The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-16
WAS 1T ABOUT BLANDFORD'
THE COMMISSIONERS BEGAN THEIR
MEETING WITH 4 CAUCUS.

/ A Petition From the Savannah Cot
tage and Improvement Company
10 he Relieved OF large Valuations
and Double Taxes-C. VI. TeepIe
Asked 10 BE Relieved OF the Pay
ment of Poll Tax-County Engineer
". 4. Dnyton's First Monthly Re
port.
The county commissioners begun their
regular meeting yesterday afternoon with
a caucus. What they took up in the cau-
Gus, which lasted half an hour or more
the commissioners refused TO say, and
nothing whatever was said with regard 10
it in open meeting.
1t was reported around the court house
that the meeting was with regard TO MAJ
r. A. BlaudfOrd. the chief engineer Of
typographical survey, and that the matter
under discussion was some complaints
similar to those which have been made on
other occasions. DR.. T. J. Charlton was
asked after the meeting if this was the
reason for the meeting.
Il cannot discuss what took place in
the caucus" he said
can you say whether the matter dis
cussed viii be brought up in open meet
iug2" was asked.
Wait and see" was his only reply.
Ihe other commissioners were equally as
retlcent on the subject
The board in open session first took up
the petition OF the Savannah Cottage and
improvement Company for relief from
uouble taxation ana from a reduction Of
the returns made Mr.. 5. L. Lazaron ap-
peared before the board for the COM
pany. He said the company had three
ana one-hat acres of land and ten houses
west Of the city. and that ii had re-
turned the iand al $50 an acre and the
houses at $3.50 each. The receiver Of tax
returns. ne said. had refused this return,
and had made the return on the Whole
property $1,000, instead Of $3.50, as the
treasurer of the company had returned
it, In addition TO this he said the COM
pany had been double-taxed on the prop
eFty Tor not making return. He COM
plalned TINS was unjust and fnfair. as
Qlner property adjoining this, and even
better located, was assessed al lust half
the value. and even less. He wanted re-
lief from the double tax and a reduction
of the assessment
Capt. John II. Dillon stated that he had
refused the companys original return
and so notified the treasurer, his reason
being that he was reliably informed that
the purchasers of this property from the
company were charged taxes on the val
uatlohs winch he had given it, namely,
$1,000 lot for the improved property and
SloO Tor unimproVed. No other return
was made by the company after the no
for the double tax
The matter was discussed at some
torney Mr. j. r. Saussy the board deci-
ded that II had no authority to reduce
the valuation. but that the matter must
90 before the controller general. The
board will act on the rest of the petition
after he is heard from.
Dr. T. b. Chisholm the county phys-
clan, filed petition for additional com
pensation. This he asked in view of the
iact that under the new regulations he
y compelled to examine every convict be-
lore ne goes to the gang, and send with
MN certificate as to his condition and.
aabllty to work. This and other regula-
lions which have largely increased his
duties were the cause of the petition The
present salary of the county physician
Is $500 per year. The matter was refer
report.
c. VI. Teeple sent in a rather unique pc
tition for relief from poll tax which is 81
year. His reasons assigned are that he
is an invalid. both is legs being paralyzed
below the knee, that 81 will buy a good
deal OF medicine, that he was relieved from
this tax in Iowa, Minnesota Wisconsin
and other states, and finally that he has
no children who could receive any benefit
| from such tax, which, as is well known,
goes 10 educational purposes The commits
sioners decided as that was a state tax,
they had no jurisdiction in the matter,
and could do nothing for the applicant
Mr. w. A. Dayton, the new county en-
gineer made his first monthly report to
the board. The report, while not lengthy
was an exhaustive one, and showed the
condluon OF affairs in every feature of
the work.
There was daily average of 1855 pris-
oners at the camps during October the
percentage of sickness has decreased
and there was only one death, that of
! Charles Lewis, colored. The escapes Of
| Nose Copeland and John Brown and the
| recapture Of the latter, We're reported
| The report showed just where the men
| have worked and what was done during
/ the month The new county barn has
! been completed and work on the county
/ well, which has already been dug 1921
/ feet, is still being continued.
The report showed there was some
I changes in the convict guards during
/ the month. Yardmaster Dew berry was
+ retired and II. A. Pacetu put in his place
I and Guard NJ. FL Morehead was relieved
/ for violation of camp rules and ]. NJ,
Strobhar appointed in his stead Extra
/ Guard j. Il. Jordan was relieved and W
! -. Granger put in his place The removal
/ OF Capts. Heath and Carroll of the two
camps was also reported. c. c. DeI.orge
and William Allen have been put in their
places for a thirty days trial as to their
capability.
Mr.. Dayton also made a special report
| in which he asked that the chief engineer
i or typographical survey be required to
! furnish him certain papers from that
! department, and also that some improve
| ments be made in the county engineers
! office. The report was referred 10 the
proper committee for action.