The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-22
NINE DAYS TO REGISTER IN.
Only THAT MUCH TIME LEFT FOR
WOULD-BE VOTERS

Accessory To have Palu N1ty IHAes
in order 10 Register-AbOut $500
Names on the List Now and IL Is
Believed There VIII BE Four
Thousand Qualified Voters for the
Coming Election.
Including to-day there are but nine days
more in which a citizen of Savannah can
register and qualify himself to that ex-
tent to vote for a Mayor and aldermen in
the approaching city election. AS there
will in all probability be two full tick
cts in the field and the great mass of cit
liens will desire to have a voice in the Sc
lection of the next administration, there
is promise of some lively registering
during the next three days and all of next
week
So far there are about $500 citizens Of
Savannah who are registered. The total
number registered on the county lists up
to last night was 3,as of which 3,244 were
white and 634 colored. OF these it is be-
lieved there are probably 500 out in the
country districts, leaving over $500 regis
tered living in the city. OF these it is
thought there are not over $50 negroes, If
that many. There is little inclination on
the part Of either side 10 register the ne
groes and the outlook is that the fight for
control of the city will for once be largely
restricted to the white vote. With nine
days yet in which men can register there
is no reason why the total city registra-
ton should not reach at least 5000, which
would make the election of sufficient in
terest to suit everybody.
Capt ]. j. MCGOWAN, the county tax
collector, has charge of the registration.
II is carried on in his office at the court
house. In order to register it is necessary
to have paid all poll taxes including that
for 1898. and all other taxes due the state
and county. Capt MCGOWAN has nothing
to do with the city taxes which enter
into the matter later on. His is a county
registration but from it the lists for the
city election are made up without any
further registration.
As the coming city election is under
new law it is well for citizens to acquaint
themselves with its provisions. The new
law was drafted by a committee of the
Liberal Club and was introduced in The
legislature by Mr.. McDohough. 1t will
generally be referred to hereafter the
McDonough law. To be a qualified voter
il is necessary in the first place that the
voter should have beeT a resident of the
city of Savannah for period of six
months Immediately preceding the cleo
ton. Anyone who was a resident of Sa-
vannah on last July "a, and who had lived
in Georgia six months prior TO that time
would be entitled TO register, provided, as
stated, that all county and state taxes
have been paid.
The registration so far as the city cleo
ton is concerned is to end on Dec. 81.
Within five days after that time the tax
collector is to prepare a list of the quail
fled voters, arranging them in the dis
tricts In which they reside and alphabet
ieally dividing the lists for the First, Sec
ond and Third districts in half as closely
as can be done without splitting the names
under any letter. For the Second district,
which is only allowed one box at the cleo
ton, but one list will be prepared. The
tax collector win retain these lists. On
Jan. 10 City Treasurer Hardee is to fur
nish to the tax collector a list of all per-
sons who owe the city of Savannah taxes
or licenses. The tax collector will note
against the side of these names on his reg
istration lists the amounts which are due
the city Any who are found to owe the
state and county taxes are also to have
the amount due placed by the side of their
names on the registration lists.
On JAN 10, five days before the election,
nary courts shall meet as a commission
and name four managers each for the
First Second and Third districts, and
two for the Second district, the judges
! also designating at which boxes the man.
ayers shall serve in the districts where
there are two boxes. 1t shall not be
lawful to appoint both managers at one
box who are known to be adherents of any
| one candidate or ticket. To be a man.
] ia n hppn
| holder of the city of Savannah for a per-
| iod of six months preceding the election.
Each of the managers viii have the
| appointment of list keeper, who will
| perform the duties usual to that position
at an election. Each manager will re-
ceive $3.50 for his days services.
On the morning of the election the
! county tax collector will furnish the reg
istered voters list to the managers of the
| several districts. Any citizen registered,
| but who had not paid his taxes. still has
! chance to vote if in the meantime he
has settled the claims of the city, state
and county against him. by presenting
! to the managers the receipt from City
! Treasurer Hardee or County Tax Col,ec-
tor MCGOWAN, showing that the taxes
have been paid, he must be allowed to
vote This permits of the payment of
| taxes even on the day of election. The
| payment of taxes is the chief qualification
of a voters, and every effort is made to
induce them to pay.
The Clerk of Council is to designate
the location Of the boxes at the court
! house and is TO furnish the form of oath
10 be taken by he officers the certificates
of return and all other papers and forms
to be used by the managers. ballot boxes,
etc. The candidates furnish their own
tickets.
Not more than two representa- ves Of
each party are 20 be allowed TO be present
at the court of the ballots The result Is
to be publicly announced by the managers
aud the clerk of Council as soon as it is
| determined and the Mayor and aldermen
elected will assume office on the succeed
ing Monday, Jan So 1899
The police force is to be under the con-
troi of the Mayor on election day for
the purpose of preserving the peace. ANY
police officer who interferes with a citizen
attempting to vote legally shall be guilty
OF a misdemeanor and punished by a