The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-20
MAY PRECIPITATE A FIGHT.
COMMISSIONER DO NOT WANT
THEIR POWER CURTAILED.

Reported That They VIII EndenvOr
10 Find Out just What Is Going to
BE Done CurtaiIment of Power
They Think Would he TantamOunt
TO RepcaI-Even n Suggestion of
an Opposition Ticket on n Com
mission PIntfOrm-What the POIiti-
clans Say About 1t.
The politicians fayorIng the retention
of the commissions have been awakened
by recent expressions of opinion to what
may be in store for them, and are prepar-
ing to make a move on the checker-board
to thwart the carrying out Of any plan
looking to the curtailment of the powers
now exercised by the commissions. There
Is a sentiment represented by many poll
tlcians which does not accord with the
expressions of aldermen on this subject,
recently published IN the Morning News.
Those who win antagonize any attempt
on the part Of Liberal Club leaders to
crop the wings of the commissions" as
it has been put. are likely to be found in
the ranks of this faction. Some of them
were quite surprised on reading the inter-
views from many of the aldermen. advo-
eating the retention of the commissions,
but at the same time favoring looping off
many of the powers they now exercise.
This is the way the commission element
is inclined 10 look at ii, however. for the
reason that a bill subjectng them to
Council, would they claim interference
with the efficiency of their work by again
putting them in the meshes of politics.
A summing up of the expressions made
by number of Liberal Club leaders yes.
terday to a Morning News representative
strongly indicates that any effort to car
ry out the views of the aldermen may re.
suit in a split somewhere in that factions
ranks. One man said he could not under
stand how it was that aldermen elected on
a platform, one of the planks of which
was the adjustment of the commissions,
could now see their way to eendone them
by advocating their continuance.
But those most interested say they will
not favor stripping the commissions of
the powers that now give them efficiency
and without which they would be unable
to use their judgment in the management
Of affairs. 1t is the same with the Police,
Fire, Water and the Park and Tree Com
missions. Where the members now meet
untrammeled and carry out their own
ideas, they say they would be otherwise
twisted and bound by Council under the
proposed change, and probably placed in
a position where they would not care to
assume the responsibilities placed upon
them.
my objection to all the views expressed
Sunday is that the commissions win go
back into politics." said a Liberal Club
man yesterday. Take, for instance, the
fire and police departments. There never
was time in the history of Savannah
when they were so nearly freed from poll
tics. The chiefs do not owe their positions
to the results of elections, and do not
therefore, call on their men to hustle
among the voters, to the neglect of their
business. This was the case before we
had commissions, the conditions that for
merly existed being well remembered BY
everybody
IF the appointment of the commission
ers is left to Council, as proposed, how
ever or, in other words to the success
full faction the members of every depart
ment controlled by the commissions, will
go straight to the polls to keep their jobs.
The chiefs of both the fire and police de-
partments will depend upon the winning
ticket, and will, therefore, call upon their
men to enter the fight. The moment this
state of affairs develops the object of the
commissions is killed. The work of sew
eral years in bringing about their present
efficiency will have been lost and the most
important branches of the public service
again placed in the throes of political tur-
moil No. sir; you can put me on another
list, If this desire of Council is carried
out"
Unless those who favor the commissions
standing at present, are appeased in some
way, it is asserted in some quarters that
they viii put out a new ticket
bet w w have
search for good men to rum 1t was stated.
"Our crowd can bring winners to the barn
In two hours-men we'll all support. There
are few men who would decline to run on
such a platform either, as the record of
the departments show conclusively they
have been conducted on an economical ba-
sis, such as has proven satisfactory to a
decided majority of the tax payers"
what course do the commission men
intend to pursue?' was asked of a man
upon whom Mr.. MeDonoughs interview
had made a serious impression.
To this inquiry, he shrugged his Shout
ders. He intimated that neither he nor
his crowd would work in semi-commisslon
harness, and that the present nominees
for the legislature would be felt before
anything was done. If they favor chang
ing the law governing commissions, he
said, in such a way as to place these
bodies subject TO Council, II would he said,
unquestionabiy split the Liberal Club.
While no plans have been outlined yet
still it is likely there VIII be a conference
by the fellows who whistle the crowd into
line. The object will be TO understand
what the future has in store for them.
With them 1t is fight for or against the
comm ssions, since il is considered re-
stricted powers ore tantamount to abolish
ing them altogether. The developments
likely TO come out in the next few days
will be watched with interest by all.
NINE FAVOR COMMISSIONS.