The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-05-25
lntimated that He will Not Resign
Regardless of Action of
Aldermen.
FREELY DISCUSSED
GE EI2F,x..
Plea that Politics is Being Played
StOutly Denied.
THAT THOSE ALDERMEN
WHO VOTED TO REQUEST
RESIGNATION FIRMLY BELIEVE
THAT BEST INTERESTS OF CITY
DEMAND THAT Mr.. ZELiUs
STEP DOWN.

Will Alex Zelius resign as Chair.
man Of the Board Of Public Works, OF
will he ignore the request OF the
council to step down and out?
This question was asked many
times yesterday and the consensus OF
opinion seems to be that Mr.. Zelius
will not comply with the request OF
the cOuncilmanic body as recommend
ed by the finance committee and ap-
proved by the council.
1t is openly stated that Mr.. Ze.
llus was elected by the council for
the life of the body, and that he pro
poses to serve out his term, regard
less Of the action of the aldermen at
the meeting Wednesday evening. In,
view Of this, if true. there is only one
way for the local law making body to
rid itself of Mr.. Zelius. and that IS by
removing him. How this can be dons
is best told by the city charter. It is
also said that the council may 20 TO
this extreme, if necessary to get Mr..
Zelius of the board.
Interest Manifested.
That great interest is being taken
in the matter is evident from state
ments made around the city yester-
day. Some contend that the chair.
man of the Board of Works should
acquiesce in the request Of the coun-
Gil and resign. Others contend that
no charges have been brought
against Mr.. Zelius and he therefore
has nothing to fear by holding on.
Politics Alleged.
Friends Of Mr.. Zelius state that be-
hind the request for his resignation
there is a deep seated game Of poll
tics being played. It is said that the
council is not after Mr.. Zelius so
much, but that the scalp of one
higher in authority is desired and
that the fight against him IS being
made through the chairman of the
board.
Contrary View.
While the friends Of Mr.. Zelids
allege that politics has a great deal
to 90 with the action of the council,
me lIlCuuS VI the uCulUbIS OL THAT
body, who voted to request Mr.. Ze,
lius's resignation, hold entirely diff
feTent views. They state that the
personnel of the finance committee
should be sufficient evidence that
there is no politics in the question.
On the contrary that politics were
never considered or even thought of,
but that ths committee honestly be-
lieves that the best interests of the +.
city will be best sUbseTved with Mr..
Zelius off of the board. Also that
the same view is held by those al
dermen who voted TO approve the
of the committee,
asking for the resignation of Mr..
Zalius.
Meeting Monday.
The next regular meeting Of the
Board of Public Works is scheduled
for next MONDAY afternoon.
Chairman ZeliuS is in a reticent
mood concerning the request for his
resignation. It is thought that he
will attend the meeting Of the board
Monday, when he will publicly make
known his decision in the premises.
So far he has not personally signlfied
bis intention of either resigning or
ignoring the request of the council.
One of his strong personal and po-
litical friends stated yesterday that
he is cOgnizant of the fact that Mr..
Zelius has DO apology to make for
the statement of defense of the
Board of Works signed by Mayor
Bliss and himself, which was pub
lished in full in The Journal yester-
day.