The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-04
GOVERNOR GOES TO ALBANY.
WILL ATTEND SESSION OF SOUTH
GEORGIA CHAUTAUQUA.

t1'S OOunc1i-iropoSeu thunSe II
Police System-COnsOIidate al
Last Grants Transfers-Queer Case
of an Atlanta Convict Hiring q
Substitute on the Gang.
Atlanta. April S.-Gov. Gambler went &C
Albany to-day to attend the South Geor-
gia Chautauqua. which is now in session
there. He left at O'Clock this morning
over the Central Railway, accompanied
by Adjt Gen. Byrd and Inspector GeenTal
Obear lie VIII not return to the capital
until Wednesday.
The Governor has been absent from his
desk at the executive office but little since
his Inauguration, having found great
deal of work to do on coming into Office.
He is now out of the woods so 10 speak,
and hopes TO be able TO get around amons
the people more, in response to the many
invitations he has received
Woodward's Veto Killed.
Mayor Woodward played in hard luck
at the meeting of the city Council this af-
ternoon, his veto message being knocked
out on vote of Is to 1.
He had Sent in communication vetoing
a pet scheme Of some of the ax-grinding
members to set street paving in front of
their property for nothing. An ordinance
had been passed at the last session of
Council providing for the laying of these
pavoments OUT of the general street funds,
that is. the fund set aside for use in i'm
proving streets not subject to assessment
against property owners.
The thing went through Council easy
enough. for it had evidently been creased,
but when his honor, the printer
mayor" saw the point of the
scheme, he thought TO squelch
1t with his veto, assuming the position
that street paving should be done under
the same conditions in all parts of the city,
that is all property owners paying their
pro rata and no favored ones to get such
improvements without such assessments.
The ax-grinders, however. had things
well fixed, and turned the veto down by
decisive vote, the first time such thing
has been done in a long time.
wants Policemen for Life.
Mayor Woodward also sent a communi-
cation to Council suggesting that the old
law under which the police department
has been existing for years be changed 50
as to remove the force from politics
The biennial election which was held
last week, the mayor says, clearly demon
strated that such a method of selecting
the force is demoralizing in the extreme.
He recommended that the elections be
done away with, and a plan adopted by
which the men viii serve for life or dur
ing good behavior.
There has been a decided sentiment
among the people Of the city in favor of
this sort of change in the police regula-
tons for Some time and although the pa
pers which have always been more or less
numerous on the police board are lined up
against the change recommended by the
mayor. the chances are even that this re-
form viii go through.
Transfers Granted mt Last.
After years of\wrangling over the sub
ject, the Consolidated Street Railway Com
Dany inaugurated a systemeoaramramar
panv to-day inaugurated a system of
transfers on its lines, which gives passen-
gers the privilege of riding to almost any
part of the city for five cents.
Thousands of dollars have been spent in
the courts to compel the Consolidated to
grant transfers, and the fight that has
been waged through the press for the past
few years has been one of the most in
tensely interesting local contests in which
the people have taken part.
The railroad company was determined
not to accede, and its refusal developed
feeling of hostility that has cost an enor-
nous amount in adverse verdicts where
the company was defendant So bitter
has this feeling become that the company
was practically hopeless when it went into
court 10 defend damage suit.
The company has repeatedly taken part
in local politics for the purpose of fasten-
ing Its hold upon certain privileges, and
throughout Mayor Golfers administration
1t was one of the leading issues. Mayor
Collier had Council to pass an ordinance
compelling the company to grant trans
fers, but 1t was carried into the courts
and the city was defeated.
Mr. Joel Hurt the head of the company
ran for Council on the ticket succeeding
Mayor Golfers administration and was
badly defeated. This seemed to be the
last straw that brought the company TO
time, for shortly after Mayor Woodward
came into office the announcement was
made that the company had decided to
grant transfers that had been 50 long and
bitterly fought for, just as soon as the de-
tails could be arranged.
The public feels quite happy over the
concession and regards it as something OF
a victory. The Consolidated seems TO have
finally come to the conclusion that it is
best to make friends with the public
Besides granting the transfers another
step in this direction was taken to-day by
the withdrawal of the Perkins suit brought
some months ago by the Consolidated, or.
rather through its influence. for the pur-
pose of preventing the Atlanta Railway
Company from taking up the West Side
franchises.
Substitute for Convict.
A unique incident came to light in the
police department to-day, when il was
discovered that a prisoner who mad been
sent up for thirty days had hired sub
stitute to serve out his time for him.
The parties to this novel transaction
were John A. Mize, a white man who
was given thirty days on the rockville for
thrashing his wife, in lieu of a fine of
800 Alter serving ten days Mize hit upon
the idea Of hiring Tom Gravitt. an old
rounder in police circles, who was lust
ending a ten-day term for being drunk to
finish his term. GraVitt consented for the
consideration Of $40 in hand paid. ana the
stockade physician approving the trans