The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-25
CLAIM FLAWS IN OTHER BILLS.
REPEAL OF COMMISSIONS DOES NOT
ABOLISH OFFICES CREATED ny
THEM.

IL Is Asserted Fire Chief Mcguire.
Chief of Police McDermott and SUI
perintendent Lotion Have Run the
GRuntIet-Some Hold That Repeal
ing Bills Are Faulty Because OH
ces They Filled for Two Years Are
Not Specifically AbroGRted-BiII
Repeating Police Commission.
Legal Opinions Indicate the EN-
ceptiOn Is Not Well Founded.
Grabbing at straws seems TO be largely
engaging the attention of city
office holders Besides the at
tack on the validity of the
bill fixing the time for the election Of city
officers, an account of which appeared in
the Morning News yesterday, 1t is now
claimed a flaw exists in the bills repeating
the commissions.
While the commissions themselves have
of Fire Chief Mcguire, Chief of Police
McDermott, and Superintendent of Water
Works Lotion have not even suffered SO
much as a scratch.
These officers themselves have not set
up the claim that there is doubt as to
their offices being abolished. but their
friends have seized upon the supposed
flaw. They have adjusted porous plaster
to the bills. which assures that all the
weak points will be drawn" out in
short order.
The objection to the repeating bills Is
they repeal the commissions without say
ing anything to what is to become of
the officers elected by them. 1t is assert
ed the three officials named have each
been elected for two years, and that the
abolition of the commissions does not alb
rogate these offices unless it is specifically
stated to be the intention of the legisla-
ture. Those who take this position assert
that the offices named are in full force
and effect for the reason the repeating law
is altogether silent as to any intention TO
abolish them.
The city election bill which appeared in
the Morning News yesterday, had not
been previously published, and neither
have those repeating the commissions.
Following is a copy Of that referring to
the police commission:
ITO be entitled to act to repeal an act
entitled an act to create and organize a
board of police commissioners in the city
OF savannah, 10 define ITS Jull6hltlluilf bh-
ties and powers and for other purposes,
approved Dec. 2, 1895.
Section l. Be il enacted by the general
assembly of the state of Georgia and 1t IS
hereby enacted by authority of the same,
That the act creating and organizing
board of police commissioners Of the city
of Savannah, defining its jurisdiction, du-
ties and powers, and for other purposes.
approved Dec 2, 1895, be and the same is
hereby repealed.
Section 2. BE 1t enacted that all laws
and parts of laws in conflict with this act
are hereby repealed"
| Speaking of the matter yesterday a mar
who had not sought legal advice on the
| question said it seemed to him the offices
were still intexistence. AS nothing was sad
about abolishing the Offices created by the
! commissions, 1t seemed to him the ncum-
| bents would serve out their fun terms, at
| the end of which the City Council would
| then take charge. Before then they claim
| they can only be ousted by Impeachment.
| The previous attack on the election bin
! led some to believe the objections to tho
| repeating bin were well founded. Only one
| of the office holders was consulted, the
! other two having heard nothing of the
matter. The one seen was inclined to be-
| lieve there was something in the position
! taken, and that it would, not be a bad idea
TO at least have legal advice upon the sub
ject. He said ne believed in investigating
| what seemed to be a good thing.
| Judging from the way the attorneys.
| consulted by a representative of the Morn
ing News, talked, however II would seem
there is not much hope of a successful at
tack majority seriously regard the OBJ
jections raised TO the election bill, but
they do not believe there is fighting ground
for the chiefs or the superintendent Of the
water works.
when the commissions were abolished 4"
said an attorney, their offspring vent
with them. The offices went the same
route. They were creatures of the com
mission. and when the state did away
with the latter, the offices went, too. There
seems to be no question about this, and IL
| would not seem a successful fight could
at all be made .on that ground. That S
! the way Il looks to me a. first blush"
If those interested take a hand one way
or the other they will probably lend their
assistance to Mr. Lawrence in bis fight
on the election bill. There Is a natural
inclination to reach out for the flaws that
crept into the laws touching present Of
fice-hoIders, and II there Is anything to
be gained by a fight, they Will most as
| suredly make the fur fly.
It is admitted the repeal of the office of
7 Commissioner of Public Works is com
| plete. There is no redemption for com
mission under the alleged invalidaung
| features