The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-16
FIRE COMMISSIONS FIGHT.
.ouMIssIONERs WILL PROBABLY
DEMUR TO CHARGES.

ceedinGs - Alderman KrOuskOT
wants Harmony, and VIII Work
with That END in View.
rh. prompt decision of Council as to the
.royaoltion Of the charges against the Fire
..,,,r,issioners was the subject of much
discussion yesterday. The general consen-
ne Of opinion is that Council means bust
ness and that now having a clear road be-
core It will make the investigation thor
o,gb one That Council will displace the
commissioners should the evidence in its
iudement justify such action does not ad-
NIT of doubt.
commissioners Grayson and Nell say
they are not prepared to discuss the SUBJ
iect Mr.. A "A Lawrence, one of the at
torneys for the Commissioners, said
that undoubtedly strong fight
will be made in their behalf. Mr.. Law
renee does not anticipate any trouble in
disprovng the greater part of the charges
made against the commissioners. What
ever may be left of the charges he said,
will be shown to be subject to an entirely
different construction from that put upon
It bv CouncilA mere difference of opinion
between Council and the commissioners
forms no basis for Impeachment, said MIR.
Lawrence.
That the charges are insufficient to i'm
reach will be the defense of the
commissioners. The legal opinions thus
far expressed to a Morning News repre-
sentative are that thd commissioners win
demur to the charges and endeavor to take
the case in a writ of certiorari TO the Su-
perior Court from which the proceedings
may 90 through about the same prolonged
course as that JUST ended.
Friends of the commissioners who have
taken the trouble to think over the prob
able outcome of the investigation, claim
the charges are insufficient because they
do not alege that the commissioners are
incompetent. 1t is claimed the proper al
legations would be the incompetency of the
commissioners and not that of Chief Ma
guire. The opinion of the commissioners
friends, and particularly their legal adher-
ents, is that the present charges would not
warrant the removal of Chairman Gray
son and Mr.. Nell, even If sustained by the
Council.
The first allegation in the charges is that
the commissioners, through Chairman
GraysOn, caused an insulting and offensive
letter TO be written and later given out to
the public prints. The letter referred to
an investigation before Council, the result
of which was a request to the commits
soners that Chief Mcguire be discharged.
Severe criticisms were passed on Council
in the letter and reflections made as to the
character of Councils witnesses that was
at once offensive to the aldermen. Con-
corning this letter, il is claimed it does not
affect the service of the commissioners and
an impeachment could not be based on 1t.
The next charge sets out that the COM
missionerS retained Chief Mcguire, an I'M
iii and Incompetent official, in the service
of the department. AS to this, it is as
serted that the qualifications of the chief
is matter solely within the province of
the commissioners and that they have
right to use their own judgment, notwith-
standing they may have erred in doing so.
According to this charge it is further as
serted that the judge of a court could be
impeached for exercising his Judgment in
deciding a lawsuit.
Chief Mcguire is raked for drunkenness
in the third allegation, and the commits
soners are charged with not removing
him. The reason for not. removing the
chief, the commissioners said, was be-
cause the fact was, not satisfactorily Ge-
monstrated to them. Proceeding, the eth
er charges relate in the main to Chief Ma
guire, the fourth being that the commits
soners were oppressive in allowing him
to suspend fireman for not surrendering
private letter, and then refusing to grant
the fireman another hearing; the fifth per-
milted the chief to suspend a fireman for
an ostensible violation, but really for tes-
Trying against him in an investigation
before Council; sixth, ignored the request
OF a committee of citizens to investigate
Mcguire, and, seventh, that Chairman
Grayson stopped a fireman going to a fire
ana took him to political meeting. Some
claim the charges are against Chief Ma
CURE, and not the commissioners. Those
which attack the commissioners directly,
it is asserted, are not such as would JUS
uty successful Impeachment
whether the demurrer is sustained by
Council or not the commissioners will APP
peal to the Superior Court and remove the
case on certiorari, thus keeping it in liti-
cation until the term of Commissioner Nell
viii have expired.
Chairman Grayson has about four years
before him, but he declares he was not
born to die on Councils sword The only
mitch that could ostensibly prevent another
season of long drawn out litigation wall be
Judge Falligant's refusal to grant the ST.
perseding writ, which is not very likely in
view of his former judgment in the case.
The Judge held when the prohibitory writ
was argued before him that Council had
HN AISHl 10 Try the COMMISSIONERS anu IL
was from this decision Council appealed
the case to the Supreme Court.
politicians are discussing the probable
effect of the investigation as to the fac
IONS Until recently the feeling between
members of the two clubs had not abated,
but since the gubernatorial boom opened
and favoriteS were chosen for the coming
election, former foes were seen together,
and 1t was predicted that the factlonal
lines would disappear and more harmon.
ious relations esta blished. This will be in
terfered with by the investigation, It Is as
serted as old party grievances viii be
stirred up and the sides formerly taken by
the people will again become prominent.
Speaking of this Alderman Krouskotf said
10 Morning News representative;
My efforts since / have been member
OF Council" he said, "have always been
Tor peace and harmony, without sacridc-
ing any principle. 1 say to eliminate all
party lines, do away with clubs, abolish
Objectionable features of the commissions
and unite our people for the good OF ga
vannah
About the decision of the Supreme
Court, giving the city power over the
commissions I can saw / am heartily