The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-14
CITY GOVERNMENT.
omciaI proceedings of Council.

Savannah Ga, Dec. s, 1S96.-Councii met
this day at p. m. pursuant to the call of
the mayor. Present: Hon. Herman My
ers, mayor, presiding; Alderman Thomas
Screven, chairman of council; Alderman
George w. Tiedeman, vice chairman of
council Aldermen Bacon, Falligant, Gar
rard, Hudson, LETTER, Lamotte, Watson.
His honor Mayor Myers stated that he
had called council together for the pur-
pose of taking into consideration the bills
recently introduced in the legislature by
the representatives from Chatham county,
looking to the repeal of the acts creating
the boards of police, fire and water COM
missions, the commissioner of public
works, and the board of tax assessors and
receivers. The following was offered:
RESOLUTION.
BY Alderman Garrard-
Whereas, Bills have been introduced into
the House of Representatives of the pres
emit general assembly of Georgia, by the
representatives from Chatham county,
seeking to repeal the acts passed by the
general assembly of Georgia, and ap-
proved in December, 1895, by and with the
request and sanction of the city council
of Savannah, creating respectively board
of tax assessors and receivers, a board
of police commissioners, board of water
commissioners, a board of fire commits
sioners and the Office of commissioner of
public works for the city of Savannah,
which laws went into effect on the first
Monday in January, 1896.
And, whereas, 1t has been demonstrated
by less than one years experience, that
the effect of the acts now sought to be
repealed has been toward an economical
administration of the city government of
Savannah, better service in all said de-
partments, and a large saving of public
money, holding out the hope of carrying
into effect in the year 1897, and there
after, measures of internal Improvement
not possible under the administration Of
said government, as conducted prior 10
1885, it being already clearly shown that:
(a) AS to the Board of Tax Assessors and
Receivers: The revenues Of the city of Sa-
vannah had fallen off year by year for
several years up to 1895, and 1t became
manifest In said last named year, that it
was necessary to put men In office who
would give their attention to the assess
ment of real and personal property, with
such powers as should be conferred upon
said officials by the city council Of Savan-
nah, and to that end, the board of tax as
SCISSORS and receivers was created, and
said board was strengthened by ordi-
nances enacted by the city council of Sa-
vannah, compelling people to make re-
turns of personal property who had never
yet made them, and forcing others to
make true and just returns, who had
hitherto made such as they saw At. The
result in less than one year has carried
the number of returns Of personal prop
erty from 1864 to 4,476 and instead of a
decrease in the city revenue happening IN
1896, as in years just previous, an increase
Of 2,5l2 in the number OF returns was the
result, amounting to S1,24s. 496, producing
from taxation on the returns of personal
property in 1896 an Increase OF SIS, III "A,
in spite Of the heavy depreciation OF all
securities, and the absolute loss Of many
stocks and bonds consequent upon the
failures of railroad systems and Of other
corporations In Georgia. The total sala-
ries OF the board OF tax assessors and re-
celvers for the year 1896 has been $500.
The average amount paid out by the city
of Savannah Ia the past years for such
assessments as were made from time to
time upon improvements on real
estate has been about $1,000 a
year. 80 that the net increase
In the expenses OF this department was
about 1900 which deducted from the in
crease produced by this board. as above.
leaves "A net result to the credit Of the city
OF Savannah. for the year 1895. from this
source IN round numbers. say 1880.
These tax assessors and receivers have
been acquaintlng themselves also during