The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-10
MATTERS DETonE COUNCIL.
Alderman Davis May Preside at To-
nights Meeting.

nights Meeting.
Unless several absent members Of Coun-
cB return to-day, Alderman T. ]. Davis
will preside at the meeting tonight Mayor
NIeldrim was at Mount Airy yesterday
arguing the Adula case, while Alderman
Owens. chairman, and Alderman Charlton.
vice chairman of Council, were also out Of
the city
Alderman Davis acts in the absence Of
the Mayor. when The chairman and the
vice chairman of Council are absent. IL
is an established rule of long standing
that the alderman who received the high
est number of votes in the election snail
act in the Mayors place under these cir
Cumstances.
There are not many matters billed for
the meeting, but experience has demo l.
strated that the Longest sessions are those
where forecast of the business amounts
to practically nothing. one thing that
will be brought before the board however,
IL is thought, is The petition of Liberty
street property owners to have the interest
RENTED on the amounts the Supreme
Court recently decided they owe on the
paving there. The grounds on which this
request will be made are not known, as
the petition was not fled yesterday, but
il Is thought the claim viii be made that
the property owners were protesting Tor
their legaF rights, and not adopting a-ruse
10 saddle the burden of the paving deDt
on the city. The interest amounts to quite
a good deal and If the effort to get it or
is successful it viii be a saving well worth
the work
The board regards the matter seriously,
but il is not certain favorable action Will
be taken on such petition. Some peneVe
the interest should be RENTED WINE
others take a different view Of the mat
la
ing through, at least, without strong OPP
position.
Alderman Reid favors renting the in
terest and requiring the property toNners
liable TO settle promptly. During the past
week he has been called on by number
who have been circulating among the
aldermen in the interest of the petition il
is proposed to submit. Alderman Reid
takes "a liberal view of the matter, and
enterains no feeling whatever toward the
property owners because they have car
RED the city through one of the most
tedious legal fights it has had for some
time
Alderman Davis also talks favorable to
requiring only the principal He looks at
the matter pretty much the same as AL
derman Reid, and recognizing the univer-
sal right 10 contest questions in the courts,
does not feel the property owners have
treated the city unfairly. It is true the
litigation has cost the city something, but
this is no reason for requiring this inter-
est of tte defeated citizens who already
pay a good round tax into the city treas
ury.
Other aldermen express themselves diff
ferently, and take a position directly OPP
posite to those who favor II. 1t is insist
ed the case has been won by the city,
and that IL should get what benefit there
is. Just what action will be taken is not
known, but if the question is brought up.
II will be discussed in caucus, since it re-
lates TO finance, and promises to consume
some time, unless the opposition takes
another view of the matter.
The city has been minus an alderman
for several months. Since the resignation
of Mr.. r.. NJ. Hull, he has been largely i'll
strumental in re-organizing and improv-
ing the fire department. In regard to the
election, Alderman Davis said he thought
there was little doubt but some one would
be chosen tonight. The election was
passed from last meeting with the under
standing that il was 10 come off at the
following meeting. In the event any NOM
nations are made. he does not believe the
election can be postponed again. Mention
of the election now is almost a farce, as
IL is becoming apparent that when a NOM
ination is made an alderman don't like, he
moves that the election be passed to the
next meeting, as 1--WE are not ready yet to
take up this important matter" The delay
10 ilH tllt pace mas not ptNn SUBJECT or
criticism however, probably because
there are no interests directly affected.
Commissioner of Pubic Works Willink
will not report on the Drayton street, paw
Ing. 1t is said he has accepted the paving.
but formal acceptance may not be re-
PORTED to the council for some time yet
An ordinance will be introduced requir-
ing property owners on Bun street from
Anderson TO Tenth, to put down side
walks Now that the city has graveled the
street, it seems the purpose of council to
have the street finished by requiring the
sidewalks