The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-22
CITY OFFICIALS
READY To MOVE
TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS
OFFICERS WILL BEGIN MOVING
THEIR EFFECTS TOMORROW.

work of Tearing Away Old Building
VIII Probably Begin Monday.
Bond of the savannah Contracting
Company Is Expected 10 Arrive
This Week-LeOnard's Money win
Probably BE Kept by City to Pay
for Expense and Delay Caused by
His Failure to Give Bond.
The city offices Will be removed from
the old City Exchange this week. The
work of moving will be started to-mor-
row, Mayor Myers having issued or
ders yesterday to that effect.
Directot of Public Works George NJ.
Gadsden, who is to have charge of the
moving. has notified the transfer COM
pany to be ready to start the hauling
Wednesday. 1t is thought all the Of
fees can be moved by the end of the
week. Saturday night viii find the
city officials and their clerks in the
temporary Offices at police headquar-
ters.
The bond for the Savannah Con-
tracing Company. which will have TO
be filed with the city. is expected to
reach Savannah by the end of the
week. The removal of the city offices,
however, will not be delayed on ac-
count of the bond. Mr.. ]. E. Burgess,
the manager for the Savannah Con-
tracing Company, has requested the
Mayor to let him get to work as
quickly as possible.
Mr.. Myers has consented to do this,
as the city runs no risk at all. The
company has on deposit a $500 certi-
fed check, which would be appropriat-
ed, if bond should not be given, just as
the check of S. S. Leonard, the con-
tractor who was first awarded the con-
tract, has been taken. The check is to
protect the city from any loss, and the
loss would of course be greater if the
offices had already moved.
No Trouble About Bond.
But there is not going to be any
trouble about the bond. If any were
likely the Mayor would delay moving
until bond was made, as he did with
the other contractor. Attached to the
hid of the Savannah Contracting Com
pany was a letter from an officer of
one of the strongest surety companies
in the country, stating the bond could
be made with his company. Any one
| of the firms bidding the last time
| could just as readily have furnished
| bond.
1t is probable that the bond. will be
here by the end of the week and ap-
proved. The work of tearing down the
Exchange will begin just as soon as
the bond arrives and the contract has
been signed. Under the contract the
new City Hall will have to be COM
pleted by Feb. 1, 1905. Manager Bur-
CESS is anxious to begin work immedi-
| ately, as this is a short time in which
to complete so important piece Of
work. 1t was for this reason that he
asked the Mayor to vacate the build
| ing at the earliest possible day.
City viii Keep Check.
With the settlement of the question
of moving out of the old building, in
terest in the check deposited by tho
first contractor is renewed. There was
| considerable discussion at the ex-
| change yesterday as to what would
be done about the money.
The concensus of opinion among the
officials was that it should be held to
repay the city for the delay and trou-
BILE experienced by reason of Mr.. Leon
ards failure to make good on his Of
Ter. All OF the OIIlcldlS dSTee lHds
the city should retain a sufficient
amount of the money to protect Itself
against actual damage, but a major
ity favor keeping the entire amount.
This will probably be done.
Check Has Been Cnshed.
The check has already been cashed
and the money put into the city treas
ury, so there is a question as to wheth-
er it could be given back, even if the
aldermen wished to do so. The money
now belongs to the city and is a part
of the general fund. Council can not
give away money except for charita-
BILE purposes.
But aside from the legal question
involved, there are a number of alder
men, who think the city should keep
the money whether it could be given
back or not. Besides the difference in
| the contract price on the award 70
Leonard, and the one to the Savannah
company, it is claimed the city should
receive compensation for the delay and
trouble caused by Leonards failure 70
| give bond. :,
A hard fight will no doubt be made
to get the money back, but it is be-
lieved a majority of the aldermen Will
| favor holding it. The matter will
/ ~ l. - ...Ae