The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-08-10

CHAIRMAN BLOCKER DEFENDS
CHARGE MADE BY MoHAN
AGAINST THE BOARD OF PUBLIC
WoRks-No LOWER WATER
RATES AT THE PRESENT TUNE.

Probably more than ever before was
the gavel Of the president Of the city
council brought into use last night, it
being necessary for Mayor Reilly to
pound vigorously on the table a num-
Der Of times in order to maintain order
during the discussion which ensued
when the communication of Geo. Nc
Chan & Sons, plumbers, was before
that body. In this communication, a
Gull copy of which appeared in The
Journal Of yesterday morning, IL was
charged that the board of public works
had Disseminated against this firm and
had allowed special privileges. in vio-
lation Of the city plumbing ordinances,
to other contracting plumbers In the
city.
The matter came up under the head
Of communications from the mayor,
which Is the first order OF business
after the reading and approving Of the
minutes, and as there were quite a
number Of interested parties present
1t was decided to waive the rules of
procedure and go into an investigation
Of the matter at once. However, be-
fore going into the discussion Of the
communication there was some debate
as to whether or not It was proper to
take the matter up at that time, AL
derman Bear maintaining that the
matter involved a legal Interpretation
Of the law which 1t would be neces-
before action could be taken. Alder
man Semmes took issue with MIR. Bear
and in the course of his remarks said
that in his opinion. the city attorney
should treat the council with sufficient
courtesy to attend its meetings and
fI,a% = oh ~ ST.
like this one in order to give an
opinion If called upon.
LIVELY DISCUSSION.
The city plumbing inspector was the
first party called upon to express his
views and stated that he had no state
ment to make as he had already clearly
defined his position in the correspond
ence contained in the communication
of McGhan & Sons.
Geo. McGhan, Jr., then addressed the
council, covering practically the same
ground as the communication, after
which a number of different plumbers
present expressed their views upon the
subject
At this point Alderman Renshaw
made some allusion to the fact that
charges had been preferred against the
board of public works by the firm of
McGhan & Sons and that an investi-
cation should follow. Following AL
derman Renshaw, Alderman Concan-
non said that the board Of public
works had exceeded its authority and
that the council should take action.
BLOCKER MAKES STATEMENTS.
At this point DR.. Louis dem. Blocker,
chairman of the board of public works
was granted the privilege of the floor
and began by saying that Aldermen
Renshaw and Concannon had no right
to make the statements which they
had made until they had heard both
sides of the question. And I will say
that what Alderman Concannon says
is false" containued the speaker. The
doctor then went on to state that he
had acted on the written opinion Of
the city attorney in the course which
he, as chairman of the board, had fol-
lowed At this point, in reply to the
question of Alderman Concannon, DR..
Blocker said that he had received the
written opinion Of the city attorney
today.
Right here was where things got
lively. II have a pocket full Of evil
dence," said DR.. Blocker, reaching into
his hip pocket and bringing forth a
bundle of papers, ito prove that the
McGhans have violated the law in
almost every Job Of work they have
done since they have been here" In
an instant Geo. McGhan. ST., was on
his feet Directing to the statement.
and the chairman was pounding the
able. The chair ruled that Mr.. Nc
Chan was out Of order. as DR.. Blocker
had the floor. Alderman Semmes arose
and said that he took exception to the
ruling Of the chair and claimed that
Mr.. McGhan had a right to arise TO a
point of personal privilege. The chair
stated that he ruled that DR.. Blocker
had the floor and would stick to 1t.
until an arpeal was taken from his
ruling. and that If the speaker so de-
sired he could appeal to the council.
otherwise DR.. Blocker could continue.
During all this time several peoDle
were constantly trying to get the floor