood to be slated Other
Commissionerships which the mayor VIII
fll this month as the result of recent legis-
lation are as follows
Three police commissioners to control
the police department. Alderman Scre-
ven may resign to accept the chairman
ship OF the police commission.
Three fire commissioners to control the
fire department. This commission is eX-
pected to give the fire department a shak-
ing up at once.
Three water commissioners to control
the water department. Alderman Wat
son was expected to be a member of this
commission, but he cannot be now unless
he resigns as alderman.
Five park commissioners to take charge
of and direct the Improvement OF the
parks and squares.
Three tax assessors and receivers. This
is perhaps the most important of all
the, local legislation enacted for the city,
and the effect of which will he the most
generally felt The three assessors viii
be salaried officials, and IL VIII be their
duty TO assess all the property OF the city
real and personal for taxation. The IN
tention Of the law is TO increase the tax
returns, especially the returns Of per-
sonal property. The board viii not be
able TO make general reassessment
Of the property of the city for next years
taxation, but viii probably devote itself
s S5TSa tS ser0ti4 property the owners s
and making Increases where they
consider the valuation too low a
general reassessment of all property Will
probably be made for 1897. 1t is evident
that only able and conscientious busl-
ness men should be appointed on this
board. No intimation has been given as
vet by the mayor as TO whom he will APP
point. Mai John SchwarZ, MI Lester
Hubbell and Mr. w. w. Chisholm are
the three gentlemen who have been most
prominently mentioned for places on the
The legislation changing the time of
electng officers of the city court ana
increasing the term from three TO four
years has already gone into effect.
The amendment to the city charter CIV
ing the city the right to condemn land
for the purpose of widening and opening
streets confers a necessary power upon
the mayor and aldermen.
The bill creating the Colonial park out
of the South Broad street cemetery upon
certain express conditions Is among the
new laws The council can now go ahead,
tear down the old cemetery wall and
prepare to beautify the cemetery. An
appropriation for this purpose Will doubt
less be made in the budget now under
consideration by council.
The amendment to the railroad law
prohibiting the paralleling of existing
lines is one of the most important meas
ures to Savannah passed by the legislat-
ure, as 1t enables the Georgia and Ala
bama railroad to make Savannah its ter
minal point.
The laws extending the jurisdiction of
the police to make arrests, of the po-
lice court to make such arrests and Of
the city authorities for sanitary purposes
two miles from the corporate limits will
now go into effect.
In connection with the new Colonial park
the council is given the right to straighten
Abercorn street by taking in that portion
of the street opposite the present pound
lot.
The law abolishing appeals from the
police court TO council has already gone
into effect, to the great satisfaction Of
the members Of council.
Certified copies of none of the new laws,
with the exception of the one affecting
yet, but the copies have been promised
and are qwpapfed in q few DAYS