The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-07-02
LYONS TO BE COMMISSIONER.
nm. KEHOE's SUCCESSOR TO BE
ELECTED TODAY.

The New Commissioner Decided on,
ana win BE Formally Installed
This MorninE-SOme of the Com
missioners Going Away soon-They
Want to leave a Majority In the
City-Worl1 the Conyicts Did In
Cleaning bitches and Drains.
Mr. John Lyons, one of savaunah's best
known merchants, Will be the new com
missioner for Chatham county
He was decided upon yesterday by the
three members of the board remaining
Mr.. ". A Simkins moi having yet quail
fed and they at once approached him on
the subject. Mt Lyons did not give
positive answer at the time, but said he
would decide by 4 o'clock in the after
noon.
When seen later by representative OF
the Morning News he had just about made
up his mind to accept, but even then
seemed somewhat in doubt. He finally
stated, however, that he would accept the
position, which the commissioners had
rendered him, and he viii be elected this
morning.
Chairman J. J. Dale called a meeting Of
the board for $50 o'clock this morning for
the purpose of taking action with refer
ence to the resignation of Commissioner
william Kehoe. This action had to be
taken at once on account OF the fact that
Commissioner f. S. Lathrop leaves the
city the early part of pext week, and
Chairman Dale expects to so away about
the middle of the month. IT was desired
TO leave at least three commissioners here
so that there viii be a majority of the
board to transact business.
There seems to be no question that Mr..
Kehoe's resignation will be accepted. Mr..
Kehoe himself insists on it. having stated
in his note to the board that it was ef-
fective from the day it was rendered,
which was June 80 Chairman Dale was
Informed of il late Thursday afternoon,
and the matter Of selecting a new COM
missioner was at once taken under consid-
Grafton.
Commissioners Dale, Guckonheirner and
Lathrop called on Mr.. Lyons at his store
yesterday morning, rendering him the po-
stion, and urging his acceptance of It.
They talked over the matter for some
time and refused to take no for an an
swer They spoke Of the representation
on the board of different elements, and
told Mr.. Lyons they considered him just
the man to fill the vacancy created by Mr..
Kehoe's resignation. Mr.. Lyons, as sta
ted, considered the matter until yesterday
afternoon, when he decided TO accept, and
he will be elected member of the board
this morning.
This gives the board two new members
within comparatively a short time. Mr..
w. A. Smkins was elected on Thursday
to fill the vacancy created by the depar-
ture of Commissioner 4. Newell West.
Mr.. Simkins has not yet received his COM
a
member of the board until 1t arrives.
II is understood that the Governor will
be urged to issue and forward the COM
missions at once. so that both of the new
members of the board may be sworn in
without delay. II is practically necessary
to have a majority of the board IN the
city at all times so that any matters of
Importance coming up may be promptly
attended to. Three members make a ma
jority of the board
1t is not likely that any other business
outside of the acceptance of Mr.. Kehoe's
resignation and the election of Mr.. Lyons
will be attended to at this mornings ses-
sion.
Chairman F. S. Lathrop of the drainage
committee of the board has just received
reports showing the amount of work done
by the convicts in cleaning the bitches
and drains around the city The state
ment gives comparisons with work done
in the last three years, and shows that
considerable more has been done this year
than was done last year or the year be-
fore
In 1895 the convicts cleaned and sushed
199,200 feet of bitches and drains around
the city. In 1897 they cleaned 234 500 linear
feet of drains and bitches and this year
$40, 9e6 feet. The work this year was com
pleted about June 30, when the force of
convicts was sent to Tybee to look after
the drainage work there The bitches
and drains around the city are now in ex-
cellent sanitary condition The work this
year includes the cleaning of the entire
Casey canal, extending over distance OF
about six miles.