The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-22


who offered them had not desired nor I'M
dertaken to give the views OF the city gov
eminent. Senator Grovenstein said that
there existed In these views considerable
diversity, and that the Council, as he I'M
derstood the expressions Of its members
had not been able to agree as to the prop
er course that ought TO be pursued.
Officers Election Bill.
II told the members Of the Council"
said Senator Grovenstein, THAT would
not favor the bill making the officers Of
the city government elective by the in
coming instead Of the outgoing Board of
Aldermen This was the matter upon
which the board wished TO consult me nd
officially ! expressed an opinion on no 9TH
or matter. ! tod the Mayor and those
of the aldermen who were present that the
law had been placed IN It's present form at
the last session of the Legislature, and
that ] mad helped 10 insure It's passage.
do not feel that consistency would permit
me 20 urge the passage Of a repeating law
and l propose to oppose il. 1 do not see
how ! can act ia any other manner"
THE matter seems clear enough TO me.
Last year ! was called upon to vote for
measure that so changed the law as TO
place the election of the city officers IN the
hands of the outgoing Board Of Aldermen
and in this matter 1 followed the wishes
Of the citizens OF the county, as / unGer-
stood them. ] do not see now that there
has been any change Of sentiment. and q s
matters now stand / shan not vote for
law that changes the status quo one fac
ton has had its opportunity TO elect off
GERS and think that the other should be
allowed a similar opportunity If il vii.
ever be proper TO change the law IL GER
tainly is not proper a The present session
of the Legislature. only few mo tbs
since it was placed in its present form"
This is what l told Mayor Myers and
the members Of the City Council. If there
has been any change in public sentiment
have not seen it and lis seems proper 10
me that the officers elected by The st
board should hold office for the fun term,
and not until their tenure of office is lerm-
mated by the passage Of some city ordi-
nance That is The way l think about 1t
and that is the way l shall vote"
The JudGship Question.
How about the law making the judge
of the City Court elective by the people
of the county," Senator Grovenstein was
asked.
Il shall not faver the enactment of such
a law" was the reply II ON opposed to
The general measure Placing the election
of the judges of the Superior Courts in
the hands of the people of the state, and
l am even more opposed to the proposed
act placing the election of the Judge of the
City Court of Savannah in the hands of
The people of the county. | believe that
the enactment of such a bill will be even
more pernicious in its effects than the en-
actment of the other"
Does the bill making the election of the
clerk and sheriff of the City Court de-
pendant upon the suffrage of the people Of
the county meet with your approbation?'
Il think so. These officers exercise no
judicial functions, and / can see no objec-
ton to placing their election, like that of
their brethren occupying similar offices
in the Superior Court, In the hands of the
people. As far as I can understand, Meth
err of the local political factions oppose the
bill and Il seems to meet with general APP
probation and approval"
There are other bills before the Legis-
lature that have been advertised in this
county which I have not given any very
mature consideratio The bill providing
a solicitor general for the City Court
comes within this class and l have nos
vet made a positive decision on the sub
ject My decision is largely a question
of facts and figures IF I can be con-
WINGED that the office when divided wiz
pay such a salary as will insure the nom
nation for each Of the positions of the
very best men and the men who viii
look after the interests of the stale ana
county in the best possible manner, then
1 will favor the bill providing for a sep
arate solicitor. Otherwise, l shall op
pose 1t.
The Senator has undoubtedly disappoint-
cd the expectations Of a majority of the
members of the Liberal Club, by whom
il was thought that he would favor all
the bills introduced by the representatives
of the county in the Legislature, 1t is said
that the Liberal Club Is prepared to sub
nit to the Senator page of official fig
ures. that It is thought will demonstrate
to him that the salary and income of the
Of no