The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-30
CHATHAM'S LAW MAKERS.
WILL SPEND THE DAY AT THEIR
HOMES.

They Agree the Session Gives Prom
ise OF Good Legislation No Def
mite Course Decided On Yet As to
Local Bills - Representative Me-
DOnough Says There Is No Doubt
That the Commission Bills VIII
he Repealed, Hut He Does Not OBJ
tect to IA Clause Allowing Council
TO Recreate Them.
Representatives McDonough. Mcmillan
and LaRoche returned yesterday from At
lanta. They were met by numerous friends
on their return and VIII spend to-day an
the city, returning to Atlanta tonight 1t
is not known when they win be In Sa-
vannah again, but It is understood It will
be before any of the proposed local bills
are introduced.
Mr.. McDonough was seen at his resi-
dence on Price street last night. In
speaking of the legislatures opening he
said he is well pleased with what has
been done. lie thinks the gentlemen elect
ed as president of the Senate and speak
er of the House will both fill these posi-
tons with credit to the state. Mr.. Nc
Donough feels assured the legislature has
Commenced its work auspiciously. Every
thing has been started in the right way.
and the session promises to accomplish
many things.
Having previously stated his position
with reference to the repeal of the COM
mission bills, which, II seems, is the leg
islatiou in which Savannah is most in
4 Ee.ra
Mr.. McDonough to say. AS is well known
he does not favor commissions. Just how
the other representatives stand on this
matter, is not definitely known, but 1t Is
said they take about the same view.
One thing it will be necessary to decide
as to the bills, however, is whether a
clause will be inserted giving Council the
right to create commissions if 1t is con-
sidered wise to do it. Upon this point there
Is likely to be no disagreement, however,
as the representatives will be in harmony
on whatever course it Is decided to pur-
sue, even though some of them have to
yield In the positions they may take. The
controlling idea is to place the City Coun-
ell at the head of municipal affairs, so
that there will be no clashes between it
and the departments, such, for instance,
as the recent conflicts in which the city
was put to considerable expense and trou-
BILE in finding out il had the right to ad-
minister the law. Under the changes. it
is proposed TO make, 1t Is said nobody will
be directly responsible for enforcing the
law except the Mayor and aldermen, who
will then have every power vested in them
for this purpose
what it is proposed to do" Mr.. Nc
Donough said, sis to make all the depart
ments directly amenable to the people 3
representatives. For my part, l do not
believe commissions are necessary, but
I am perfectly willing to include the right
in the repeating bills for Council to ere
ate commissions If they are wanted. The
aldermen are the peoples representatives,
and IL it is decided the people want COM
missions, l have not the slightest objec-
ton, as the fulfillment of the peoples de-
sires is the direct object for which public
officials are elected"
There is ample time yet to come to a
definite conclusion about the text of the
bills, as the captions were not advertised
until recently, and the bills cannot be in
PRODUCED until thirty days after publica-
ton. 1t is possible the gentlemen who
have given these matters thought will
meet some time in the future, discuss de-
tails and decide upon the course to pursue.
There has already been one conference in
regard to the substance of the proposed
bills, but 1t is understood there will be
another before everything Is finally set
tied. 1t Is certain the representatives will
be together in whatever is done, as they
express the intention of yielding where
they find 1t in the interest of harmony.
The representatives agree the session
gives promise of being fruitful In many
ways While they are not certain when
they will be in Savannah again, 1t will be
before radical steps are taken with refer
ence to proposed local legislation.