The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-26
COUNCIL READY TO STEP OUT.
MELDRIM BOARD WINDS UP ITS
AFFAIRS.


S35O-Other Matters That viii he
Comprised in the Minutes of COun-
ellis Last Business Meeting.
The present City Council held its final
meeting last night All business on the
Clerks desk was disposed of preparatory
10 signing the minutes Monday at y
O'Clock. when che board viii retire and
tho newly elected Council viii be formally
indicted into office, Among other things
the Council passed Alderman Krouskon 3
ordinance to promote efficiency in the ser
vice of city officers and employees.
Changed the name of Seventh street to
Troup avenue.
Reduced the tax required OF persons 9th
er than paWnbrokeTs engaged in money
lending on personal property, from $500 10
$3.50
Increased the salary Of assistant to
health officer from SIS to 500 a month.
Appropriated $3.50 to B. D. Rosenbrook
for services in acquiring property for open
ing streets
Adopted the report of finance commit
tee refusing 10 grant the petition Of Mr..
Waring Russell asking the city 10 pay for
lands released by him for street opening
purposes twenty years ago.
Notwithstanding il was probably the
last time the present Council will meet to
transact business. there was nothing out
side of the ordinary. There were few
requests that the minutes be so changed
as to place aldermen on record correctly
with reference to their votes on certain
matters. Alderman Duncan stated he was
absent when Council recently granted Mr..
w. A. Bisbee a franchise to erect an
overhead telephone system. and he desired
to be recorded as voting against the reso-
luton. He said the day of wires and
poles in Savannah had passed and for
this reason he was not wiling to let the
matter pass without dissenting. Not only
are overhead wires dangerous, he urged
but poles are unsghtly and an obstruction
in the streets.
The ordinance by Alderman Krouskoff to
establish civil service in the city depart
nents, and making il the city's policy to
employ and promote its employees along for
merit, passed without objection Its OBJ
Ject is to dispense with the present policy
OF making appointments, which is 20 re-
Ward those who have been of political SER
wee 10 the party or faction in power and
consider only the ability and capacity of
applicants for the positions they seek.
No officer or employee of the city of
Savannah the ordinance saws. ''enn-
ployed by the month or for a longer per
lod snau be discharged during his term
OF office or the time for which he has been
employed, unless charges are made against
. him in writing, which charges are to be
addressed TO the Mayor and aldermen of
the city of Savannah. who shall hear the
same in Council after notice TO the Derson
charged and full opportunity 10 make his
defense, when the decision of Council shall
be mai These charges must pertain ex-
clusVely TO misconduct, neglect of duty
inefiiciency or some cause of a similar
character, which affects the public good
and the public service
1t shall be the duty of the officers Of
the police and fire. and the heads of other
departments, to discourage factional pol-
iucs an their department, to let if be I'M
oerstood that retention in service or pro-
motion cannot be secured by political &C.
tivity, or as the result of political service.
but must be governed entirely by oues-
= tons of merit and efficiency II shall also
De their duty to consistently act upon this
principle and to encourage it by precept
and example,
Alderman Krouskoff stated in support of
the ordinance that it was impossible 10
Keep desirable men in city Offices as long
as The present political system of making
selections prevailed. At times the hest
men are put out without giving satisfac-
tory reasons TO the public. Employees of
the city, he said, should be encouraged 10
leel they are secure SO long as they strive
properly 10 perform their duties. The
committee on streets and lanes had made
an effort toencourase the employees in this
department by impressing upon them The
fact their faithfulncss alone is the stand
ard by which they are measured. IIntu
faetional fighting for offices is eradicated.
he declared, the best of service from en-
ployes cannot be secured. The emDhasis
Alderman krouskoff gave to his remarks
shows that he desires the echo 10 reach
the incoming board.
The idea of changing the name of Sev
enth street was preached casually. Alder
men Owens and Krouskoff first suggested
1t, after which City Attorney Adams drew
the ordinance, providing that the name be
changed 10 Troup avenue Alderman
Charlton did not care to have the ordi-
ance introduced if there was to he an
objection 10 its passage The same meet
ing. After it had been read the second
time, Alderman Thomas stated he had
OBJECTED before the last reading but Nav
or Meldrim held the objection had NOT
bVNh ihdAi6 III thIlts dhtl the ordnance went
through Alderman Thomas voted against
It,
The tax required of persons, other than
pawnbrokers, engaged in money lending.
was reduced from $500 to $3.50. This in
cludes the class of brokers who make
small loans on furniture, for which they
are reputed to collect pretty high inter-
est The business is done mostly among
colored people, and it is not uncommon
for cases to get into the Justices courts
where negroes have paid the brokers' many
times the amount of the original loan
When the tax was raised il had the effect
of running several brokers out of busi-
ness, but its reduction will doubtless have
the effect Of reopeuing the Offices" THAI
went out Of business. Alderman Thomas
voted against the ordinance. while Alder
men Davis, Reid Owens, Krousloff
Smith, Johnson, Duncan and Charlton vol
ed for il.
The increase in the salary Of Mr. Chris
topher j. Melvin, assistant to health Of
ficer from SIS to S1OO, is admitted 70 he
a deserved recognition of his service A.
times Mr.. Melvin has taken fun CHARGE os
the health Office and has