The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-05
TALKED OF FOR 6-YEAR TERMS
COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS TO BE
MADE THIS MONTH.

The New AppOintees to Begin Their
Terms of Office on Jan. 1-Interest
Chiefly Conferred in the Tax Board
and Police Commission Appoint
ments-A Salary of 81 200 In the
One Case, and Chief McDermOtt's
ment in the Other.
The announcement of Alderman WyHy's
intention to tender his resignation as a
member of council in yesterdays Morning
News, created considerable surprise. Few
of his friends were aware that he enter
tanned such an intention. The members Of
council are 10th to give up Alderman
Wylly, however, and he will doubtless be
urged to reconsider his determination. He
seems TO have fully made up his mind on
the subject, however.
There has been no talk as yet as to al
dermanic possibilities for the vacancy.
The most interesting topic politically
just now is the question of who will fill the
vacancies, which will occur in the com
missions Jan. l. There are five of these
vacancies to be filed, one each in the
police, fire, water, tax assessors and park
and tree commission. These appointments
will be for six years. the commissioners
whose terms are about to expire being
the junior members of these bodies, their
appointments having been for only two
years.
AS the terms of the new appointees will
date from JAM it is likely that they will
be named and confirmed at some meeting
of council about the last of this month
The appointees are named by the mayor
and confirmed by council. If the council
should reject any of the mayors appoint
ments he will have to make new ones
untll men are named for the
positions who are satisfactory to council.
mayor Meldrim is expected in the city to-
day and may nave something to say con-
corning the appointments
AS the position of tax assessor is the
only one of the lot to which salary is at
tached, there is more lively competition
for this position than for any other. As
the incoming commissioner will receive
salary OF 1920 a year and the work is
very light, the position is ,n0t,an undesir,
able one As a reassessnerit of the real
estate of the city is contemplated for next
year, the necessity of securing a capable
man Tor the position is appar-
ent. possibility for the position is
Mr.. Armin B. Palmer. The other candi-
dates in the field are Judge Philip NJ. Rus
sell, Col J. L. Whatley, MIR. John r. Row
lana ana Mr.. w. l.. Wilson. Mr. Palmer
is popular young business man, who has
many friends in council, and among the
supporters of the present administration.
The gentlemen, who have been mention
ed for the other commissions are as fol-
lows: Police Capt. j. f. Brooks and AL
derman Guckenheimer; fire, Col. NJ W.
Dixon and Alderman R. M. Hull; water.
w. G. Cam; park and tree, Capt. c. s.
Ellis the present incumbent.
The appointment of police commissioner
is of even more interest than that of tax
assessor, as 1t is believed that upon this
appointment depends whether Chief Nc
Dermott will retain his position as the
head of the department Gossip has it
that the incoming commissioner
will have the casting vote. That
il he favors Chief McDermott
but that if he favors Mr.. George S. Haines.
one and perhaps both of the hodover
| commissioners will vote with him. Both
Mr.. Haines and Chief McDermott are
watching the matter very closely. Chief
McDermOtts friends urge that he should
| be retained upon his record, If nothing
else, and they also point to the fact of his
schism within the Citizens club in Octo-
| Der, 1896, because of his failure to clear the
Liberal partisans from the court house Is
an additional claim which he has for Lib
eral sympathy. Chief McDermott has al
ways said that he quit politics in becoming
chief of police, and since the October cleo
ton referred to, there has been no doubt
of the fact
There is some opposition among the adj
ministration people to Mr. Haines bur il
is claimed for him that he has the sup
port of the majority of the leading men on
| that side