The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-05
NEW COMMISSIONERS MEET.
J. j. DALE CHAIRMAN AND F. $. La
THROP VICE-CHAIRMAN.

Dale and Kehoe With Regard to
Interim AppOintm s-COmmis-
siOner Kehoe's Talk Aimed Against
Mr.. w. f. Chaplin, Whom lie
Wants to Defeat-ChairmanD Dale
Was Given the Power, However, to
Appoint a superintendent of Roads
Until the Next EIectiOn-other
Business Transacted.
The new board of county commissioners
is now in office. 1t began its work yes
terday afternoon at 4 o'clock, the first
feature being caucus for the considera-
ton OF some preliminary resolutions, and
the preliminary instruction of the unini-
tiated members, or those who enter upon
the office for the first time.
The most interesting feature that de-
veloped after the caucus, which lasted
about an hour, was the opposition Of Mr..
Kehoe to a resolution which confers GER
tain powers upon Chairman Dale, until
the board has perfected its permanent or
ganization. Mr. Kehoe thought the reso-
luton meant the appointment of Mr.. w.
F. Chaplin to look after the road work
until an election is held. and as he is
strongly opposed to Mr.. Chaplin, he OPP
posed the resolution.
Ex-Commissioner J. A. G. Carson called
in shortly after o'clock to pay his re-
spects to the new board, but it was at
tina time IN clucua. and he did not walt.
He was the only one of the old commits
sioners, not on the new board, who APP
pe,led The iengtn VI tie caucus maze
those who were in waiting think that the
commissioners had decided to go ahead
with the election of officers, but such was
not the case.
The board organized by the unanimous
election of Mr. J. ]. Dale as chairman.
Mr.. Dale held that position for four years
under the former board, and is thoroughly
familiar with the duties Of the office. He
has undoubtedly made an able chairman.
Mr.. Frank S. Lathrop was unanimously
elected vice chairman. Mr.. Lathrop re-
ceived the highest vote on the county
commissioners ticket, and was naturally
accorded that honor.
The board passed resolution directing
the chairman TO appoint committee OF
three on auditing accounts. and before
the adjournment of the meeting Chairman
Dale appointed Commissioner Kehoe,
Guckenheimer and Lathrop on this COM
mittee. This committee meets always two
or three days before the regular meetings
of the board, and audits the accounts be-
fore they are finally passed upon. This
committee has been meeting heretofore
on Mondays but as IL has been decided
by the new board TO change the regular
meeting day from the second Wednesday
in each month TO the second Thursday, it
No. H. - eT,o al
dlting committee should hereafter be held
on Tuesdays.
The rules of force under the old board
were, by resolution Of the new board, con-
tinued and made operative for them until
otherwise ordered. The matter of formu-
lating rules for the new board was left,
by resolution, to the committee of the
whole. to be called together at the pleas
ure of the chairman.
The matter of elections of county Off
GERS was then taken up, but there was
no discussion, and ii was disposed Of in
few minutes. 1t came up simply in the
shape of a resolution, which provides that
the matter of ascertaining what officers
are to be elected by the board. of defining
their duties, fixing their compensation,
and designa ting a day for their election
shall be left to the committee of the
whole. II has not yet been de-
cided when the committee of
the whole will meet to take this
matter up, but presumably it will be
done before the regular meeting, which
will take place next Wednesday, March
10. as It has already been stated that the
elections of officers would take place at
that time.
Then came the resolution over which
there arose so much discussion. 1t reads;
THAT the chairman-elect, shall, during
the interim of the appointment and con-
firmation of the standing committees of
this board, be acting chairman of each Of
the regular committees not already ap-
pointed. with full power TO act"
Commissioner Kehoe strenuously object
ed TO so much power being conferred on
the chairman. He did not see why the
chairman could not appoint the regular
committees, nor why the board could not
organize and get TO work at once. He
did not think 1t required any length of
time TO appoint committees. The mayor,
he said. did not take much time to do that
work. He was willing that the chairman
should have power to sign the February
bills, conferred upon him, but he was not
willing that the chairman should have the
power TO make any appointments to any
of the offices.
Chairman Dale explained that the pur-
pose of this resolution was simply 70 con-
fer upon someone the power to attend to
such matters as had to be attended to be-
fore the board was permanently organized
and all of the committees appointed. lie
did not particularly care to do the work
himself, he said. but somebody had to do
IL, as the bills had to be signed for Feb
ruary before the next regular meeting,
and several other matters attended to. The
resolution, he said, did not give him the
right to make any appointments. but the
matter OF making appointments in the
interim If any were needed would be ar
ranged by special resolution.
Commissioners Lathrop, Guckenheimer
and West took the same view of the mat
ter, and on motion OF Commissioner
Lathrop the resolution was passed.
Mr.. Lathrop then called attention to
the fact that the county has some road
building in progress, and that the engi-
neer, Mr. w. r. Brown, would hardly
have time to give II his attention. He NOV
ed that the chairman be given the power
&c appoint On Off or to look after and
superintend this road work until the
board elects a permanent official.
Commissioners Kehoe again interposed
an objection. This was really what he
was Directing to in the former resolution
he thinking that IL included the power
conferred by the last one. He objected
ne said, to this appointing power being
given % the chairman unless a definite