The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-30
A FIGHT TO BE MADE ON ALL.
THE COMMISSIONS IN THE WAY OF
THE ADMINISTRATION.

works Most Desired-Mr. WillihlS
Saying NOthing-LiberaIites Be
lieve senator Geiger VIII Come
over and Vote With the Chatham
observation-disclosures Club Leaders
Say They Have Lost None of Their
old Time Prestige and Are just
Itching For a Fight.
All the indications are that the eight
against the commissions is to be made all
along the line at the next session of the
legislature Bills for the repeal of all the
commissions are now pending before the
LEGISLATURE from the last session, with the
exception of the park and tree commits
sion and the commissioner of public works
Notices of intention to apply to the next
legislature for the passage of acts to re-
peal these two commissions have been
published in the Morning News.
A bill to repeal the act creating the COM
missioner of public works was introduced
at the last session of the legislature pass
ed the House with similar bills, and was
defeated in the Senate. This is the bill
upon which the main fight was made, and
when it was defeated the effort to pass
the bills repeating the other commissions
was temporarily abandoned.
Some of the supporters of the ex-admin-
istration were entertaining the hope that
their opponents would overlook the fact
that it would be necessary to reintroduce
this bill at the coming session of the legis-
lature if it were intended to make a fight
on the commissioner, until too late to give
legal notice The fear that there might
be some slip of this kind seems to have oc-
CURED to two active supporters of the Lib
eral Club simultaneously, as two adver-
tisements for the same purpose appeared
in yesterdays Morning News. The fact
that the bill was doubly advertised only
shows how desirable the scalp of the pub
lie works commissioner is considered.
Commissioner Harry Wilhnk was seen
by a Morning News reporter yesterday
in reference to the matter He said that
the advertisements were no surprise 70
him, as he had expected as much. He
declined to express any opinion in the
matter, however
Members of the Liberal Club who were
seen yesterday said there was little doubt
but that the fight would be made on all
the commissions, and the belief was gem
orally expressed by them that there would
be no difficulty this time in making the
members of the legislature see the mat
ter in its proper light they view it,
The position of Senator Geiger in regard
to the commission bills is naturally one
of much interest. and the Liberal people
are hoping that he will see things their
way this time.
Il can't possibly see how Senator Geiger
can do otherwise than acqulesce in the
wishes of our representa- lives in this mat
ter" said a prominent Liberal Club man
to a Morning News reporter. For him
to stand in the way of measures which
are urged by all three of the members
from Chatham is a complete subversion
of the principle of home rule. Senator
Geiger can but recognize that the repre-
sentatives from Chatham are the ones to
voice the wishes of the people of this
county, and that he as resi-
dent of another county, cannot
with reason antagonize their wishes in
this matter A year ago he had some
ground for the position taken by him, as
the commissions were supported by the
then administration, which still claimed
to represent the majority of the people
in the city. Since that time that admins
tration has been defeated and driven from
power, and the party which supported it
practically disbanded. The supporters of
the commissions can no longer claim TO
represent the majority of TIE people I'm
OSi llc ClICulIlS lduCeS oeiatOI dGlSeI
cannot do otherwise than accede to the
wishes of the majority of the people here,
and the majority undoubtedly desire the
repeal of the commission"
The Liberal man was asked if the COM
missions were not working tremendously
with the administration, with the excep-
ton of the fire commission.
>"Why of course they are he exclaimed,
They are running things very smoothly
just at present, but where would we be at
the close of the session of the legislature
with the commissions still ian power The
Liberals would have to go out of bust
ness. The commissioners would show
their hands then. They could put their
own friends In and ours out and get ready
for the next election in great shape. Our
people wouldn't stand it if we made no
effort to repeal the commissions"
The commissioners and their friends on
the other hand do not admit by any means
that theirs is a hopeless case. They count
upon Senator Gelger to stand by them and
claim that their political affiliations
throughout the state are as strong as ever.
1--WE do not admit that the Citizens fac
ton is played out" said a prominent sup
porter of the last administration. "On the
contrary we are stronger than ever and
would be only too glad 10 have an election
to prove it. The Liberals have been going
to pieces ever since the last election and
nobody knows il better than their leaders.
together is to get the commissioners out
of the way when they would fill the de-
partments with their followers. Those
who think we have lost our connections
in the rest of the state are simply on the
outside There will be some political de-
velopments al the next session of the
legislature that will surprise some Of these
people"
Doubtless the representatives of the two
factions Will continue TO express these op-
posite. opinions until the Legislature meets
and the fight is actually on. With the ex-
ception of the fire commission things have
run very smoothly between the admins
tration and the coordinate branches of
the city government and there has been
little to complain of on either side. Many
say they regret that the existing harmony
Is to be marred by the fight in prospect.
MAY BE LIEUT.. CANN.