The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-27
NO ELECTION DATE NAMED.
JUDGE FERRILL N DOUBT As TO
HIS AUTHORITY IN THE NATTER.

lie Has Referred II Back 20 the At
aOrney General for Fun Instruc-
afons-Some Think That Under the
Law OF 1873 the County Commits
sfoners should Call the Election.
The Attorney General VIII PrOba-
bly, lie Heard From TO-day-WiI-
link Almost Certain 10 BE Har-
trfdge'S Opponent-A Meeting Of
Hartridge's Friends Held Last
Night.
Judge II. l. Ferrin Of the court Of or
binary has decided TO refer back 10 the
attorney general the question as TO who
shall order the county election 10 select
q representative 10 succeed the late J. ].
Doolan.
Judge FerrM received the governors
writ the other day. authorizing him to
proceed 10 call an election at once, after
giving twenty days public notice thereof
The governor had received two notices Of
the vacancy existing in this delegation.
one came from the county commission
crs and the other from the ordinary
Gov. Atkinson referred the matter as to
who was the proper person 10 order the
election to the attorney general, and upon
his advice, he sent the writ 70 the judge
Of the court OF ordinary.
In speaking Of the matter the question
came up as 10 the duties Of the county
commissioners and the ordinary, l. C.,
which one was authorized 10 order the
election. MT J. r. Saussy. county attor-
ney, was not certain in his own mind
regarding IL. Mr.. Walter G. Charlton,
also spoke of the matter TO the ordinary
and they discussed the case IN all It's
bearings.
The report that Capt. J. r. Dillon made
any suggestions as 10 the matter Is eI
roneOus, as both he and Judge terrlH
stated positively that they have had no
conversation on this point
Judge Ferrill states that he IS, Of course,
perfectly ready TO order the election, Dut
first he desires to know fully that ne Is
the proper officer to order it. He does nor
desire to order an election and then have
II rendered void by having it decided that
the county commissioners were the prop
er persons 10 order such an election, II
such be the case. In the olden time the
judges OF the inferior court had charge
Of this branch Of the county affairs. Al
ter they were abolished the ordinary took
up all Of their duties practically. But IN
1873 the legislature created the board Of
county commissioners and the ordinary
turned over to them all his records and
books belonging to county business. Now
the question comes up, did the authority
for ordering elections pass TO the county
commissioners, with the other business,
or was it still retained by the ordinary
1t is an important thing, and to have
it decided at once Judge Ferrill wrote
to the attorney general yesterday, refer
ring the matter to him, and abiding 10
these points and asking him to send by
20 Nararrf
an answer to-day some time. If the at
torney general decides that he is the prop
er person to order the election he VIII
then proceed to do it. If not, then he
will turn the matter over to whoever
is named by the attorney general.
The action of the ordinary meets with
universal commentator among the poll
ticians.
Mr. j. r. Saussy, as the county at
torney, also wrote 10 the attorney gen
eral who, he thought. might not be aware
OF Chathams local law and the powers
of the county commissioners. He was
in doubt, he said, as 10 whether the au-
thority to order the election rested with
the ordinary or the commissioners, and
though not Instructed to so by the COM
misaioners, he simply wrote so that the
matter might be determined, and all
danger of an illegal election avoided. No
doubt the attorney general will be heard
probably be fixed very shortly.
There will no doubt be an effort made
TO have the election put off as far as
Oct !, or perhaps little later. great
many voters are away during Septem-
Der and especially is this so with mem
bers of the antl-Citizens Club faction.
So far as is known the Citizens Club
leaders are not particular as to the date
of the election, but Judge Ferrill, II he
is to call it, will undoubtedly give both
sides a hearing before he sets a day.
There is no new legislative gossip to
speak Of The opinion that Alderman
Harry Willink is to be the nominee of
the Citizens Club is gaining ground, and
it is now put down as a certainty, though
the club has not acted yet, and will not
for several days. In case he should be
the nominee it is said he would resign
from the city council, and it looks very
much as If there is a good prospect of
a vacancy on the board.
In the meantime Mr.. d. B. Testers
friends are getting in some good work
for him, and they consider his chances
very favorable.
The Citizens Club will not hold a meet
ing before next week. President Os-
borne went to Atlanta last night and
viii not be back before Friday. a com
mittee will be appointed at the meeting
TO report a nomination, and this nomina-
ton VIII have to be ratified at a subse-
quent meeting Of the club.
The friends Of Mr.. Walter c. Hartridge
held a meeting last night at the Armory
hall and organized an executive commit
tee. There was a good attendance at the
meeting, many of those present coming
in response to the circulars calling the
meeting.
Mr.. Hartridge's friends have decided on
an aggressive campaign. For this reason
his friends were called together and the
emf
were quite enthusiastic over the prospect,
and they believe that with hard work he
can be elected. There will no doubt be
several other meetings before the cam
paign-is on in earnest.
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