The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-23
SAVANNAH STORMS SENATE.
FIGHT OVER COMMISSIONS Is FAST
AND FURIOUS.

Leaders of the Liberal anu Citizens
Clubs ON the Ground i'm Strong
FOrce-Maj. RyaIs Takes the ANUS
ing stand That the Liberals Are n
Collection of Mugwumps and Not
Democrats and Not Entitled TO
Fight Is Fast Becoming a state
Issue.
Atlanta, Ca, Nov 22.-The fight over
the Savannah commission bills was COM
menced in earnest to-day. 1t is all the
warmer for the delay that the bills have
met in the Senate on account of the alb
sence of Senator Geiger This mornings
train brought in delegation of prominent
Savannahians, representing both sides of
municipal politics in the fight, and they
have all been as busy as bees. Tonight
they fairly monopolized the corridors of
the Kimball house. Every senator who
was thoughtless enough to wander in
there met with a reception equal to the
most enthusiastic attention ever bestow-
ed in times of contest for national honors.
The fight, in view of possible complica-
ton with next years gubernatorial race,
has spread beyond mere local issue of
interest only to the people of Savannah.
BY virtue of political affiliatlon between
the Citizens Club and some OF the political
leaders of the mountains, North Georgia
sent down a delegation, In which Senator
Steve Clay, Judge George Gober, and So
licitor Tom Hutchinson were prominent
figures, to help prevent the passage of the
anti-commission bills.
Mr.. duBignon who is a loyal Citizens
Club man, is accredited with having drawn
North Georgia into the fight, is expected
tomorrow, or the day following, to watch
the progress made, IL the committee fails
to reach conclusion tomorrow after
noon.
Commissioner Willink, who seems to be
the oft1ceholder who sticks hardest in the
craws of the Liberals, is also billed to ar
rive tomorrow with delegation of
dozen or more to reinforce Solicitor Os
borne and those who are already here.
Along with Mr.. Willnk and his party
Hon. Pope Barrow will come, bringing
along the main speech to be delivered to
the committee in opposition to the aboli-
ton of the commissions.
Maj. Ryals, Messrs. Manucy, Collins,
Lotion, Lawrence, Slater and Parish of
the Citizens Club are already on the
ground using all the political tricks of
which they have knowledge to win sena-
tors to their SIDE and they confidently de-
clare tonight that they will succeed.
Opposed to these knights of the Citizens
Club are Mayor Meldrim and the other
Chatham county representatives,
with Aldermen Hamilton, Charl-
ton. Guckenheimer, Hull Reid.
Judge MacDonell and w. r. Thig-
pen, who arrived this morning. Capt.
Wylly and other Liberals are expected to-
morrow TO reinforce their side. They are
Just as confident, If not more so, than the
Citizens, and predict that the Senate will
pass the bills, though the committee may.
make an adverse report.
Senator Geiger is here and ready for the
fray He adheres to the position he took
oppose all the bills. He occupies posi-
the Citizens Club people.
Maj. Ryals, speaking of the fight tonight
to the Morning News correspondent said
his side was ready to make II political
issue If the Liberals Injected that question
into it, The Citizens will take the posi-
ton he says that the commissions are
an economy to the city and the only rea-
son they are opposed by the present ad-
ministration is because they cannot con-
troll the patronage attached to them. In
reply to this, he says the Liberals are not
democrats, but a collection of mugwumps,
and therefore should not be listened to by
a democratic Senate.