The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1906-11-24


night for the purpose of discussing
the City vs. Code by the advocate:
for and against the change, drew ;
large crowd of representative citi-
zens, as large as we have ever seer
gathered together in the city. Many
came for the purpose of being en-.
lightened on this important question
by men who knew, so that they could
cast intelligently and for the best in
terest of the city, their vote on De.
cember 5.
The meeting was called to order
by Hon. Nathan Goldstein, who
placed in nomination Hon. Robt B.
Campbell for chairman and he was
unanimously elected. H. T. Crosby
and L. Pink Smith were afterwards
selected as secretaries
Mr.. Campbell called the meeting to
order and after so doing, was called
upon by the citizens for his views on
the question now before the city.
He arose and stated that he had
come there to listen to the speeches
and not to speak, but since it was the
desire of the meeting that he be
heard, he would give his views for
what they were worth
Il read and compared" said the
speaker, "the Code Chapter and the
city's present Charter, and I must
confess, found it, word for word
the same regarding all important
measures and with the Objectionable
features of the State Code left out,
| unhesltatingly state to you here
tonight that my preference is the
city's Charter"
The speaker then pointed out the
obj jectionable features of the Code
among them the tax levy of 80 mills
Tor general and school purposes that
can be levied under the Code while
only 10 mills can be levied under our
Charter today. That, if we went un-
der the Code on the 9Th of December.
instead Of being allowed to elect the
clty's officers, for which manv claim
ed was the reason for advocating the
change, we could not. they would be
appointed by the Governor and no
election could be held until 1908
Another Objectionable feature, he
Thought, was the election of the
marshal and his police force. He
also held that it was his opinion that
II the city elects to go under the Code
the liquor license that expire the com
ing year can not be renewed until
1908.
Mr.. Campbell also opposed the di-
vidIng of the city into wards, as il
would result in Objectionable politics
and unfit councilmen That unde,
the Code it gives the Mayor veto
power which the city Charter doe.
not do, which means a one-man pow
er, as 1t takes two-third vote of the
Council to pass any measures over it
That when a city is once under ths
Code, it is there forever and wher
quizzed by someone in the audienc,
to that of Jackson, which was under
the Code and growing, he said yes
but II tried very hard once to get out
but the Supreme Court said no, anc
it IS now trying to content itself By
making the best of a bad fix.
Hon. n Goldstein followed Judg,
Campbell and stated that he was op
posed to going under the Code. has
lived here long enough to See the cit,
laws, save its property values increas.
200, yes 500 per cent. in value, he be
lieved IN letting we'll enough alone
and thought. after hearing the abb,
exposures of the subject given b,
Judge Campbell, we would make
great mistake by voting a change.
Hon. Van B. Boddie was mex
called and as he was known to favo
the Code. was asked to state som
good reasons for advocating tn,
change. He frankly admitted that h.
hdd Hot ICdu the city 1ndfte1, Du
knew the State Chapter or Municipal
tiles and thought it good for the gov
erning of the city. He could give n,
other reasons but that cities under
were prospecting and he thought al
officers of city should be elected
and thought Judge Campbell wron
III his statement that the police woul
| have to be elected.
| Mr.. ]. L. Hebron was next Gale
and he strongly advocated the defea
OF the change. He paid CLOWN
tribute to the intelligence, progres
and prosperity of our Queen City. H
did not see why the government of
should be transferred to the Legisla
Itnre, He opposed the bringing of th
negro back into our city politics an
adyocated.the present system of az
for ali citizens.