The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-01-27
MAYOR AND ALDERMEN TOOK
THE OATH OF OFFICE AT NOON.
POOR HOUSE is WANTED
COMMITTEE NAMED TO DO SOME
THING TOWARD SECURING 1T.

| Needed and an Effort Will be
Made to Have County Agree With
City on Some Plan.
Mayor Herman Myers and his new
| board of aldermen were sworn in by
Judge Barrow of the Superior Court at
the City Exchange at noon yesterday.
| The programme given in the Morning
News was followed.
The aldermen marched from the
Mayors office into the Long Room and
took their seats. Clerk of Council Bal
ley certified the result of the election,
| and announced the vote received by
each alderman. The tables had been
| prettily decorated with carnations, and
! a handsome centerpiece in the shape of
| a -four" supported by United States
flags. The top flag bore the following
| inscription, and was designed by Oscar
Kulman: "Savannah's desires for Her
man Myers fulfilled.
Judge Barrow read the oath of office
and the Mayor repeated it. Then to-
| gether the aldermen followed the oath
| as read by Judge Barrow and Mayor
| Myers. and his Council Were declared
qualified to fill the places to which they
| were elected.
Immediately after the swearing in of
| the Mayor and Aldermen, Clerk Bailey
read the Mayors annual message. The
| substance of it was given in the Morn
ing News yesterday. The message
showed that much time and attention
had been given to it, and that the SUBJ
jects touched upon had been well con-
sidered. 1t showed a careful and close
consideration of the affairs of the city
as they progressed during 1902.
For Poor HOuse.
The Mayor laid stress on the need
of poor house, and it is probable that
something will be done towards estab-
fishing one in the near future. Every
member of Council was impressed with
what he had to say on this subject. AL
derman Colding at once offered reso-
luton calling upon the Mayor to name
a committee of three to take the mat
ter up with the county authorities. AL
dermen Colding, Dixon and Davant
were named on the committee, and
something will be done in very short
while.
On this subject the Mayor had this
to say:
Each year the necessity becomes
more apparent for some intelligent
handling of our mendicant classes, as
well as of those who are in destitute
circumstances, but unwilling to become
beggars. Hardly a day passes during
the year that the Mayor is not called
upon to assist persons who are in
deplorable state, some to leave the city,
sr11s
in the shape of food and fuel, until
employment is secured.
Another and rapidly increasing class
is composed of those who from age or
infirmities are unable to work and who
are without friends willing or able to
provide them with the means of sub
sistence. Societies connected with the
various churches of the city do much
for the relief of all three of these
classes, but they are unquestionably
unable to completely cope with the
situation. The Mayor has no regular
fund at his disposal and is compelled,
when investigation shows the case to
be one where immediate aid is requir-
ed, to draw upon the incidental dp-
preparation to a small extent. The ag-
gregate of such expenditures during
the year approached $500.
County Suffers FOO.
relief to persons living outside of the
corporate limits. 1 would recommend
that a committee be appointed to con-
fer with the County Commissioners on
the question of establishing a home
for the poor on the county farm, the
city to make an appropriation an
nually toward it's support in conjunc-
ton with the county. There are many
persons now begging on the streets, or
dependent entirely on public charity
who could be gathered at such a place
and supported at much less expense
than the city, county and general COM
immunity are now subjected to.
Admission could be restricted to per-
sons who have been residents of the
city or county for one year or longer
and in many cases the parties could be
employed at some useful occupation
Such poor homes are in existence else
where and / believe one would mater
tally assist in solving the problem as
to what Savannah and Chatham coun-
ty are to do with the worthy indi-
gents. With such an institution in ex-
istence the Mayor could readily dis
pose of beggars coming here from
other points by deporting them, as pro-
vided under the laws of the state and
city, or by sending them to Jail, and
thus relieve the community of what is
fast becoming an intolerable nuisance
as well as burden on it's people. The
charitably inclined could then con-
centrate their attention on those who
are merely In need of a temporary It'd
ing over resulting from illness or lack
of employment. l believe that what
ever the municipal and county authori-
ties do on this line will receive the
hearty endorsement of taxpayers and
citizens as a whole
To Print Mayors Report
After the message had been read AL
derman Dixen offered a resolution cali
ing for bids for the printing of 800 cop
les of the Mayors report. He also
moved that the present rules of Coun-
Gil be in force until other rules are
adopted. The resolution provided that
a committee of three be appointed to
frame new rules, and Aldermen Dixon,
Thomas and Grayson were named.
Alderman Dixon was unanimously
elected chairman of Council and AL
derlnan Colding, vice chairman
AT the conclusion of the meeting
crackers and liquors were served, and
toaSts were drunk. Mayor Myers, the
old board. the new board. Clerk of
Council Bailey, Secretary Thomas Gam
bic and Mr.. George N. Nichols. the
oldest ex-a1derman in Savannah, were
toasted. 1t was a thoroughly Demo-
cratic gathering, and everything pass
ed off tremendously and happily.
Nfna Saad RnoI-