The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-08
COMMISSIONS A FAILURE.
LIBERAL CLUB ORATORS CRITICIsE
THE ADMINISTRATION.

The Small Increase in Tax Receipts
Hardly Sufficient to Pay for the
CommISsIOns-PresI Dixon Of
the Fourth District Club Declines
10 Notice anonymous" Reports.
lie VIII Answer Reports When
Made From a Responsible source.
The Old Cemetery Deal and other
Matters Discussed.
The Fourth District Liberal Club held a
rousing meeting last night. President Mer-
ritz ". Dixon presided. Secretary Ed
Leonard announced that the membership
of the club has reached 939. over go Of
whom were registered. This announcement
was greeted with applause.
Mr.. George c. Guerard was the first
speaker. He discussed the a. P. A. issue
generally and referred 20 Sergt. John Jas
per as a typical example OF the Irish
American soldier and a Catholic whose
patriotism was testified 10 by history.
President Dixon discussed the campaign
IN a general way. He cautioned the mem
bers Of the club against abuse and person
alities. He' especially cautioned them 10
pay no attention TO anonymous reports, Il
have bitten my lips time and again in the
last few weeks, +" he said, land suffered the
fortunes Of seven bells because 1 was not
IN position 10 demand an explanation Of
certain anonymous statements that have
been going the rounds concerning me. So
long as these reports are circulated in this
manner j DO not intend 10 noice them.
but let any one make these staleIne MS
publicly, or let them come out in the public
prints and viii be ready TO answer them.
Mr.. Dixon assured the club Of his fidei-
8
never deserted a minority in my life he
said, "and / never intend 10. Victory or
defeat, SINK or swim, survive or perish
1 am with the Liberal Club 10 the end
Mr.. DiXon's words received loud ap-
plause.
Mr. W. c. Hartridge was called upon
and was given an enthusiastic reception.
Mr.. Hartridge first gave his attention 10
the administration. When the commits
sions We're first advocated, he said, il was
on the ground that they would take de-
partments out OF politics. Now that they
have utterly failed to do this they are
being supported on the grounds of econo-
my. II has been proclaimed, Mr.. Hart
ridge said, that the tax assessors would
bring S63 900 additional taxes into the city
treasury. The actual increase has now
dWindled down to a little over a million
dollars in increased valuations, and when
the 10 per cent. discount has been allowed
II VIII be seen that the actual increase
IN IN YAK receipts .J VIII be only about $4,000,
instead Of $4,000. The appropriation for
salaries last year was SIS, 900. This years
appropriation is $4,000, an increase of &c.
Mr.. Hartridge referred to the recently
published statement Of the citys expendi-
lures lures for the first quarter Of
i iSTa which showed howe an 5saxpendi-
the same rate for the succeeding three
quarters of the year the expenditures for
salaries would be $4,000, or an excess Of
$ll,OJO over the budget and of over ST.
900 over the expenditures for the same
purpose during the previous year, show
ing that the commissions are anything but
economical.
Mr.. Hartridge took up the issue of the
Georgia cracker, who stood in no need
he said, of such defenders as Editor Gam
Bile of the Citizen, or Mr.. Traynor of
Michigan. Under the leadership of Alex
ander II. Stephens he said, the Georgia.
cracker had repudiated know-nOthingism
IN the torties and he predicted the defeat
or the American Protective Association
by Georgia cracker votes in Savannah.
Mr.. Hartridge spoke of other matters at
some length. He alluded to the recent
discharge of three fremen by the fire
commission. The commission, he said is
trying to make the deaf hear and the
blind see. He also touched up Mayor
Myers on the difference in the tax returns
of the Savannah Grocery Company and
the amount of insurance on its stock, and
paid an eloquent tribute to Father Ryan
as the only confederate poet.
President Dixon also alluded to the fail
ure of the tax returns to pan out as ex-
pected, and he predicted that on this ac-
count South Broad street, which was to
have been paved out of the inci ease
would not be paved until November or
December when notes could be given
to be paid out of next years taxes
Mr.. G. B. Whatley was called. He at
tackled the American Protective Associa-
ton for its methods of fighting in the
dark All the improvements which the
city has, he declared, were made by the
''old fogies." The only Improvement to
which the present administration can lay
claim, he said, is the old cemetery. It
no rnYi of oh
of the graves there and has torn down
the walls, exposing the old tombstones to
view. He was actually afraid to go by
there, he said, for fear the ghosts would
come out after him
President Dixon announced that he
club would not meet next Thursday night
on account of May week, but would hold
its meeting the Thursday night following