The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-27
PROTEST AGAINST
MOVING TRACK
FROM whitaker STREET.
BROUGHTON STREET MERCHANTS
AND ALDERMAN PROTEST.

Alderman DQVant HAD Argume e nj
with Mayor Over Resolution Pro-
viding for Appointment of Com
mittee to Confer With Car Com
pany-MayOr Said His Rulings
Went and Alderman said He
Wanted 1t Understood He Had
Right to Express Opinion.
The proposal by the city officials to
attempt to get the Savannah Electric
Company to remove it's tracks from
Whitaker street south of Broughton,
which was first announced in the
Morning News, not only caused a pro-
test from some of the Broughton street
merchants, but developed opposition
among the aldermen, and got Mayor
Myers and Alderman Davant into a
debate, which was rather spirited
on both sides, last night.
Alderman Grayson introduced his
resolution as had been announced. 1t
was to the effect that a committee
of three, with the Mayor as chairman,
be appointed to confer with the Sa-
vannah Electric Company for the pur-
POoC VI AAobNllA5 IL IOlAlONC AllC II az ms OL
Whitaker street, from Broughton to
Fortieth streets. that said street may
be out in condition to relieve the con-
gestion of travel on Drayton street,
and afford a beautiful driveway around
the western side of the park
Doubts Councils Right.
A protest from various Broughton
street merchants to the removal of the
tracks had already been read in Coun-
Gil, and referred to the Committee of
the Whole. The merchants alleged that
the removal of the tracks would injure
the business section of the city.
When the resolution was read AL
derman Dixon moved that it be adopt
ed. Mayor Myers was about to put the
question, when Alderman Davant in
terposed an objection that the motion
had received no second.
The Mayor commended that an intro
duction of resolution amounted to a
motion, and that a second alderman
making the motion that it be adopted
was practically the same as a second.
Alderman Davant, however, commended
that nation to adopt a resolution had
to receive a second just the same as
any other motion.
Alderman Thomas Against 1t.
While the two were still arguing
the point Alderman Thomas got up to
interpose an objection to the removal
of the tracks. He said it was not
fair to the residents in the South Side,
who depend on the line to get to
the business section, to move the
fTn0lxg Ef1rf harpnnTp he commanded
that it would be a hardship to the
property owners along the street to
allow the company to take up its
tracks and get out of paying its share
of the proposed paving that is to be
done on the street. The company, or
its predecessor, had occupied the
street for thirty years. more or less,
he said, and he seriously questioned
Councils right to allow the company
to take up the tracks.
Construction of Resolution.
Alderman Davant said he wanted to
know the scope of the resolution, and
Mayor Myers replied that there was no
scope to it. that the committee was
simply to find out what agreement the
street car company would be willing
to make, and report back to Council.
Alderman Davant stated that I'M
der the resolution the committee would
have the authority to go ahead and
make an agreement for the removal of
the tracks. The Mayor replied that
he did not so construe the resolution,
and that as he was chairman of the
committee it would be his construction
which counted.
The alderman read the resolution,
and insisted that it gave the commit
tee the right to act. The Mayor stated
that he was the one to rule on the con-
struction of the resolution, and that
the alderman might appeal from his
ruling, but that unless such an appeal
were sustained. the ruling went.
1t Was Amended.
Alderman Davant wished it un-
derstood that he had a right to
comment on the resolution and that
the construction of it was merely a
matter of plain English. 1t was then
suggested that the resolution be
amended to make the committee re-
port back to Council. Alderman Gray
son, the author Of the resolution, said
that was the original intention of it
and accepted the amendment.
The resolution was put to a vote
and only Alderman Thomas voted
against it, though some of the alder
men did not vote at all. The other two
members of the committee will prob
ably be appointed by the Mayor to-
day, and Alderman Grayson will be
one.