The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-11
THEIR AUTHORITY LIMITED.
DISCUSSION OF SEVERAL INTEREST,"
ING MATTERS IN COUNCIL.

missions Have ShOrn the COunctl
of It's POwer--He Attacked the Mil
itary Police Reserve ADprOpria-
tfon-AIderman Davis Statement
That the Saloons Are Running
wide Open on Sunday-The Mayor
to Look Up His Power of Veto.
Several interesting discussions took
place at last nights meeting of council,
despite the fact that the aldermen had
spent an hour and a half in caucus be-
fore going into open session, and several
members expressed their views freely on
the water commission and water meters.
the military appropriation and Sunday
liquor selling.
On motion of Alderman Guckenheimer
the minutes of the last meeting were
confirmed, as published, after amending
by inserting the words record and eiii-
cheney" after the word workings" in
the resolution providing for the appoint
ment Of the committee to investigate the
commissions.
The first discussion of interest came up
on the report of the water committee, on
the petition of Mr.. r. d. Guerard for the
removal of the water meters from three
houses owned by him, on CASTOR street,
on the ground that the meters had in
creased the cost of water to his tenants.
The committee reported adversely upon
the petition.
Chairman O'Donnell explained that the
committee could not do otherwise than
report adversely, as it found that all the
authority on these matters was vested in
the water commission.
Alderman Charlton said that he wished
10 call attention to the fact that all the
power had been taken out of the hands of
council, so far as the water department
is concerned, and the council has no power
to relieve any citizen, no matter what
may be the injustice, which he is suffer-
ing He did this, he said. in order that
the attention of citizens might be called
to the commissions acts, and that they
might see what they have on their hands.
Alderman Hull objected to the immediate
consideration of the report, as he said he
considered the matter an important one.
Alderman Owens agreed with Alderman
Charlton in the views expressed by that
gentleman, but under the act the commit
tee had no authority to take any action
in the matter and could not report other
wise.
City Attorney Adams was asked for an
opinion as to the position of council in
such a matter. Mr.. Adams advised that
by the terms of the legislative act the
council has no authority in the matter,
and the proper course would Rave been to
refer the matter to the water commission.
Alderman Hull asked that the matter
be referred back to the water committee,
in order that the committee might confer
with the water commission. The motion
was lost. and resolution was adopted re-
ferring the matter to the water commits
sion,
Later a petition was read from Mr.. Cord
Asendorf requesting that the council
have the water meters removed from five
houses owned by him in the neighborhood
of Castor and Price streets. His petition
was also referred to the water commits
sion.
A little later G communication was read
from the board of water commissioners,
asking council for an appropriation of
$1,000 for the purpose of placing water
meters. The communication stated that
the commission had about seventy-five me-
tiers on hand, and was in receipt of numer-
Gus requests for meters but had no funds
with which to place them. The communi-
cation was referred to the committee of
the whole.
The next discussion arose on the mill
tary reserve appropriation. The special
committee, to which was referred the petit
ton of Lieut. H. S. Colding, commanding
the Naval Reserve, to be included in the
police reserve appropriation. reported that
1t saw no reason why the naval reserve
should not be so included, but there be-
ing no special appropriation for this pur-
pose, 1t was constrained to report adverse
ly.
Alderman Charlton said as he understood
the report il did not undertake to justify
what had been done. The appropriation
had been made at the last meeting of the
last council, he said, and without any re-
quest for that purpose having been made
by the military.
The alderman said he had no doubt o.
the readiness of every member of the boarC
20 give the military companies $1,000 apiece
If the city had II to give, but the city had
no money for such purpose and in the con
dition of the citys affairs no such appro
priation should have been made.
Alderman Hull wanted to know II further
payment on this appropriation could no
be stopped.
An examination of the appropriation
book in the clerks office showed that ar
appropriation of $3.50 had been made t
the police budget for the purpose of be
ing paid to certain military companies oil
account of their services as a police re
serve.
Alderman Hull moved that the bulge
of the police department be increased t
include the naval reserve. Alderman
Owens seconded the motion.
Alderman Hulrs first motion being gu
of order he moved 10 disagree to the re
port of the committee. The motion wal
lost, Alderman Hull and owens voting II
the afiirmat.Ne. The committees repor
was then adspted.
Alderman Hull introduced an amend
ment TO the ordinance passed Feb. %. 1891
providing for the Observance of the Sab
bath or Lords day, ETC." the intention o
the amendment being to place regularly
licensed restaurants on the same footni
with hotels. The body of the amendmen
offered oy Alderman Hull reads as fol
lows:
THAT the ordinance be amended b.
adding after the words hotels, or regula
licensed restaurants, so that the claus
when so amended shall read as follows
"This section shall not be so construed
as to prevent a hotel or regular licenses
restaurant furnishing it's guests with lie
uors at a regular meal, when they are or
dered as part OF the meal, and whel
this can be done without violating in am
way the first section of this ordinance
which must be strictly observed"