The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-09
DlSPENsARY FIGHT SETTLED.
KEEPERS o'KEEFE AND WACAsSER
TENDER THEIR REGISTRATIONS.


The designations Accepted at the
Meeting of the Sanitary Board Yes
terdny to Take Effect Upon the
Election of Their Succcssors-The
Election 10 Take Place Two Weeks
From To-dny-The Dispensary Or
dinnnce to BE Passed To-Day
without OppositiOn-The Salaries
to Remain Unchanged.
The city dispeusary fight is ended. At
the meeuns Ct the sanitary board yester-
day afternoon the resignation Of Mr. a.
n. O'Keefe, keeper Of The dispensary; Mr.
J. u. Wacasser, assistant keeper and
Jesse Damos, the cofored porter, We're re-
ceved and accepted.
The designations were made effective
Sept /. Ia accepting Them, however, the
sanitary board chose 10 make them effec-
tive upon the election Of their successors,
which will probably be two weeks hence.
There had been no limitations that the
designations were forthcoming, and they
were doubtless something Of surprise 10
the members Of the sanitary board. Whhe
the board had taken no part in the fight
upon the employees of the dispensary ana
was. with the exception of Mayor Myers,
even inclined to favor their retention, the
members Were heartily glad to behold a
peaceful ending of the controversy which
has agitated the local political field for
the last several weeks
Instead of being ousted from their posi-
lions, Mr.. O'Keefe and his assistants re-
tire gracefully from the field. Mr.. O KeeIe
has realized since last Wednesday that
it was only a question OF short time
when the ordinance aimed at him would
be enacted. Having put up an interesting
fight and stood off his opponents longer
than at first seemed possible he realized
the useSessness of further opposition and
adopted the easiest means Of relieving
himself from an unpleasant position. His
fellow employees Mr.. Wacasser, his asst
ant. and the colored porter, Jesse Damos,
informed him that they would ABIDE by
his decision and that they were ready to
go or stay with him as che case might be.
The three designations were accordingly
made out and presented in time for the
meeting OF the sanitary board yesterday
afternoon.
Previous to the meeting Of the sanitary
board il had been announced that the
the table at the meeting OF council TO-
day and the statement was made that il
would pass without opposition. Both
Mayor Meyers and Alderman Dixon said
that they understood that there would be
no further opposition. Just why the OPP
position had been abandoned they were
unable to say unless it was that the OPP
ponents of the ordnance had realized that
further opposition would be fruitless
THE ordinance will be passed, but with
some amendments" said Mayor Meyers
The salaries will remain the same as at
present and the election will be advertised
for two weeks. ! am not certain that
there is any law requiring the election to
be advertised for two weeks, but l think
il proper that il should be done. This will
give all intending applicants fair notice"
There was an impression in some quar-
teTs that the passage of the ordinance and
the election to I'LL the vacancies would be
simultaneous and it is said that apphca-
tons would not have been lacking. DR..
O. T. Shaffer, a well-known pharmacist
addressed letter to the clerk of Council
few days ago giving notice that in case
Of an election for dispensary keeper he
desired to be considered an applicant
Mr.. +. j. Kieher Jr. was more to the
point and put in his application yesterday
for assistant keeper. There has never been
any lack of applicants for these positions
and IL is likely that Council will have a
neat isl TO choose from two weeks hence
The fight throughout has been made on
Mr.. O'keefe though the ordinance which
removes him removes his assistant also.
Mr.. Wacasser, the assis ant has not been
mentioned in the fight and nothing has
been said against him. He is said to have
given entire satisfaction in his position
and no reason is known why he should
not be reelected. Under the ordinance
which is about 10 be repealed, the porter
was also elected by the sanitary board.
This is somewhat unusual as all other
porters in the city employ are appointed
by the Mayor. Mayor Myers said yester-
day that the ordinance to be adopted to-
day Will provide only for the election of
the keeper and assistant keeper and that
the porter's place viii be an appointlve
one. Jesse DamOs. the present incumbent
IN this position, is a very polite and re-
spectful young darkv ana is said to have
given entire satisfaction. He has num-
Der of friends among the white people
and it is not unlikely but an effort will
be made to have him reappointed TO the
position which he now holds
The prediction of the partisans that
OKeefe would so out on Schedule time
will not quite be realized. They would
doubtless have preferred to see him Off
cially executed but under the circum-
stances they win be satisfied to accept
the loaves and fishes Mr. O'Keefe has
the satisfaction of knowing that he put
up a game fight and gave his opponents
considerable worry In doing so.