The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-22
DRAWING THE NEW BILLS.
NO CHANGES IN THE CITY ELEC-
TION BILL LOOKED FOR.


Petty MisdemennOr Trials in the
Recorders COurt-WOrk of the
ReEfstrars-PeOple on the Dis
qualified List who Have Their
Tax Receipts-NO Foundation For
the Report Tint the Attorney Gem
eraI Was Asked to Pass on the
Legality of the County Commits
siOners' MISUNDERSTANDING in
J Atlanta.
1t appears that the newly elected leg
| islators have about exhausted themselves
on the subject of new legislation, though
there are one or two proposed measures
which have been spoken of, of which no
legal notice has yet been given.
OF more interest than any other just
] now is the attitude of the present legisla-
tors to the city election bill, the so-called
Australian ballot under which the city
election was held two years ago. Whether
or not the legislators will endeavor to
change any features of this law remains
as yet to be seen. While there are, no
doubt, from what they say, some feat
ures of it with which they are not alto
clined to make any changes in the bin
at the present time.
"The new law was only tested one time"
said a gentleman prominently connected
with the Liberal Club movement, land
while l did not have chance to see the
law in practical operation, / am informed,
reliably, think, that 1t worked very well,
and that there was no question about the
fairness Of the election. 1t did not, as ]
understand It, do away entirely with the
buying of votes. but I suppose it came
about az near 1t as anything would do.
The law might be improved on in soma
little details, but they are not of any
unusual Importance. So far as I have
heard, there are no changes contemplated
in this law, though there may be some
effort mace to make some slight changes
in the qualifications of voters in the city
election"
None Of the legislators have expressed
themselves directly on the subject but as
no steps have been taken with regard TO
the matter, 1t is safe to presume that
they are not going to tamper with the
law at this session, though the matter
may possibly be considered later.
The park and tree commission bill is
now being drafted and will no doubt be
advertised within a day or two Unlike
the other commission bills, which are to
repeal those creating the commissions,
this proposes to amend the present bill so
as to give the park and tree commission
still wider powers, and enable it to de-
eide within itself what should be done
and direct that ii be done. The number of
members of this commission will proba-
bly, also be increased from three to five,
and 1t is likely 1t will be given pretty near
IL ftr11 Lob ~
and the decoration and care Of them.
The attorneys Interested are just now
also preparing a draft of a bill to amend
the law regulating the city court of Sa-
vannah, so as to remove from it the trial
of petty misdemeanor cases, which do not
require trial by jury, and to increase the
jurisdiction of the recorders court so
that these cases can be tried there.
There is variety of sentiment with re-
gard to this measure. Some of the law
yers, especially the younger members of
the bar oppose 1t, it is said, because it's
effect would necessarily be to a certain
extent to cut off the revenue of the bar.
| Some of the members of the bar have con-
siderable practice in this class of bust
ness. which would practically be cut off
! by the change, as such criminals would
| be tried by the recorder almost as soon
as brought there, unless they specially
| requested time to procure legal advice.
! The recorder, it is understood, does not
| like the idea of the law for several rea-
sons. He thinks 1t would be putting
| matter upon his court that many times
| does not belong there. Judge Norwood,
however, is said to be very much in favor
| of the proposed law. He agrees with
those of the lawyers who think If the city
| court were relieved from this work, it
| would have much more time to devote to
| the immense amount of civil business
that is always accommodating on the dock
! ct Altogether, it appears there are sew
/ eral pros and cons to the question, but it
| seems the lawyers are in favor of the
measure, and there is little doubt that
! it will be introduced. The bills relating
| to the commissions and to the city court
other than this, have already been drawn
it is understood, and as is well known, no
tees of them have been published
The registrars were busy at work all
| day yesterday. Subpoenas or notices,
were sent out for all those in the Third
district who appear to be disqualified, the
| number being about seventy-five. The
| registrars have now started on the Fourth
| district, and are comparing the registry
lists with those on the disqualified lists.
Subpoenas for the Fourth district will
probably not be sent out before to-mor-
row or next day
The registrars will not begin hearing
| these cases until tomorrow, when they
| These, they believe, they can finish in
two days, Friday and Saturday. Several
Of those who have received notices. how
ever, have already called at the office Of
| the registrars, in the grand jury room
of the superior court, to make inquiry as
to their status. In every instance those
who have appeared have gone up with
their receipts, proof of their qualifica-
lions, and they were promptly reinstated
on the lists by the registrars without any
more ado
A Third district voter, who appeared on
the disqualified list because 1t was stated
that he had not paid his poll tax for 1885,
and who was summoned on that account
appeared at the Office of the registrars
yesterday afternoon with his tax receipts
for 1895 duly stamped and signed. That
Of course, was prima facie evidence that
the tax had been paid, and he was prop
erly placed on the voters list. There have
been several cases of this kind in which
It seems. by some mistake, the party in
question gets on the disqualified list. The
presentation of the tax receipts called for
however is sufficient, and the registrars
do not go behind them.