The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-23
WILL SHUT DOWN APRIL FIRST.
HOUSE DRAINAGE WORK TO CEASE
AFTER THAT DATE.

AFTER THAT DATE.
The Injunction Suit Not Likely to BE
Decided Until After April 1.-The
situation of the Contractors Not a
Very Desirable One-MayOr Mel
drim Discusses the situation.
House Drainage Work Will BE Re-
sumcd This Fall, He Says.
1t is likely that no further action will be
taken in the house drainage injunction
suit. until after Apuril l, at which time
the contractors Will close down their work
for the season
There was some talk of continuing the
work for another month, but on account
of the very warm weather, even with the
unpleasant litigation out of the way, 1t Is
not likely that the contractors would be
allowed to continue work
After they have closed down their work
and restored the streets to their former
condition, the contractors win have
chance to study the situation and find out
where they are at In either case, just
now, their situation is not the most de-
sirable one
Should Judge Falligant decide that the
contract is unconstitutional, and the notes
invalid, the contractors will be simply at
the mercy of the city, whose credit they
have attacked. Including the work already
done and the material on hand, the con-
tractors have been at an expense of not
less than $4,000 to $4,000 for which they
have not been able to reimburse them
selves, on account of their inability to
float the city's notes. With the contract
declared illegal, the city would not be
bound to pay anything for the work al
ready done. and the contractors would be
al its mercy.
On the other hand should the suit be
Withdrawn, as could sull be done, the
contractors would hardly be in as good a
position as they were before the suit was
brought as they have discredited their
own collateral in court
Mayor Meldrim when spoken to about
the matter yesterday, said he recognized
the situation to be as described. The ac-
ton of the contractors in instigating the
suit was very i'll advised, he said.
II Is very 0uiullldllHSt bdlu may VI
Meldrim, referring to the attack upon
the citys credit. THE situation has been
well understood for some time. 1t was
known that the city's debt was in excess
of its constitutional limit and that any
citizen who chose to do so could take
steps to prevent further increase in the
debt. No citizen saw fit to do so. The
contract specified that the payment for
the work should be in notes and yet an
effort is made to force the city to pay
cash by an attack upon the standing of
its paper The matter is not one for
agreeable contemplation"
Mayor Meldrim said ii was not worth
while to discuss what the city would do
about the matter or what arrangements
1t might make for the completion of the
work in case the decision of the court
should be as contemplated.
THE contractors will shortly conclude
their work for this season. ne said land
we have all summer in which to consider
the matter, and decide what is best to do
under the circumstances"
1T is the intention of the present admin
istration to complete the house drainage
system" continued Mayor Meldrim. 1T is
a desirable improvement. If we had not
thought so we would never have under
taken al. The matter had been under con
sideration for years and it was understood
that the citizens generally favored such an
improvement. Doubtless. the old sewers
will continue TO do their duty for another
summer Whatever may be the outcome
of the present litigation il is safe to say
that the house drainage work will be re-
sumed this fab. The city is not disposed
TO deal unJustly or harshly with anyone,
and whatever arrangements will be made
with the contractors will be in a spirit Of
fairness and Justice
Mr.. Rourke's friends think he Is entitled
to some consideration. He entered upon
the house drainage work, they say, with
the full assurance that the city's notes
could be floated at par without difficulty.
Had he thought otherwise he would never
have invested a dollar in the work. Hav-
ing entered into obligations and contracted
large Indebtedness for the purpose of car
rying on the work, he finds himself I'M
able to raise a dollar by means of the
paper which he receives from the city. He
could only secure money by pedging his
own property and he could not be expect
ed 10 jeopardize all he possessed for the
purpose of carrying on public work He
took the only course which appeared to
he open to him to improve his situation
but with results different from what was
expected. While the city has kept the
letter Of its contract with the contractors
Il is claimed by Mr.. Rourkes friends that
il has failed TO keep the spirit, as it has
not given valuable consideration capable
of being converted into cash, though this
was evidently It's intention when the con-
tract was made
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