The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-22
PURELY PERSONAL
DISLIKE CAUSE
OF DAVANT'S OBJECTIONS
DECLARED MAYOR MYERS IN
SPEAKING OF COUNCIL DISPUTE.

Alderman DaVBnt Was Not in City
when Charge Was Made and
Would Not Discuss Matter Over
TeIephOne-Was Wei known Fact
That Alderman Davant and Dixon
Were Usually on Opposite Sides
of Questions, but no Such Charge
Was Ever Publicly Made Against
Either of Them.
Mayor Myers made the assertion yes
terday that Alderman Davant in at
tempting to hold up the bill of the
Dixon Lumber Company at Council
meeting Wednesday afternoon, was
actuated solely by personal dislike to
Alderman Dixon.
That there have been several dis
agreements between Aldermen Dixon
and Davant, and that they are usually
to be found on opposite sides of al
most any question that is brought up,
was a fact well known to all familiar
with City Hall affairs. but no one
ever before publicly made the charge
that either one of them would allow
his personal feelings to control his ac-
ton as an alderman.
Alderman Davant was not in the
city during the day. He was telephoned
at his suburban home and told of the
charge made by the Mayor, but he
said he did not care to discuss the
matter over the telephone.
Mayor Does Some Talking.
In discussing the matter before Coun-
Gil. when he made his objections to
the passage of the bill, Alderman Da-
want stated he had tried to be fair in
the matter and do what was right. The
Mayor now states he was actuated
purely by personal dislike.
There was nothing else in it," said
the Mayor.
At the time the committee awarded
the contract for the feed to the Dixon
Lumber Company; Alderman Davant
then put Alderman Dixon on notice
that he would not sign the bill.
You will have the pleasure of sign
ing your own bill, Alderman Davant
is alleged by third member of the
committee to have remarked.
How Bill Was signed.
Heretofore it has been customary for
Alderman Dixon to act as chairman
VI lit OtItetS anu Lanes COnlIlltIee
in the absence of the regular chair
man, Alderman Davant In this par
ticular case. when Alderman Davant
refused to sign the bill and it was car
ried to the Mayor, Mr. Myers sent for
Alderman Garfunkel and had him sign
the bill, as Alderman Dixon was in
terested in the matter.
Until the bill was signed by the
chairman. or an acting chairman of
the committee, it could not be paid
made him personally responsible for
before Council approved it. Mr.. Ny
ers explained this in Council and stat
ed that because the bill had been paid
was no reason for it's approval He
was responsible to the city for it if
Council saw fit to turn it down.
Never SDIit Its Orders.
The contract had been awarded in
the regular way, however. and Council
approved the bill over the protest of
Alderman Davant. Alderman Davant
favored splitting the order, but such
has not been the custom in the past.
those who. are in position to know
state.
There is good deal of feeling in
regard to the Council row, and the out
come of it all can only be guessed No
one appears to have gained very much
by the affair, unless il was Alderman
Garfunkel, who saved the day for
Mayor Myers by shouldering the re-
sponsibility of the coal purchase. which
was brought up. The coal was pur-
chased by the alderman.