The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-17
COUNCIL IN STIR
IN OPEN SESSION
CASTOR STREET PAVING CASE
CAUSED ALDERMEN TO DO THINGS
OUT OF THE ORDINARY.

vote on Committees Report and
Could Not he Forced to Commit
HimseIf-Glatigny Tried to Get
ont of Voting and GarfunkeI Put
1t Up to the MaS7Or-Old Ordinance
Repealed and Case Is Ont OF
COurts-AnOther Fight Expected.
BY persistently refusing to vote on
the report of the special committee
that had in charge the settlement Of
the Castor street paving case Chair
man of Council James M. Dixon caused
quite a stir at last nights session of
City Council.
But other things happened that were
out of the ordinary, and while the re-
port of the committee was being voted
upon excitement was at fever heat.
Before voting against the committees
report Alderman Garfunkel, in a meas
ure, put it up to the Mayor. Alder
man Glatigny made an effort to get
out of voting, and Alderman McKenna
had to ask what it was all about. be-
fore he would agree to put himself on
record.
The committee reported favorably on
a petition of the property owners TO
pave the street with asphalt between
Habersham and Whitaker streets. This
report was finally adopted by mar
row margin, and the old ordinance pro-
viding for the paving of Castor street
from Price to Whitaker with vitritied
brick was repealed.
Case Now ont of Courts.
The ordinance was introduced to pro
vide for any pavement. At the next
meeting an asphalt ordinance, follow
ing up the committees report, will be
put in. This will be fought hard. 1t
is doubtful if it can be passed The
repeating of the old ordinance takes
the injunction proceedings of the
property owners out of the United
States court
The situation now is like it was be-
fore the ordinance was passed rela-
tive TO the pavement of the street.
The petition of the property owners
asked that the street be paved with
asphalt and that credit be allowed
ON the bills TO the property owners
for the payment made on the old shell
pavement. The special committee, con-
slsting of Aldermen Oliver Thomas
and Davant, reported favorably on the
asphalt, but adversely on allowing any
credit for the payments on the old
pavement.
GIatigny Declined to Vote.
When the report was read the ayes
and nays were called for. The matter
had been heatedly discussed in caucus
and il was evident that the fight was
not over by the way the aldermen
went at one another. Alderman Da-
want and Alderman Thomas. members
of the committee that had made the
n
ny's name was then called and he de-
clined to vote. The fun then began.
Mayor Myers informed the alderman
that he had no right to decline to vote
Council might allow him not to vote,
but he could not refuse, the Mayor
said. The alderman asked to be ex-
cused from voting and the Mayor put
it to vote. 1t was decided that he
must vote, by a big majority. He
then cast his vote against the report.
When the matter reached Alderman
McKenna he had to ask what it was
all about. The voting to make an al
derman vote had evidently confused
him. He voted for the report after he
was told what it was.
Dixon stood His Ground.
When the name of Alderman Dixon
was called, he said he declined to vote.
Il decline to vote on the ground that
/ might commit myself on an ordi-
nance that is to come before Council,
he said.
You cannot decline to vote" re-
sponded the Mayor.
But 1 do decline" replied the alder
man.
The Mayor said it was a matter for
Council and the vote was taken. The
entire board voted to force Alderman
Dixon to vote
II have given my reasons for de-
clining and l don't think Council has
any right to force one to VOTE" he
stated.
Wanted to See Rule.
Under the rules of Council you
will be compelled to ovte," said the
Mayor.
which rule?" asked the alderman.
"Show it to me-"
Then began a search through the rule
book. For ten minutes the Mayor and
all the aldermen looked for a rule to
make Alderman Dixon vote.
The Mayor finally said there was one
that might be construed" to cover
the case. Alderman Dixon was firm,
however, and his name was passed.
Put 1t Up to Mayor.
Il want to give as my reason :n
stating my vote" said Alderman Gar
funkel, addressing the Mayor, that
you recommended in your annual re-
port the brick pavement as the best.
We have decided that and 1 think we
ought to stick by it. 1 vote No L
don't think the taxpayers should be
forced to pay for asphalt when we
have found it unsatisfactory"
The vote was for the report, Davant,
Thomas, McKenna, Wright, oliver and
CAVITY. Against the report. GFatigny,
Schroeder, Garfunkel, Grayson. Alder
man Hartman was absent, being i'll,
and Alderman Dixon did not vote.
Fought Hard In Caucus.
The aldermen had been in caucus for
over three hours before going into the
open meeting and there the matter
had been gone over as heatedly as on
the outside. Alderman Oliver, the
chairman of the special committee, in
pleading in caucus for the adoption of
the report quoted the Golden Rule TO
the aldermen:
do unto others as you would that
others should do unto you"
He said also that the property own
ers along the street asking for the
pavement We're, for the most part.
wealthy people. who paid big taxes.
The Mayor also urged the adoption of
the report in caucus Aldermen Gar
funkel and Grayson led the fight