The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-11-17
FAC ENDS or LEGISLATION.
uoN DAVID WELLS ON QUESTIONS
urFoRE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,. 81

. Tbnt Chatham VIII he Except
81 From Operation OF New Convict
nan. in case IL should Bccome "a
tew-He WIN Introduce BiIl Pro-
,tdinE for Election OF CITY Oncers
a., Outgoing CounciI-Refused 60
pl.cuss the BiIl Making These OF
orcrs AppointiNe by the Mayor.
franchise Tax nils Result From
need OF Money 10 Meet ApPropria-
lions.
r.e...sntatiye David Wells came down
30. Atlanta yesterday morning ana VIII
Is tae city until tomorrow evening,
8. viii return. Mr. Wells told a
Meaning News reported that there will
Is dimculty in having Chatham coun-
..mrtcd from the operation OF the
rlscing the control OF mlsdemeano.
.or,.ts il the hands OF the Prison Com
m.f4.on.
u ean't say whether or not the bill Will
f..-eno Jaw. At any rate this county
80 .te other counties in the state which
,- ana work their own misdcmeanor
.,.4-ts viii have but little trouble In se-
csrne their exception from the provisions
~ Is, law. Il is fortunate for Chatham
trat This is the fact
Ar wells said he would Introduce the
aH IN reference TO the election Of ci'y
.rlers by Council which had been APP
proved by Council some time since In
4. p-,ssn. form this bin provides that
all 81 grs now elective By Council, aud
a. addition thereto the heads OF the po-
nee ire and public works departments,
ehu 81 elected bicnniauy al the FIRST
meeting IN January. Mr. Wells stated
fast as bll would be changed before Il
vi Introduced, so as 90 make the cleo
tioa ~ clsy officers come of at the meet
ine GLOWING the election % Mayor and
All men. As the date % the mayora.ty
election will probably be changed az the
present session OF the Legislature. the
cause Of the bill hxing tho dase Of the
election Of officers is waiting until this
o.Her proposed change rs made.
While AIr Wells would not discuss tho
sahl.ot. 30 Is understood that there is in
tic hands Of another member OF the dele
OF city officers IN very different man
nor This - the one that places th, m
ali with three principal exceptions. with-
IN the appointive power OF the Mayor.
The exceptions are understood % he tho
city treasurer and the heads Of the plii-e
and fire departments. The bill q s. fur
the~ understood. provides for the oproint-
wsnt hy the outgoing Mayor Of all The
Pre- eut appointive officers. They are 10
.Ir.H. all. d. o -
Mayor ana Aldermen.
Ar Wells would not say whether o.
moi such q bin would te introduced or
discuss 10 in any way Hc said that a.
was his personal intertlon 10 intro iuc 3.
with the minor change above outline O..
the hiu which has received the approval
81 Council. lf the other on shoud als'
De- introduced. ty lncthc- M mhcr OF The
Chatham delegation. here would Be In
terestng times Ia the General Assembly.
Mr. Wells said that tnc bills changing
tHe terms Of the County Commissioners
90 that they would begin on Jan. J. in
stead OF on March j. and providing for
the election OF "a clerk 20 the board with
BE- five days after thcy have taken Their
Seats would shortly bc introduced. and
d believes there viii bee practically no
n6euliv in securing their passage
eroueh both houses According 10 his
rrt opposed by the present Board OF
mmtss.ouers
Nir. Wells was asked what position
would be taken by himself and the other
members of The Chatham delegation on
TIE hill providing Tor the taxation Of
f4nchlsea. 90 have reached no couclu-
F1n." ice answered, ''as my opportunities
o. investigating the merits OF the bill
have been meagcr Ny understanding OF
i. 70 @. n..
which involve the use OF the public
streets and other property belonging 20
The people Railroad oud street railway
sompanles. telegraph and telephone com
r4nies electric light and power cornpa-
Mes. and others which use the streets.
arc specifically included within the oper-
ation 81 the law.
II don't know whether &C. would be a
rood thin, or not So FAR as ! am advised.
tre franchises OF street railway com
ranles IN this part OF the state are not
worth q very great dcli as it has been
some time since ! have heard ~ one OF
them declaring any very large dividend
upon its capital stock. II such q dividend
has been declared / have missed hearing
o. H.
while my own views on the subject
ore thus unsettled" said Mr Wells my
opinion is that unless some vigorous ac-
ton ts taken. uN tNurt lllliithlA lf atA'NtNi
Is the operation Of the proposed law u
vil be- passed. 7 am member OF tho
WAYS and Means Committee Of the House
and while. at the meeting at which the
tu was considered. came in too Ate
o. hear IL read ] was present when the
Vote was taken. The vote TO report the
ll favorably was practically unanimous
A- had reached no decision In the mat
Ter myself / did not vote at all
AL
Sir Wells was asked Tor GA opinion o.
20 The hopefulness Of the project to In
daee the legislature 20 make an appro'
priaflon towards the erection OF the pro
posed monument 40 Oglethorpe.
am rather afraid q VIII not be sue
cesful" he said while ] should hks
% have the appropriation made. the needs
ol ,ue various state departments have sc
Ele8tly increased. that the question Of
w1ye and means mas assumed the dignity
81 a problem This fact accounts for me
otef-p.us OF rcvenue-producing bills that
have been introduced or are awaiting m
reduction in the General Assembly \
resolution might serve 60 accomplish the
D. e'i-for purpose. but In the present STATE
o. le finances u Is certainly very DOUBT
ful
Nr Wells favors. as q business PROPOSE
'an thc bin providing Tor the erection oil
n.on depot in Atlanta.
We're the $4,000 now in the state treas
DO. applied 10 this purpose be said, the
20 s Interested would p3y 60 the state ar
Cor