The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-30
NO TRIAL OF COMMISSIONERS.
HEARING. OF CHARGES INDEFINITE
LIZ POSTPONED.

MelI-The Matter warmly Argued
and Vote to Withdraw the
Charges Defented-The Fact That
| Both commissioners Have VoIun-
teered for War Service Had Con-
siderable WeIghf-A Scrap he
tween Aldermen Davis and Well.
The charges against the fire commits
sioners were indefinitely postponed at the
| meeting of Council held last night, for the
purpose of beginning the trial Of the com
missioners ON charges of Impeachment.
motion 10 dismiss the charges WIS
lost by vote of to 4. The motion to
postpone indefinitely was carried by a vote
of to 4. one alderman who had voted
against dismissing the charges voting for
| indefinite postponement.
There were ten members of the board
present, including the acting mayor, AL
derman Owens. who presided. There was
large. crowd TO witness the trial, the ma
jority of which was evidently antagontstie
to the commissioners though the latter
had friends present.
The Council assembled at $50 o'clock,
but remained in caucus until 9l5 O'Clock,
when the members entered the long room.
Acting Mayor Owens stated that the MEM
bers of Council were aware of the object
of the meeting. Alderman Davis moved
that the trial proceed
Alderman Well moved as an amendment
to postpone the trial indefinitely in view of
the fact that the two members Of the com
mission against whom. charges had been
preferred were enlisted in the state forces
and had offered their services to the gov
eminent in the war with Spain. Alderman
Krouskof seconded the amendment.
Alderman Charlton amended the amend
ment by moving that the charges be with
drawn. He made very neat little speech.
saying that since the two commissioners
against whom the charges had been pre-
ferred had enlisted in the service of their
country the charges should be Withdrawn
and they should be allowed to go to the
front without any threatened disgrace
hanging over them. Alderman Charlton
said that he did not feel that it would be
proper for him, as one who remained safe
ly at home in the present crisis, to push
such charges against men who were offer
ing their lives in the service of their coun-
try.
Alderman Guckenheimer said the charges
should be heard and the commissioners, If
entitled to 1t, should receive a vindication
before going to the front.
Alderman Duncan called for the reading
of letter written to the acting mayor by
Chairman Grayson of the Fire Commits
sion The letter was read as follows:
Savannah, Ga, April 20. 1S9S.-Hon w.
w. Owens. Acting Mayor, City of Savan-
nah: Dear Sir-Referring to the trial of
Mr.. r. s. Nell and myself upon impeach-
ment proceedings, 1 beg TO say that on
Sept. IL. 1897, /, as chairman of the Fire
Commission addressed a letter to Hon p
w. Meldrim, Mayor, the language of which
was construed by the Mayor and alder
men of Savannah as discourteous. At the
time the letter was written you well know
the political feeling was intense. You
will also remember that a great deal had
been said, both pro and con, both by the
Mayor and aldermen and the fire COM
missoners, but at no time since / have
filled the honorable position of fire COM
missioner have l even intended to do more
than protect my integrity officially ana
personally. You are no doubt aware that
the position which I fill, together with
other members of the board should be and
as understand it, purely a position OF
honor and without emolument If tho
language of my letter of Sept II, 1897 was
construed as discourteous 1t certainly was
only returned as a reply to the numerous
attacks which had been made upon me
as chairman, and certainly my respect
for the Mayor and aldermen, both person-
ally and officially, was and is such as
/ would preclude the possibility of my in
tending any discourtesy. 1 am writing YOU
H..
that no member of your board would for
moment accuse me of any lack of cour.-
age to discharge my duties faithfully and
IN accordance with my oath of Office ir-
respective OF differences of opinion or the
result OF any investigation that NAV he
held. Very respectfully.
William L. Grayson.
Alderman Davis said that the fact thai
'ne commissioners had volunteered was
hotning. There are many more he said
VINO would volunteer IL they could be as
sured OF captains and lieutenant's paw as
the two commissioners We're The volun
teering made no difference he said. They
should stand uD and lake their trial like
men. They should not be allowed to get
out OF the trial in this manner.
Alderman Smith spoke on the same line.
Alderman .Guckenheimer said the letter
was simply an additional insult instead of
really apologized in his letter.
Alderman Krouskoff said the objection
able letter alone should not be considered
| sufficient grounds for impeachment Had
they committed some more serious offense
such as embezzlement 1t would be diff.
ferent matter, he said.
Alderman Charlton said there are times
when politics should be dropped and that
time has now arrived He was as much
OF partisan as any one, he said. bur
he did not believe in carrying politics too
far. He was q member of the committee
which brought the charges against the
commissioners, but he was free to saw
that the charges were based on ex.parte
evidence. These gentlemen are going to
war he said and he did not wish 10
have any hand in bringing any cloud upon
them at such a time. While he would be
unable to, accompany them, he hoped TO
be here TO welcome them on their re-
turn.
The vote came up on Alderman Cnary-
tons amendment to Alderman Wells sub
stitute, which had been accepted by tbe
latter, that the charges be withdrawn. An
aye and nay vote was called for and
resulted as follows:
Ayes-Weil, Charlton, Krouskoff. DIM