The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-22
DOES NOT FAVOR A CHANGE.
SENATOR GRoVENsTEIN on CITY
OFFICERS ELECTION BILL.

Board should EIect-He Does Not
Think the City Court Judge should
BE Elected by the People, But Fav-
ors Popular Election of Clerk ana
SheriR-Is Not Decided How He
VIII Vote on Separate Solicitor
Bill.
Hon. A. N. Grovenstein, senator from
the First district spent some lime in con-
ference with Mayor Myers ana members
OF the Board of Aldermen at the Mayor $
Office at noon yesterday. Mr.. Grovensten
had been invited by Mayor Myers to meet
the members Of the board for the purpose
of discussing with them propos d legisIa-
ton relating to the city; the bin IN which
the councilmen are chiefly intere, be-
ing the one which proposes TO change the
present method of e!ecting city officers so
as to place the election in the hands Of
the incoming board.
Notice of the meeting had been sent TO
all the members Of Council who were in
the city. Those who attended were Alder
man Thomas, Tiedeman, Graham, Jarrefl.
Bacon, Schwarz and Dlxon. sonnet me was
spent in an informal conference. Those
members who had not had the pleasure Of
Grovensteln had expected to meet a man
of middle age and were surprised to find
that the senator from the First district Is
a young man. They also found him well
posted in local affairs and disposed to give
fair and intelligent consideration to all
matters relating to the interests Of Savan-
nah and Chatham county. In fact. the
members of Council seemed to have formed
a very pleasant impression of the senator.
Mayor Myers, when seen after the con-
ference, said that he mad requested Senator
GroveDstein to meet with The aldermen in
order that they might ascertain what
views he hods with regard to p opposed leg
islation affecting the city ana shat he
might have the benefit Of the views Of lne
members of the board upon these ques-
lions.
In Conference with Council.
1.-THE conference was very satisfactory
one" the Mayor said. Mr. Grovenste
discussed the questions which were
brought to his attention very freely and
had no hesitancy in expressing his views.
The subject in which we were chiefly in
terested was the view which he might
take of the proposed bill to change the
election of city officers so as to place the
election in the hands of the incoming
board. Mr.. Grovenstein stated very plain
ty that he was not in favor of such a bin.
The law had been changed at the last ses-
sion of the Legislature, be said, and ne
saw no reason why the approaching ses-
sion should be called upon to undo the
work of the first session. He was not
aware that there had been any change In
the sentiment of the people of Savannah
in this matter as practically everyone from
whom he had heard on the subject favored
the present system As there would be
no reliable means of ascertaining the SEN
ffrneOf the nRnT11n pf on thfu
subject until there should be another cleo
ton for members of the Legislature, he
thought the law should be allowed TO
stand as il is for the present.
HE inquired my views on the subject"
said Mayor Myers, land l told him that
while / had opposed the adoption Of the
present law l was very well satisfied TO
have the law stand as it is at present The
subject of the election of the clerk and
sheriff of the City Court by the people was
brought up. Mr.. Grovens Elm said that he
had not informed himself sufficiently on
this question to express an opinion. He
stated that he was opposed to the bill pro
viding for the election of the judge of the
City Court by the people, his opposition be-
ing upon principle for the same reason
that he opposed the present law making
the judges and solicitors of the Superior
Courts elective by the people.
The solicitorship.
Members of the board raised the ques-
ton of a separate solicitor for the City
Court" said the Mayor, 1.-THE opinion be-
ing expressed that this additional office
was unnecessary. that 1t would entail adj
ditional expense upon the county and that
friction would result from the efforts of
the rival solicitors TO get the cream of the
business. The report that figures were
submitted showing the actual number OF
days required by the solicitor to transact
the business of his Office and the fees re-
ceived is an error. Mr.. Grovenstein in
quired what revenue was obtained from
this office, but no one was able to give
exact information. Mr.. Grovensl Elm re-
marked that he had been informed that
the Office paid anywhere from $1,000 to S20.
O00 a year He said that he would have
TO look into this matter further before de-
Gliding what position he would take. How
ever, this was not q matter in which the
board was directly interested as our OBJ
Ject was to ascertain what local lcgisla-
ton was in prospect affecting the city ana
the manner in which the proposed legis,a-
tlon was viewed by the senator from this
district, and that we might have the OPP
portunity of informing HIN Of our position
on these questions"
Mayor Myers said that there was one
piece of possible local legislation which
was not discussed at the conference be-
cause the matter is still In very indefinite
shape. This Is the advisabiily of amend
Ing the present tax assessors law so as to
permit Of appeal from the decision of the
tax assessors to Council. At present there
is no appeal from the tax assessors ex-
cept to the courts which il tedious and
costly process This is believed 10 work
a hardship in some cases. though il re-
lieves Council of considerable annoyance
The matter will be given further consi1-
Grafton, though Mayor Myers thinks it
likely that one Of the representatives. may
be requested to introduce such an amend
ment.
stated His Position.
Senator Grovenstein was seen by a rep
resentative OF the Morning News shortly
after the conference with the Mayor ana
the members of Council. He expressed
himself quite frankly and freely. and was
not at all averse to stating his position
on the questions that are to come before
the Legislature at the next session
Senator Grcvenstein said that he had