The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-08
WANT TO HOLD TWO OFFICES.
ALDERMEN NOT ALLOWED TO DO so
UNDER A STATE LAW.

The Law Of 1883 Prohibits Them
From Holding Any other Munich
pal Omce-The Bill Just Introduce
ed in the Legislature Removes
This Prohibition When the APP
pointments 10 ONCE Are Made by
the Observation-Disclosures say "a Looks
Like "A Law for Chatham COunty's
BENEFIT.
1T would appear that the senator and
representatives from this district are
leaving no stone unturned,' remarked a
well known politician yesterday, ito fix
things solidly for themselves. and 10
guard against any legal objections that
may be made against any course IL may
suit them TO pursue
The remark was occasioned especially
by the following which appeared in a re-
cent dispatch 10 the Morning News with
regard to the work Of the legislature:
..Nlr. Monroe presented "a Bill which pro
vides that the law which prohibits the al
dermen and counclmen Of city from
holding any other Office. shall not apply
10 positions filled 10y appointment OF the
mayor"
The act in question to which an amend
nent is sought TO DE made is very brleI
but TO the point; Tt says
An act to declare councilmen and alder
men OF towns and cities ineligible dur
sng their term of Office TO any other mu-
nicipal office in said towns and cities
Section I. BE it enacted by the general
assembly of Georgia and it is hereby en-
acted by authority of the same, that from
and after the passage Of this act council
men and aldermen of the towns and cities
Of this state shall be ineligible to any
other municipal Office in [lid towns ana
cities during the term of office fer which
they We're chosen.
Section IL repeats conflicting laws
There has only been one amendment 70
That act since it became law on NOV
II 1859. and that was to exempt from ITS
,,rovisions towns of less than 2oO0 in
habitants. no
vent Il from being applied III the 90 a.
Of appointments made by the mayor wa
ostensibly introduced by Representative
Monroe but there Is Wen dephed IN
preston existing in certain quaIteIs me-
mat a member Of the Chatham county
delegation Is the author OF II ana - Ie-
sponsible for its appearance IN the gen
eral assembly. 800 ~ e. -,
tfcularlv applicable TO Chatham county,
remarked a gentleman who examined INTO
the law on the subject. Ihe law pro
Nides that no councilman or alderman can
he elected to or appointed to fill any otnef
Office in the municipal corporation auEllis
the time for which he is elected. OlheL-
wise an alderman who wanted 70 oe choSel
TO fill some other ONCE could taslS lcslsh
before accepting II.
ut is the well known intention OF the
present administration TO place severn VI
the aldermen on commissions which nave
been provided for by legislative enact
ment 1t is also understood that AlderIhaH
Willink is to be made commissioner on
public works, which is to be salaried
office These appointments, according 70
the laws creating the ohces, are 70 De
made by the mayor and be confirmed py
council so II can readily De seen why lhe
party in power want officers appointed by
the mayor exempted from the PROVISIONS
of the act of 1889. They seem 70 nave
found on the statute books the same
kind of a law that they passed with
reference TO the county Offices Whlch was
practically applicable TO only one man
II would appear that they THINK II an
right for a municipal officer TO hold TWO
positions, but when II comes 10 cOuh-
ty officer they think II outrageous ana
highly improper that one man should De
tn two positions, no matter what they
are"
A well known attorney gave it as his
opinion that even though the amendment
IS made the law of 1872 as embodied in
section 796 of the code Of 1882 would APP
ply in cases where there is to be emolu-
ment attached 10 the office 10 which
Councilman or alderman expects to be
appointed That law reads as follows:
mo person holding office under any
municipal corporation shall, during the
time for which he was elected or APP
pointed, be capable OF contracting with
such corporation for the performance of
any work which is to be paid for out or
the treasury, nor shall any person be
capable of holding or having any interest
fn such contract. either by himself or by
another directly or indirectly"
at may be, however," he said, that
those who are seeking TO have the other
law amended have seen to it that no other
Jaw or section of the code shall come in
their way"