The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-30
PREPARING FOR THE FRAY.
THE COMMISSIONS REPEAL FIGHT
TO DE 4 HOT ONE.


Geiser-Fhcy say Their Opponents
Are Pooling Him With Promises of
Congressional SupDcrt-The Claim
of the Commissions to Economy In
City Affairs to BE COntestcd-Rep-
rescntative BrinsOn of Emanuel
Takes Double View of the Situa-
ton - VIII support Chatham's
Representatives, But Predicts
Their Defeat.
The report in yesterdays Morning News
of the conference between Senator Geiger
and DR. Duncan in Atlanta on the sub
ject Of the commission bills and the bold
announcement of the senator that he would
not only not keep hands off in the fight, but
would exert himself to the utmost in op-
position to the repeal of the commissions,
was read with varying emotions in Savan-
nah.
1t is needless to say that the supporters
of the commissions are delighted with the
declarati ton of Senator Geiger. The way in
which the senator sticks by his friends
excites their admiration to the boiling
point, and his qualities as a statesman ap-
pear to them to be unquestioned. It is
equally needless to say that the support
ers of the administration are very wroth
with Senator Geiger. Their expressions an
regard to the position taken by him are
not mild. In fact, rather the reverse. They
do not hesitate to charge that there is
deal on between the senator and the eX-ad-
ministration forces, and that the Citizens
Club people are holding out inducements
to the senator of higher preferment when
the opportunity offers. BY this they mean
that should Col. Lester not be in the race
for congressman next fall, the Citizens
Club leaders have promised to deliver the
Chatham delegation to Senator Geiger,
promise which the Liberals say, the other
people cannot fulfill even if they have any
intention of doing so.
Senator Geiger's position that the Lib
eral faction in Savannah and the represen-
tatives from Chatham in the legislature
are not democrats because of the division
in the party here, is hooted at by the
Liberals, who refute the charge by point
ing to the number of active and lifelong
democrats in their ranks who have been
prominent
past.
1t is safe to say that when the fight
comes on before the legislature it Will
be one of the bitterest with which that
body has ever had to deal. 1t Will be a
fight to the death and no quarter on either
side Both parties will be represented.
The aldermanic committee appointed by
resolution of council will present the ad-
ministration view and will doubtless nave
the assistance of other leaders of the Lib
eral party.
The opposition will be represented also,
but the delegation, if selected, has not yet
been made public. Last year some oil the
present city officials spent some time IN
Atlanta opposing the effort to repeal the
commissions Then they doubtless had the
approval of the administration in their ell
forts. The situation viii be rather a pc
culiar one should the heads or the Guy
Departments appear before the legislature
this fall in opposition to their own mayor
and aldermen. Some of the ofhcIals nave
considerable influence with the represent
tatives from other sections of the state,
and their presence in Atlanta may be con-
sidered necessary by the opposition TO the
repeal In this case there would nave 10
be a choice between the weight OF their
influence on one hand and the untaVora-
BILE impression which their presence might
create on the other
for the expenses of the fight. A consld-
cradle amount of money can be gotten
away with in a racket of this kind, without
making directly any corrupt use OF 1t. Inc
expenses of a delegation will be no small
item. and in addition, those who are en-
gagged in a mission of this kind are expect
ed to be liberal and hospitable to marked
degree.
Both sides have committees at work
preparing arrays of figures showing both
for and against the commissions. The
statement made before the last legislature
that the commissioner of public works
had saved to the city in the departments
under his control alone during the eleven
months of that year, over $4,000 will be
combated by the opposition to the commits
slons and figures presented to show that
there was no saving, or, if any that II
was very small. 1t will also be contended
that, instead of saving money under the
commissions, the expenditures by the last
administration during the year 1896, when
commissions were in vogue, were many
thousands of dollars in excess of the eX-
penditures during the previous year, when
there were no commissions.
The supporters of the commissions will
contend on the other hand, that the city
has received better service under commits
sions than before, and that the appropria-
tons have been expended to better effect.
The argument as to the condemnation of
the commissions by the people of Savan-
nah in two successive elections will of
course be strongly urged by the represen-
tatives.
Hon. George NJ. Brinson of Emanuel
county who spent yesterday in the city
in an informal conversation with the
Morning News reporter on the subject OF
commissions, expressed some interesting
opinions on the subject.
Il predict that the effort to repeal the
commissions will be defeated" said Mr.
Brnson. "At the same time l shall vote
for their repeal. My position is that the
three representatives from Chatham are
the proper persons TO speak for the people
of the county, and that their demand fol
the abolition of the commissions should
be acceded to. Nv reason for predicting
that the commissions will not be repealed
is simply this. Fleming duBignon, Willie
Obsorne and Harry Willnk have a ire
mendous influence with this legislature
and l do not believe the representatives
from Chatham viii be able to overcome
this influence. This is simply my view Of
the matter I have no interest in the fac
tional fight in Savannah"
Solicitor General Osborne was in At
lanta at the OFening of the legislature