The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-10
MELDRlM'S POINTED REPLY.
MAYOR MYERS TOLD SOME THINGS
ABOUT THE COMMISSIONS.

| The Repeal of the Commissions One
of the Issues of the October EIec-
tiOn and Ample Notice Given of the
Introduction of Bills For That
PurpOse-The Mayor Writes Major
AaeIdrin Letter, in Behalf of The
Council and the Commissions.
Mai. MeIdrim has replied to the protest
of Mayor Myers against the local bills re-
pealing the city commissions, and Mayor
Myers has replied to Maj. Meldrim's reply.
Both communications are interesting.
Maj. MeIdrim's reply is couched in direct
and pointed terms 1t was received yes
terday by Mayor Myers and is as follows;
State of Georgia, House of Representa-
! tives, Atlanta, Ga, Dec. 8, 1S96.-Hon.
Herman Myers, Mayor of Savannah, Sa-
vannah Ga: Dear Sir-I have the honor
to acknowledge your telegram of Dec. g.
In reply thereto, / beg to say that you
were fully aware that certain of these COM
missions were Objectionable to large body
of the people of Savannah; that you had
| placed upon some of these commissions
| men whose selection was regarded as
reward for partisan fealty rather than as
compliment to private worth and pubic
| service; that the abolition of these commits
| sions formed one Of the issues in the elec-
! ton for members of this House; that on
Oct TO- 1896 notices were duly published
of bills repeating these commissions, ana
now, when the session is drawing to
| close, you assume to protest against the
| passage of these local bills and ask post
ponement If the local legislation propos-
ed were ''unwise and detrimental 10 the
interests of the CITY," then, had you Deeh
| careful of these interests, you should nave
given in due season to the representatives
| from Chatham such reasons as were DEEM
ed proper against the passage OF the pliIs'
The protest by mail has not been received.
When it comes to hand it will have care
full and due consideration. Very truly
| your servant, r. w. MeluiIlii'
Mayor Myers was preparing his reply
| to Mai Meldrim when a Morning News
reporter saw him. The reply was mailed
last night, and the following copy was Iur-
nished:
Mayors Office, City of Savannah, Dec
g. 1g96-Hon. p. w. Meldrim, House OF
Representatives, Atlanta, Ga; Sir-Your
communication of Dec duly received,
and l am somewhat surprised at its con-
tents, and that one so conversant with
local affairs as you are should make the
statements contained in your letter.
You assert that 1 was fully aware that
certain of these commissions were OBJ
| jectionable to a large body of the people
of Savannah; they may be Objectionable
to those who are after the spoils of Of
fee and to few who have never given
the subject any thought, but our citizens
generally have never had an opportunity
Of passing upon them.
You further assert that l have placed
on some of these commissions men whose
selection was regarded as a reward for
partisan fealty, rather than as a cOmpli-
ment to private worth and public service.
This statement is erroneous in toto. The
eighteen gentlemen appointed by me on
these commissions met with the unani-
nous approval of our city council. and
their standing and general character as
citizens and business men is too well
known in this community to require any
vindication 1t my hands, and the reflection
that you have seen fit to cast upon some
of them is unwarrantable and unjustifia-
BILE.
The statement that on Oct 10, 1886, no.
! tees were duly published of the bills to
! repeal these commissions, while true, still
| your communication of Dec s is the first
notice received that the representatives
| from this county were responsible for said
! publication. Captions to bills can be and
are advertised by various people; the pub
| LEGATION, however, of such captions is not
! the notice the mayor of the city expects
| from the representatives of Chatham
| county, where legislation Of such impor-
! tance to the city's interests is involved.
! In conclusion, permit me to say that
| these bills were introduced at the night
| session of the legislature Dec f. and as
soon as l learned of their introduction, as
| mayor of Savannah and in performance of
my duty as such, l wired you protesting
| against their passage thereby taking the
] Of pOn r.,
you the sentiment of the city council and
myself on the subject Respectfully,
Herman Myers, Mayor.
Mr.. Myers said that he had not decided
! to furnish the two communications FOR
publication until he found that Mai Mel
drims letter had already been furnished
for publication.
Il consider it political document, pub
lished for political purposes" Mayor My
ers said, when asked what he had to say
about Maj. Meldrim's letter.
my protest to Maj. Meldrlm was an Of
fetal document, couched in formal Ian
guage He replies with several statements
of a political nature, more suitable for dis
| cussion at a public meeting than in an
official document. l have replied to these
statements as briefly as possible They
viii be answered more fully when the
committee from council appears before
the general assembly"
| bIlelly sNdleu, Mayor Myers hOldS that
the representatives. have attempted to
rush these bills through without Civ
ing council an opportunity to be heard.
Printed copies of the resolutions adopt
ed by the city council Tuesday afternoon.
protesting against the passage of these
bills, have been mailed to each member of
the Senate. supply has also been sent
to Atlanta for the purpose of placing a
copy on the desk of each member of the
lower house.
Public Works Commissioner Willink re-
turned from Atlanta yesterday, where he
has been since Sunday. He declined to
be interviewed however. Mr.. w. w. Os-
borne is still in Atlanta. 1t is understood
that no opposition will be made to the
passage of any Of the bills by the House
and that the fight will be made In the
Senate.