The Savannah morning news., 1901-11-08
AFTER The PLUMS
PLAN TO CHANGE ELECTION OF
CITY OFFICERS.
POWER FOR NEW BOARD.
PROPOSED BILL CAUSED SENSA-
TION AMONG POLITICIANS.

Mayor and Board of Aldermen Were
the Passage of which Will Mate
rally Change the Political Out
look in observation-disclosures
Frank objects to the Bill, but AL
dermen Dixon, CoIding and Wat
SON Don't Care if New Board
Elects-Prominent Members of Cit
liens Club Behind the Scheme
and Say That Law Will BE Chang
ed-OnIy Two Representatives
Seen and They Are Said to Favor
the Plan.
A political sensation was sprung yes
terday when it became known that a
bill will be introduced in the Legisla-
ture to fix the time for the election and
of Savannah. Mayor Myers and the
board of aldermen had not been con-
suited about the measure, which mem
bers of the Citizens Club say will be-
come a law.
The bill has been prepared and will
provide that the incoming board of al
dermen elect city officers. and not the
outgoing board, as is the case at pres
ent. Men high in the affairs of the
Citizens Club are behind the move,
and of several aldermen spoken to
about the proposed legislation, only one
entered an objection to its passage.
Alderman Edwin M. Frank said that
he is against a change in the law-gov-
erning the election of city officers, and
that he cannot favor the proposed bill
with his Endorsement. Aldermen
James M. Dixon, Robert L. Colding
and w. j. Watson stated that it would
make no difference to them if the bill
should become a law. They said that
they would not protest against it's
passage.
1t is understood that only two of the
representatives were spoken to about
the bill, and that both favor it's pas
sage. The change suggested is looked
upon with favor by a large number of
persons who are not at all interested,
and certainly from a fractional stand
point it is strong measure. 1t would
have the effect of making Office hold
SIS IluSlle more DIT dIlu WOulQ
benefit the party in power materially.
As affairs now stand the present city
officers have little to fear when the
time comes around for their election.
Probably in ever case the present
board would re-elect, and there would
be nothing to fear for two years. With
the proposed bill law matters would
be quite different and the officeholders
would have to get out in the open and
make fight. thus showing their hands.
All chance for laying down would be
done away with and there would be no
such thing as playing both ends.
With the incoming board as an cleo
ton body there would be naught for
the officeholders to do but get out and
work hard for their friends, and those
who would retain them as a part of
the municipality. The passage of the bill
would as matter of necessity make
those in power much stronger. 1t
would mean that more men would
work for the election of the candidates
and that a stronger and harder fight
could be put up against opposition.
The bill empowering the outgoing
board to elect was not passed at the
solicitation of the Citizens Club, but
at the requests of the opposition. The
present board of aldermen has not
been given an opportunity to elect city
officers and the passage of the bill will
mean that the present board will pass
from view without having been ac-
corded the privilege of naming the
officers