The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-08
LEFT TO THEIR ATTORNEY.
WILL THE FIRE COMMISSIONING
APPEAR BEFORE COUNCIL.

Chairman GrsysOn Made the SpOI<es-
man For the COmmiSsiOn-ThinI1
His Letter Had Much to Do with
the Charges--WiII Act Entirely ON
the Advice of Their Attorney.
Council WIZ Proceed Whether the
Commissioners Appear or Nsa
Copies of the Charges Given the
Marshal For Service.
The fire commissioners refused to make
any statements yesterday as to the course
they would likely pursue with reference
to the charges which have been preferred
against them by council
Chairman w. L. Grayson Of the fire
commission was seen by a Morning News
reporter and asked for an expression as
to the course which the commissioners
would pursue with reference TO the
charges. He said that he would consider
a statement coming from him as entirely
premature, in view of the fact that he
had not received any official notice of the
action of council. When a copy of the
charges had been served upon the COM
missioners, he said, there would be no OBJ
lection to making public statements about
the stand the commissioners would take
in the matter.
He said that it would be useless to visit
the other commissioners for informations
as he himself had been designated as the
spokesman, and all information for the
public press would have to emanate from
him.
Il will state that the question of our
appearance before council will rest entirely
with our attorneys, whose advice we pro-
pose to take throughout" said Chairmaq
Grayson. I'VE will know within d very
short time what course We are going to
adopt, but even if our minds were settled
now, we should not like to have the fact
published before we are officially served
with copy of the charges.
There Is no doubt in my mind but that
the letter which / wrote council and which
was published. had a great deal to do with
councils action in preferring the charges.
1t is my opinion that this fight is not
founded as much upon a real cause, as II
is upon factonal feelings. The advice Of
our counsel will shortly be given, and
will definitely determine our course"
A member of council was asked what
course would be followed in the event
the fire commissioners failed to appear.
He said that council would proceed with
the investigation ex parte, just the same
as in the case of a law suit where the
defendant failed to respond. Proof to
sustain the charges as preferred against
the fire commissioners would be adduced,
and if they were proven to be guilty, as
charged, other commissioners would be
appointed and the present incumbents
given notice that their services were no
longer needed.
There is much speculation heard about
what attitude council will assume in the
event the fire commission should decline
to vacate, in the event the matter took
that course. The commissioners hold that
they are a body coordinate in power with
the city council, since both bodies were
created by act of the legislature. AS to
the coordinate theory, however an al
dermau said It could not possibly hold a 5
to the members of the commission since
they were appointed by the mayor and
confirmed by council, and must therefore
be amenabie to the power that placed
them in office On this idea of the case the
aldermen believe they have the full right
70 act as they have started out
IL is firmly believed that the matter win
ultimately go into the courts to be de-
cided there since ii is not expected that
the fire commissioners will give in with
out fight TO the end, whatever course
council adopts in the case.
Clerk of Council Bailey made out three
copies Of the charges with summons to
each OF the commissioners to appear be-
fore council, and placed them in the hands
of Marshal Power for service. One Of the
commissioners stated last night, how
ever, that he had not, uD to that time,
been served with the papers.