The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-26
FAvORS THE COMMISSIONS.
SENATOR GEIGER WILL NOT AID 70
REPEAL THEM.

the Passage of the Repeating
BIlIs-His Reply to Mayor MeIdrim
States His Position In Unmistal1a-
BILE Terms.
Senator W. w. Geiger of
the First district will not
| accede to the request of the city
council to cooperate with the three repre-
sentatives from Chatham county in Sc
curing the passage of the bills now pend
ing in the house to repeal the commission
acts. He adheres to the position taken by
him ten months ago that the showing
made by the then city council. proved the
commissions to have been of benefit to
the city and declines to alter his views on
the subject in spite of the fact that the
present city council holds to just the oppo-
site views.
The resolutions adopted at the last meet
ing of the city council condemning the
commissions directed the mayor to address
written request to Senator Geiger, lay
ing the views of council before him, and
requesting that he give all possible CO.
operation and assistance to the represen-
tatves from Chatham in their efforts to
carry into effect what had been proven
beyond caption or contradiction to be the
expressed will of the people of Savannah"
In accordance with these instructions
Mayor Meldrim addressed a letter to SEN
ator Geiger, laying the whole matter be-
fore him, and earnestly urging that he ac-
cede to the views of the members OF coun-
ell, and the representatives from this city
and that he cooperate with the latter in
securing the repeal of the bills, Senator
Geiger was in the city yesterday, and
made public his reply to the mayors let
ter, declining to accede to the wishes of
council in the matter. Senator Geiger's let
ter is plain and unmis taxable in Its terms,
and leaves no doubt as to his position in
the matter. 1t says:
II am to-day in receipt of your letter
Of yesterday and the certified copy of
resolutions passed by the mayor and city
council of Savannah on Oct. 20 in which
you are required to request my co-opera-
ton with the representatives of Chatham
county in their efforts to repeal harmful
local legislation known as the commission
bills
You say, among other things the peo-
pie of this city, who are most directly af-
fected, and the municipal government,
which is charged with the well-being of
the city, should, in the very nature of
things, be most familiar with the wants
of that city. In order that there may be
no misunderstanding as to your position
In this behalf, l am directed to inquire
whether or not the mayor and aldermen
Of the city will have your cooperation in
the repeal of these bills?'
Your directions by the city council are
imperative
direct. This being the case feel called
upon to answer you without equivocation
These laws, known as the city commits
slons, were in force during the year 1896
and only ten months ago the then mayor
and city council of Savannah passed,
unanimously, very strong resolutions COM
mepdinS them as excellent laws and very
advantageous to the city. The bin TO abol
ish the office of commissioner of public
works was defeated in the Senate because
the mayor and city council said that office
had saved to the city $4,000 in eleven
months and had in addition given better
| service than the former system. The city
commissions were all enthusiastically in
dorsed by the mayor and city council last
December; and now the mayor and city
council term them harmful to the best
| interests of the municipality but with
out stating in what their harmfulness con-
slsts. The resolution of last December
emanating from the same source, the may
or and city council, declared them all adj
Yantageous and that $4,000 had been saved
to the city in eleven months by the office
OF commissioner of public works. 1t Is
not my intention to cooperate with the
mayor and city council in their efforts 10
repeal harmful local legisla alton, where the
testimony is so conflicting and as it seems
to me, the weight OF the evidence is
against them
When seen by a Morning. News reporter
in reference to his letter. Senator Geiger
expressed himself plainly and positively
on the subject of commissions.
my position is unchanged" he said.
Il shall adhere TO the same course which
| pursued a the last session of the legis-
lature. was convinced then that the
commissions were good for the city of Sa-
vannah, and l have seen, no reason to
change my opinion. While / do not visit
the city often, l reside near here. 1 read
the newspapers and keep posted upon af-
fairs here, political and otherwise l have
failed to see any reasons for the repeal
of the commissions other than political
ones. The last administra ton showed
! where the commissions had effected a con-
siderable saving to the city and that their
operations were thoroughly satisfactory.
No showing has been made to the con-
trary, and no figures have been given to
show that the city would be financially
benefited by the repeal of the commissions
1 see llO IGdStu why the legislature should
be called upon to repeal bills which were
satisfactory last year simply be-
cause new crowd has got
ten in. I supposeir,if the acts
! should be repealed, that the present adj
ministration would fill the offices with its
friends. l do not think the legislature
should be called upon to aid them to do
that"
There was no doubt from the manner
in which Senator Geiger spoke that he
would not only not cooperate with the
representatives from Chatham, but thar
he would oppose the efforts on their part
to do away with the commissions.
Il think the Senate will take the same
view of the matter as it did last year"
he said, in response to a question.
The supporters of the commissions are
jubilant and their opponents are CORE
spondingly depressed at the position taken
by Senator Geiger. The latter had hoDe0
that Senator Geiger would take a differ.
ent view of the matter after the eler.
ton of an anti-comm- ssion administratlon
by a large majority, and they feel sora
that he has failed to see the matter IN
that light. on this point, Senator Geiger
said
81 do not believe that q rnaiorit,, - a,