The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-26
CONSOLIDATION THE TALK.
MAY BE 4 REDUCTION IN CITY
OFFICES.

EculHH VI "
Works WiIIInI1 and City Marshal
Power-Their Offices TO BE AbOI-
ished or Consolidated with Others,
They Sny-Mr. Myers Says That
There May BE Some Consolidation
of Offices and That Unnecessary
Employees VIII Be Dismissed.
Myers Men Who Were Recently
Discharged to Be Restored TO
Their Places.
The results of Tuesdays election fur
nished much food for talk yesterday. The
Myers men stood around in groups and
discussed their victory. The most inter-
esting feature of the talk was the ef-
feet which the election is likely to have
upon some of the present city officers, who
were formally aligned with the Citizens
Club, but who were recently reelected by
the Meldrim administration and were more
or less active in the support Of Nc
| Donough.
1t was the general talk among the act
i've supporters of Mr.. Myers that there
would be such a consolidation or rear
| rangement of the present city offices as
to eliminate from the situation the, 10
them obtectional officials Superintend-
ent of Public Works Harry Wlink is the
official whose scalp is most ardently
sought by the supporters of Mr.. Myers,
and next to him they bear the greatest
animosity towards city Marshal John
Power, whom they claim TO have been
very offensive partisan in the recent cam
/ oe va
Lotion is not In the high favor at present
with the successful party, although,
| as he did not take very
active part in the campaign there Is less
animosity towards him than towards the
other two. Chief of Police McDermott is
| occasionally inuded to in this connection,
| but as the chief seems to have balenced
nicely between the two parties. and
claims to have avoided taking an active
interest in politics, there seems to be no
concerted movement in opposition to
him. In fact, as there is no likelihood of
the new Council abolshng either the
office of the chief of police of that of chief
| fireman, and as the present occupants of
these offices cannot be gotten rid of with
| out abolishing their offices it is not likely
| that they will be disturbed Superinten-
| dent Lotion is in like manner safe unless
| his office should be consolidated with some
| other department
The Office of Superintendent of Public
| Works having been created by a recent
| ordinance of Council, 1t would only be
| necessary to repeal the ordinance In order
to do away with the Office and its occu-
| pant As the change Is considered neces-
| sary, however to the proper operation OF
| the various departments coming under it's
charge it is not likely to be done away
| with altogether. The scheme which is be-
| ing generally discussed among the sup
| porters of the incoming administration is
| the consolidation of the city engineers de-
| partment with that of the Superintendent
| of Public Works and perhaps that of SUI
| perintendent of water works also plac-
! ing all these departments under a single
| head with subordinate officials in charge
of the various departments. Mayor-elect
| Myers himself indmates that there will
be some consolidation of departments. but
to what extent he was not prepared to
| say.
1.-THE city marshals office being provided
| for in the city charter the new admins
tration may not find IL such an easy mat
| ter to rid itself of Marshal Power, sup
posing it should desire to do so. II may
| require an act of the legislature to abol-
lSh the ONCE ana IL is not hkeiy tnat Sucn
| an act could be secured during the term
| of the present representatives,, one Of
whom is Mr. ]. j. McDonough If posi-
| bic 10 abolish the office, however, the
| scheme is TO consolidate it with that of the
city treasurer, the marshals office being
at present practically an adjunct to the
| treasurer'S office.
The very plausible argument is put for
| ward that there are too many city offices
and too many high salaried officials and
| that the number of officers and the sizes
| of the salary list can be reduced while at
the same lime increasing the efficiency of
| the departments by concentrating them
under fewer heads.
Mr.. Myers was asked yesterday if he
was prepared to outline any definite form
OF policy to be pursued by his administra-
ton. and especially as to the matters now
under discussion. 1t is little early to
saw exactly what / intend 10 do" he re-
piled In act il will be impossible for
me 90 do so until l have had the oppor-
tunity of discussing with the gentlemen
who will compose the board of aldermen
the various matters affecting the admins
tralion of the city's affairs. Their views
will have to be taken into account in con-
siderng these matters. My policy is as
outlined in my letter of acceptance /
shall first eudeavor to put the city on
business basis To do this il will be nee
essary TO cuI off all unnecessary expenses
and TO make the city's expenditures fit us
revenue. There may be some offices which
are unnecessary, and The expense of which
may he saved by consolidation with other
departments. there may be some employees
( of the city whose services can be dispensed
| with There need be no fear of any re-
ducton in the fire and police departments,
however,
There was a continual stream of cal
lers pouring in upon Mr.. Myers at his Of
flee yesterday all eager to shake his hand
and congratulate him upon his success.
| Among the number We're many of che
workers. each of whom claimed to have
! played an important part in the election
The new administration viii so into Of
| flee Monday at moons at which time the
/ oath of Office will be administered There
is no regular meeting Of council until We'd
nesdav night week and IL is not likely that
anything important viii be undertaken
by the new board until that time The
| NIavor takes charge at once however Il