The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-27
WANT COMMISSIONS TO GO.
THE FIGHT To BE RESUMED IN THE
LEGISLATURE THIS FALL.

situation Puts Ii in n Difficult PO-
sitiOn-The Bills to Repeal the
! other Commissions Included in the
Unfinished Business of the Last
SessiOn-COnditions of the Fight
Considerably Altered Since the
! Last Session of the Legislature.
/ 1t is not quite a month now until the next
| session of the legislature, which convenes
in Atlanta the third Wednesday in Octo-
Der There have been so many other mat
tiers to distract the public attention, nota-
bly, the prolonged investigation of the fire
| chief the yellow fever scare, and recent
| ~ the question of house drainage that lit
tie has been heard of the local legislation,
which is likely to be brought to the at
tention of the legislature.
That the fight against the commissions
Is TO be resumed and pushed with vigor
| seems to be assured. The best evidence
that such is the case is the appearance of
an advertisement in the Morning News
giving notice of an intention to apply to
the legislature for the repeal of the act
! creating the park and tree commission. At
whose instance the notice was inserted is
not known, but is to be presumed that the
intention announced meets with the ap-
proyal of the dominant faction, and that
the bill will have the support of the rep
resentatives from this county.
II this is to be the case there is a change
IN the attitude of the representatives to-
wards this commission. While at the last
session of the legislature bills repeating
| the
and passed through the house, it was gen.
orally understood that the park and tree
was the only commission which met the
| approval OF the opponents of commissions
generally and that this commission was
to be allowed 70 stand. So far from at
tempting to repeal the park and tree com
mission act bill extending it's powers by
giving it control OF Laurel Grove cemetery
and the control of its own labor became a
law through the efforts Of the representa-
| lives.
The effect of this bill has been very dis
astrous to the commission, for had 1t not
had the control of its own labor it would
hardly have been allowed to go ahead and
eXpend its entire appropriation for this
year within the first five months of the
year, and consequently the commission
would not have been in the unfortunate
| light which it is at present bv reason of
| It's own Shortsightedness That the trou-
bic with the commissioners was that their
zeal outran their discretion is generally
| recognized, but such a break in the system
OF municipal house keeping is one that is
| not freely cOndoned.
having failed to secure an additional ap-
! preparation from the city for the purpose
! OF continuing its work the work has since
Deen looked after by the street and lane
department under the supervision of the
chairman of the department and the com
missioner of public works. This puts the
commission in rather a bad position in
which to face legislative attack. and the
indications are that the park and tree is
to be cut down with the balance of the
commissions
The bills for the abolition of the police
lire and water commissions and the public
works commissioner, which We're intro
duced a the last session of the legislature
passed the House, being supported by the
three representatives from Chatham, but
were held up in the Senate through the eff
forts of Senator Geiger. Being in this po-
sltion, 1t is not necessary that the bills be
reintroduced, and they can be taken up
as unfinished business at any time during
the session.
Il is generally recognized that the op-
ponents Of the commissions are in a
much better position to accomplish this
object this fall than they were a year
ago, when an administration favorable to
the commissions was in Office here and
when the political Civilizations of the chief
supporters of the Gdminstrati lion We're suf-
fcient TO bring to its aid strong support
from throughout the state. 1t is ra her
unusual that the united support of q
county delegation fails 10 carry its DO mt
in the legislature, but this is what c.
CURED last fall. With an administratio n
antagOnistic 10 the commissions in power
at home and fewer complications TO con-
tend with in Atlanta, it remains TO be
seen what the results will be
Senator Geiger is said to be still faith
full 10 his friends, The commissioners, but
whether he will make the same fight in
their behalf which he made last fall re-
mains TO be seen.
With the exception of the fire commits
sion the present administration and the
commissioners have worked tremendously
| The departments have been well managed
and council has not been able to complain
of any lack of support, with the excep-
ton mentioned. The members of council
feel, however, that that body has been
shorn of its power, and they are anxious
TO have its former power restored to it,
The chairmen of several committees of
council want to feel that they have some
influence in the department nominally in
trusted to their care.
What viii be the result in case of the re-
peal of all the commissions is a matter of
doubt Some of the officials have render
ed very efficient service, even in the opin-
ion of the present admin jstration but to
what extent their services would weigh
against their previous political affiliations
is hard TO saw one thing $ certain
dead set Will be made for the repea, of
the fire commission bill and. If this alone
be accomplished. the administration and
Its supporters will feel that the legislature
has not met in vain.
PREPARING THE CHARGES.