The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-12
M OFFENSE WAS INTENDED.
o,,,,,ssIONERs HAD NO SUCH IDEA
IN VIEW.

conotv Attorney saussy States the
view Taken by the Board OF the
mills submitted by the Ordinary,
~ collector and Clerk of the SUI
Tor Court for Preparing the
n,.ouaIified Voters List of 1898.
,,.,inr Failed 10 Comply With the
Tor of the Law, However, the
omcisIs May Not Be Able to Obtain
Anv compensation for Their
work.
rt. feeling of the ordinary, tax collec-
and the clerk of the Superior Court
- three officers who prepared the list of
,,so,,aIif7ed voters for the year 1898, as re-
oured by Jaw, that the action OF the Coun-
~ commissioners in returning their bills
~ This work was in some manner re.
e.ction upon them, is regarded by the
commissioners as unwarranted.
The action of the commissioners in re-
t,rning the bills and requesting
a corrected list properly certified to. as
required by law, was taken on the advice
If the county attorney MIR. ]. r. Saussy.
learning this to be the case and know
Ing that Mr.. Saussy was personally friend
" TO all three of the officials interested,
ne was asked yesterday to state mis- view
of the action of the board.
The return to the clerk, ordinary and
lax collector of their bills presented for
Dreparing the list of disqualified voters for
the registration of voters for 1885, said
Mr.. Saussy. was rendered necessary be-
cause on examination il did not appear
that the list had been prepared in con-
formity with the law. The bills did not
specify that The list contained the names
Of persons residing n Chatham county on
Jan l. 1898. They only contained charge
for making out list of disqualified voters
IN Chatham county, 1856 names at IL
cents each.
The list was obtained and 1t appeared
that there were three lists, one from the
Office of each official, and these lists did
not state that they contained the names
of all persons living in Chatham county
on the 1st of January of the year 1898,
who were disqualified from voting for the
causes stated in the act. Clearly the lists
as made out were not in conformity with
the law The three officials, the Ordinary,
clerk of Superior Court and tax collector
are a board charged with the duty of
making out annually one alphabetical list
from the best information obtainable, Of
all persons, showing whether white or
colored living in Chatham county on the
LIST of January of the year for which the
list is prepared. The lists prepared did
not conform to the law, and the bills were
returned to the officials for information
and certihcatiOn, but without any refec-
ton or intlmation of any Intentional err
rors by the officials Why there should
be such Indignation and wrath only veri-
lies, as MIR. Bryan would quote from
Scripture, Behold how great a matter
little fire kindleth."
Mr.. Saussy said further that he thought
the position taken by the officers named in
their card published in the Morning News
that they were entitled to collect from the
county for similar services performed In
previous years for which they had failed
10 render accounts, was untenable because
they mad failed to comply with the law in
their work of previous years in several
important particulars
Inc law is very rgid.'' said Mr.. Saus-
sy' and only warrants the commissioners
IN paying the prescribed fees for such
iisl as is required by the law"
ms beng the case, Mr.. Saussy said II
hhsHl De impossible for the commissioners
~ pay these three officers anything for
.nelr work in preparing the list of d;soual
t'eu voters for 1898, because the list was
Hot IN compliance with the law. and the
suol.lssioh OF corrected list at this date
"ouiu not help them in any way as the
tiiile LOT submitting the list July / 1873
las iaS passed and the election for which this
hst should have been furnished has OIL
ready been held. mas a.
- ne Id" providing for the registration
Noters as at present conducted was
T lTiu IN 1884, and became effective in 1895
Ind' portion of the law providing for the
riSpoi atioh OF list Of disqualified voters
r l-5nes 1t the DUTY of the tax collector. the
'oilIdry and the clerk of the SuDeror
ouIt practically constituting them
liz Uaiu LOT TINS purpose, to prepare annu-
eily an Alphabetical list of persons resid- |
IS III me county on the first day of Ian
eaiy Oh each year. who are DISQUALIFIED
rom voting In that year bv reason Of
crime ldlocy or failure to nav taxes from,
.ue year ISH. This list is to be fled with
tne registrars by July of each wear For
'l'is service these officials are each n "a
ceiVe ~ cents for each name on ~, ,ist
Out the commissioners ara autbo,.;,,,5 ~
uanse thls compensation. The county
attorney would probably rule bo1Ja,,ar
I@' any change in COMPENSATION must |
f,1a me- previous to the prepare ton of
Was made. Ni 'He ciahse
N ne three officials are required to unite
~ bieepdrIhg this list from. the best sources
ST., ~ ldtlon ootainable, so that the reg
,}r VIA not be required to wade
the nTa,,i i,S'S Oh names of persons, who, in