The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-15
HELPED OUT OF TROUBLE.
COMMISSIONER VESTS REsIGNA-
TTON RELIEVES DIFFICULTY.

Governor Notified the County Conn
missiOners That the Resignation
Had Been Accepted, and MIR. w. ID.
SImISihs Was Chosen TO FIJI the
Vacancy-His Commission Expect
ed TO-mOrrow-Resid of Isle
of Hope Want IA New Public Road.
battle-ground Road to BE Paved
to DittmersviIIe.
Commissioner T. Newell West has re-
lieved the County Commissioners Of the
difficult problem which confronted them
by rendering his resignation to the Gov
ernor, and there is nothing now In the way
Of the issuance of a commission to Mr. W.
D. Sinl<ins to fill the vacancy.
The announcement of Commissioner
Vests resignation was made at the reg
ular meeting of the County Commission
ers yesterday afternoon. Mr.. West wrote
a letter to the commissioners from Tam
pa stating that he had rendered his resig-
nation to the Governor, and a letter was
also received from the Governors private
secretary stating that the resignation had
been accepted.
This settles a matter which looked as if
it would grow to be quite a bone of con-
tenton between the state authorities and
the County Commissioners. The Cover
nor, as Is well known, refused to issue the
commission to Mr.. Simkins after the board
had declared a vacancy by reason Of Mr..
Vests acceptance of a commission in the
army holding first that the office was not
vacated thereby, and later on that the
commissioners were not the proper parties
to declare a vacancy within their own
board. 1t looked for sometime, therefore,
as If the board would have to do without
the other commissioner until Mr.. Vests
return.
All Of that difficulty is settled however,
by Mr.. Vests resignation. At their meet
ing the commissioners passed a resolution
in connection with the matter, reciting
the history of the case, and selecting Mr..
w. D. Slmkins to fill the place on the
board made vacant by Mr. Vests resig-
nation. The clerk of the board was direct
ed to notify the governor of the election,
and to request him to issue a commission
to Mr. Simkins There is little doubt now
that this will be done, and it Is expected
that the commission will reach here by
tomorrow.
The law point at issue, however, as to
whether the County Commissioners have
the right to declare a vacancy within
their own board, has not been settled. The
Governor holds that they have not, while
the county attorney, Mr.. J. r. Saussy
takes the position that they have such a
right. The settlement of the matter by
Mr.. Vests resignation does not settle that
question, but II does not seem that there
is any occasion for it now and it will
probably remain an open one for sometime
to come.
Mr.. w. P. LaRoche, representing the
residents of Isle of Hope, and property
owners between the city and that place
appeared before the board in behalf of a
petition, signed by about thirty or forty
property owners and residents of that sec
ton to urge the opening by the commits
sioners of public road from the four and
a half mile post on the old Skidaway Shell
road to Isle of Hope, through the lands
of Maj p. w Meldrim, the Georgia State
Industrial College and others. This would
make a road of about two and one-half
miles, shortening the distance TO Isle of
Hope by about an equal distance. II is
stated that the property owners through
whose land such a road would pass have
charge for the purpose of establishing a
public road, and practically all that is
needed is for the commissioners to de-
clare il such, and do whatever little clear
ing Is necessary TO put it through. The
residents of Isle of Hope expect, when this
road Is established, TO repair the old mil
itary causeway connecting Isle of Hope
with the mainland, and they will then
have most advantageous highway. The
matter was referred to the committee on
roads and bridges for a report.
The matter of surfacing battle-ground
road with Augusta gravel from the city
limits to Dittmersville, a distance of
about a mile and one-eighth was referred
to the committee on roads and bridges
with power TO act. 1t win take about 100
cars of gravel TO do this work. The coun-
~ now secures the gravel at 81 per car
less than formerly, by reason of the re-
moval of the trackage charge. This
amounts TO a reduction from 81 20 to Sll5
per cubic yard. The battle-ground road
is practically continuation of Montgom-
cry street. There is little doubt that this
will be the next paving work taken up
by the county.
The county attorney, Mr. ]. n. Saussy
rendered an opinion that the commits
sloners are not authorized to pay consta-
bles for taking prisoners to Jail. The ex-
pense is chargeable against insolvent
COSTS he stated, and under no circum-
stances could be paid out of the general
county fund. Several constables had put
In bills for this service.
Supt. w. f. Chaplin reported that there
was a percentage of 6.S per cent of sick
ness among the county convicts. There
were 20l convicts on the chaln-gang on
July 1.
--s-s-s--
TO FINISH UP PAJAMAs.