The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-01
CAPT. DILLON STEPS OUT.
lie Says the Act Was Specially Intend
ed for Himself and Chatham Co.

SuccG ssor Not Elected-The Resigna-
tion Followed by a Lively Colloquy
Over an Apparently Unimportant
Matter in Which Chairman Dale and
Vice Chairman Carson Exchanged
Courtesies, Ending in Chairman
Dale's Withdrawing From the Meet
ing.
The meeting OF The county commits
sioners yesterday afternoon was decid-
edly an interesting one. The meeting
was called for the purpose Of acting on
the resignation OF Capt. John r. Dillon
as clerk Of the board. but incidentally
another matter came mp which brought
about some little contention. and before
the meeting was over Chairman Dale
withdrew from the chair. refusing to
take part in the deliberations.
Chairman Dale stated az the outset that
the meeting was called 20 act on the
resignation Of the Hon. John r. Dillon,
clerk Of the board. He then read Capt.
Dllon's resignation, which is as follows:
Hon J. j. Dale. Chairman Commits
sioners Chatham County ana eX-Ohicio
judges, Savannah Dear Sirs. In ODE
dience to an act of the legislature
recently passed intended for me specially
applicable 20 Chatham county only,
] have the honor TO hand you
herewith my resignation as clerk of
the board of county commissioners to
take effect on the 3lst instant. ] beg also
10 express through you to each member
of the court my sincerest appreciation
OF the kindly and personal consideration
shown me during the present administra-
tion Of county affairs. Very respect
fully. John r. Dillon,
Clerk G. c.
In commenting on the resignation.
Chairman Dale said he supposed that
under the circumstances, however much
the board regretted it, they would have
10 accept it.
Commissioner Carson said they were
all aware that the commissioners Of
Chatham county would lose an officer
whose position would be hard to hl
Capt Dillon, he said. was familiar with
all the accounts of the board and all the
affairs of the office, he having thor
oughly famiiarized himself with them
during his long service in that capacity
He said he supposed, however, under
the circumstances the resignation had to
come in and he moved its acceptance,
which was seconded by Commissioner
Kehoe. The resignation was then ac-
cepted. but no election was proceeded
with. The election Of an officer to FIJI
the vacancy thus created viii likely take
place at the next regular meeting Of the
board. Capt. Dlllons term expired with
the close CT yesterdays business, and the
county commissioners are now without
"a clerk. AS receiver Of tax returns his
Office will be near that of the county
commissioners, but the Office he has al
ways used has been that of the clerk
of the board
1t is not believed generally that there
is any ground upon which the constitu-
tionality Of the law by virtue Of which
Capt. Dillon was forced to resign can be
attacked, although 1t Is looked upon as a
sort of class legislation TO fit his special
case. A peculiar thing about the law,
however, is that no county officer can
be a notary public, as that is an appoint
i've office, to which remuneration is at
tached, and that is prohibited under the
law.
When this matter had been disposed Of
Commissioner Carson stated that he had
q little order which he wished to in
troduce. 1t was read by the clerk. as
follows:
Savannah. Ca. Dec. 81, 1s94--By Com
missioner Carson; Ordered, That the
county engineer be, and is hereby au-
thorized and instructed, to have por-
tion of the hall of the upper floor Of the
court house parttioned Off into room
10 ne uSEQ Dg MIN as an bltNt
Commissioner Carson explained the
purposes of the order. 1t viii be re-
membered that the county engineers
room on the top floor OF the court house
was given to The Savannah Bar Asso-
citation as library room, and that 1t was
provided that space in the hail on the
same door should be walled off as a
drafting room for the county engineer
This matter was referred TO the court
house committee, Of which Chairman
Dale is chairman. Mr.. Chaplin, who is
also a member of It, was absent from the
meeting
After the order had been read Chair
man Dale said it seemed a little prema-
ture. as the matter had been referred to
the committee on court house. Mr. Car
son said he understood that a majority
of the court house committee was OPP
posed to making the change while the
board on the other hand wanted the
change made at once, as the library
committee of the bar association wanted
to go into the room now occupied by the
county engineer as soon as possible.
81 think IL only common courtesy"
Chairman Dale said, when a matter is
referred to a committee that the commit
tee should be allowed to report upon It,.
] supposed this committee would be al
lowed to, report at the next meeting of
the board. No one has right to say
on the authority of an outside person that
a majority of the committee is opposed
TO making the change
Il introduced the resolution" said Mr..
Carson. "on what l understood was an
emergency"
It seems that Maj r. A Blandford,
the county engineer, wanted the room at
once, and had suggested the introduction
of the order,
There is no emergency" Chairman
Dale said. THE county engineer has
been given a room that is amply large
for him, and larger one than he would
have up there. I think the committee
should be given the common courtesy
of being allowed to make a report The
county engineer goes outside and makes
this request without saying anything
10 the committee, and seems to want TO
force it to have the work done forth
with"
The former order on the matter was
read from the minutes. 1t showed that
the committee on court house had been
authorized 10 look into the matter and
have the work done. Chairman Dale
thought this left the matter in the
discretion of the committee, while several
others were of the opinion that it con-
veyed instructions TO the committee.
Chairman Dale then stated that the
meeting had been called for a special