The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-27
DO NOT WANT A SURPRISE.
ALDERMEN INTERESTED IN THE
COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS.

Unsatisfactory Nominations Might
BE Opposed-A Failure to Confirm
would Hardly Affect the Coming
Elections for Heads of Depart
ments, HOvever-MayOr Meldrim
Preserves SphinX-Iike silence ON
the Subiect-NO New Names Men
toned for the Vacancies.
Several members of council would like
to know something about Mayor Meldrim' 5
appointments to the vacancies
on the commissions, to be submitted Wed
nesday night They do not care to be
taken wholly by surprise and want to
vote intelligently. This, they say, they
cannot do with but a few moments TO con-
slider the nominations.
Should council fail to confirm the ap-
pointments there would have TO be quick
work in making other nominations or run
the risk of having no voice in the cleo
ton of chiefs of police and fire depart
ments and superintendent Of the water
works. which take place Jan. 1. The pres
ent commissioners hold over I'M
til their successors are ap-
pointed and qualify. In the
event therefore, the council does not con-
firm the appointments. it is said the cleo
lions will proceed as if none had been
made. The friends of the mayor how
ever, do not adhere to the belief that he
would allow himself to be swamped in
this manner, and while the aldermen claim
they know nothing as to the prospective
hoe
sufficient number in mind to keep nomi-
mating if the board fails to agree on those
first named.
The mayor has said it is not his hope
or intention to make changes in the de-
partments through appointments to the
commissions and in case there should be
delay that would allow the present in
cumbents to elect men of their own choice,
there would probably be no disappoint-
ment. Nothing definite has yet been de
termined and will not be until Wednesday.
The mayor evidently intends to give
council surprise, however. as he has Civ
en- no intimation so far of his intentions
with regard to the appointments. There is
a well settled conviction that Alderman
Hull will be named for the vacancy on the
fire commission, and ex-Alderman w. G..
Cam for the vacancy on the water COM
mission, while Col. NJ. w. Dixon is about
the only man now prominently spoken of
in connection with the police commission
appointment. There is hardly any doubt
that these gentlemen would not only prove
acceptable to council, but that they would
also prove acceptable to their associates !
on the commissions and that harmony in
all the city departments would be assured |
Mayor Meldrim preserves The same
sphinX-like impenetra bility as to his inten-
tons in regard to the tax assessors .ap-
pointment and no one seems to know
whether Mr.. O'Byrne viii be the appointee
or some one of the other candidates
In giving the members of his board a
surprise, Mayor Meldrm viii have The
precedent of similar action on the part of
his predecessor, Mayor Myers who did rot |
make known his appointments until they
were read in open council. 1t was said at
the time that there would have been some |
very vigorous kicking on the part of some |
of the aldermen had they been given a |
chance to pass upon the appointments in |
caucus, but no one was disposed to mar |
the harmony which existed In the board |
by fight in open council, and so the ap-
pOintments went.