The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-26
TALK ABOUT INVESTIGATION.
COMMISSIONERS SAY THEY ARE
READY TO MEET THE COMMITTEE.

Leaks and Decrease Expenses
Alderman Guckenheimer Says IL T.
Not Antagonistic to the Commits
sions, Hut Is in Pursuit of InfO-mn-
tion-If the Departments Are BE
ing Properly Conducted the Com-
niittee. VIII So Report-It VIII In
vestigate Any Charges Preferred
Against the Commissioners.
About the most interesting subject of
street talk just now is the investigation
of the commissions by the committee OF
council appointed for that purpose.
Everybody is wondering whether the
committee viii discover anything that Will
make a sensation. and whether, if this
should be the case. the council would be
able to remove any of the commissioners,
should il undertake to do so. That any
peculation or fraud of any kind viii be
discovered no intelligent person supposes.
The main question is what will the com
mittee consider sufficient grounds upon
which to base charges. VIII an active
interest in the late political campaign be
construed as offensive partisanship Of
character sufficient to demand the removal
of the offensive partisans? If such should
be the case there are probably several
employees of the different commissions, who
would be shown TO have participated ac-
lively in the late campaign. At present
all is surmise.
The members of the investigating com
mittee themselves do not seem to have any
concise idea of what they intend to do.
They seem to regard their appointment as
rowing commission with the right to in
vestigate the commissions on any line they
may see fit, with a view to discovering
what is being done, and what has been
done, and how it has been and is being
done. 1t is largely a quest for informa-
ton, in which, however, all the members
of the committee will keep a sharp watch
for anything irregular in the methods of
the commissions, and if sufficient irregu-
larities are discovered to warrant the step,
the committee will recommend to council
that charges be preferred against the COM
missioners with a view to their removal
The committee itself is not authorized
TO hear charges against the commission
ers with view to removing any of them
but Is instructed to investigate all charges
which may be MAIDS against any of the
commissioners with a view to ascertaining
whether or not the charges are we'll found
ed. After completing its investigation the
committee will make its report to council
together with such recommendation as il
may deem proper.
All of the commissioners so far as heard
from are ready and willing to be investi-
gated. They do not regard the action of
council as very remarkable and court in
vestigation they say. Members of all the
commissions who were seen yesterday
expressed themselves on this line.
Mayor Meldrim gave some insight INTO
the purpose of the investigation. I'VE
want to find out" said the mayor, Eek
actly how the city's money is being spent
and see if we cannot cut off some of the
many expenses. We are under a great
burden Of expense and some of il, l be-
lieve, unnecessary expense. There are I'M
doubtedly some leaks which can be stop
ped, and the sooner they are stopped the
better. | am not prepared to say what
scope the investigation of the committee
will embrace. The resolution was not
discussed in the committee of the whole"
Alderman Guckenheimer, who proposed
the resolution, and who win doubtless be
chairman of the investigating committee,
was seen by a Morning News reporter
Mr.. Guckenheimer was not prepared to
say TO what extent the investigation would
be carried.
THE committee will be called to meet
one night next week. he said, when we
will discuss the work before us and out
line some plan of operations. The resolu-
ton was not the result of any discussion
In caucus, but was proposed by me with
out previous discussion. 1t was agreed to
by the other members present, and unani-
mously adopted without discussion 1t was
likewise adopted unanimously without dis
cussion by council. l thought that such an
investigation should be had, if for no other
nIrnngn than ba i,f ,t,I
would be derived from it. We are prac-
ticaily in the dark as TO the workings of
the commissions, and ii is proper that we
should fully inform ourselves as to their
operations. 1t is true that the committees
Of council have the right TO inspect the
books of the various commissions, but that
gives very little information We want
TO understand just how the departments
under the commissions are conducted, and
TO satisfy ourselves as to whether or not
they are conducted in a proper manner.
We have adopted the only way to do this
that l know Of"
Mr.. Guckenheimer was asked whether
the investigation was not intended to Sc
cure evidence upon which to base charges
Tor removal against the commissioners.
The investigation is not antagonistic
10 the commissioners" he replied 1T
is true that the present council can hard
ly be regarded as friendly to the com
|, for one, do not regard the
commissions as for the good of the city.
if we should find that they
are conducting their departments sue
cessfully and economically, we shall be
TO so report to council If we
ma the opposite TO be the case. we shall
so report, with such recommended lions as
we may deem proper under the circum-
stances"
viii you hear charges against the
commissioners Mr.. Guckenhelmer was
asked.
we shall investigate all charges
brought to our attention, and shall take
evidence for the purpose Of proving the
truth or falsity of the charges"
Mr. Guckenhcimer was not certain
whether the committee had the power TO
place the witnesses under oath II do
not think any witness would object to
being placed under oath" said he, "for
the reason that refusal 10 be put under
oath tends TO cast a reelection upon the
witness testimony. IL is desirable that
witnesses should be put under oath for
the reason that there may be those whose
testimony would not be considered of val
ue by the committee unless so given"
Mr.. Guckenheimer expressed the opin-
Ion that the council has the power to re-
move members of the commissions IL il
sees tit 10 DO so.
Public Works Cor,nt,1iesiore- NKvutt,,t,