The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-09-15
JUDGE WILLS
ENJOIMS COUNCIL
From Making Lighting Contract
With Hammatt and
Associates.
One Colored Alderman Denies That he
Was Paid for his Vote.

The meeting was not called to discuss
the lighting contract further; in fact that
subject would most likely not have
come up had it not been for the fact that
earlier in the evening a number of the
members had been served with writs OF
Injunction issued that day by Judge
James T. Wills of the Circuit Court in
Chambers at Starke.
The meeting was simply an adjourned
meeting for the purpose of equalizing
taxes.
But flf the early morning Senator Hill
burn left for Starke in his big Rambler
touring car, and he was back in Palatka
shortly after two in the afternoon with
the temporary Injunction.
True, Mr.. Hammatt was at the meet
ing to urge the signing of the contract,
but that would probably not have been
done, even had the injunction not been
isSued-there were certain legal form
alities that had not been complied with.
The matter of the lighting contract
was brought up by Alderman Walton
who stated that the council had been en-
joined, and who moved that the matter
be referred 10 City Attorney Odom.
This was done.
|
in was read by Clerk TRAY, as follows:
''We the undersigned citizens of Pa
latka, having al heart the best interests
of our home towns reputation for honor
and fair dealing 10 all, desire TO express
our great surprise at the action of the
City Council of PaIatka at its recent
meeting September 5th, 1911, in award
ing a five year contract TO light the
streets of Palatka from February 1St
1912, to c. S. Hammatt and associates,
when there had been and was before
that body, and in the hands of a COM
mittee, since the evening of August I'D,
1911, bid of an existing gas and cleo
trio company, at figures much lower.
'sWe respectfully request that those
members of the City Council who prob
ably had not given the matter sufficient
Thought, TO give this matter sincere con
sideration. We ask a reversal of your
action for the sake of the municipal
honor of our little city, more than we
do for the lowest bidder, although we
recognize fully their right 10 absolute JUS
tice, as they have always shown their
willingness and ability TO carry out their
lighting contracts with all their cuSto-
mers."
This petition at the time had the
names of rs of Palatka'S heaviest tax
payers, and all well-known business and
professional men. Since, the petition
has been nearly doubled in size and is
still growing.
AT the conclusion of the reading OF
the petition, Hon. S. ]. Hiiburn being
given the privileges of the floor, ad-
dressed the council. He stated that the
council had been enjoined from enter
ing into the contract with Hammatt and
associates on the ground that they uhc
counci) could not turn down the bid oil
the lowest responsible bidder and ac
cept that of the highest bidder, espe
cially when there was such diScrepen-
cy in the figures as in these lighting
bids He asked the council TO recon
slider its action, not because the couri
had enjoined them from making the
contract, but on the high ground of jus
tice and fair dealing-to do right fol-
rights sake and not because they would
be compelled TO-
Judge f. Noble Calhoun followed
Mr. Hilburn in an eloquent appeal fol
re. consideration and justice for the
home company whose bid was so muCf
the lower. The News regrets its ina
bility TO reproduce Judge Calhoun
, speech in full, as all present unite in th'
statement that as an appeal for justice
, and honest action it has had few if an!
equals on the floor of Palatka public
, assembly.
Mr.. Hammatt of Jacksonville theI
spoke. He said the requests for re
: verSal of Tuesday nights action was al
insult 10 the city council and that in be
half of the council he resented it. Hi
company had been awarded the contraC
fairly and at an open meeting and ha'
already gone 10 some expense in order
ling material, and he wanted TO know
, in case the action was reversed, VIII
!. was going to pay him for the expens
= he had been put to.
Mr.. Hammatt was then reminded b
> one of the aldermen that he as ye
. had neither a franchise nor contraC
: as neither had been signed. If h
wanted to spend money in advance {
such action it was his own lookout.
Then Judge Calhoun said Somethin
to Mr.. Hammatt of Jacksonville. H
o said he thought the gentleman woul
3 do we'll TO look after himself instead {
}. appearing as defender of the Gil
n council, especially as he was strange
r. in the city and without standing, or
dollar invested in the city, and for who
r. the little matter of taxation could hay
Is no concern. When the city needt
4 any advice from any one out of Jac
!. Sonville it should have the right of S
ST lection. The members of the counC
e are the neighborS of the petitioner
@ citizens and tax payers and the men wi
r bear the burdens of the city governmer
in prosperity and adverSity and wou
,s be here when he HammatD had bee
is forgotten, save for the short existence
himself and unknown associates as pr
moters who existed only in imaginatio
1t was hot stuff-much hotter th:
,,, here reported
p Alderman Tom Holden then NOV,
~ that the council reconsider the action
"A the previous meeting by which q
lighting contract was awarded 10 HaI
"A matt and associates.
- The chair ruled this motion out
order las indeed il wasl on the groul
-, that only member voting in the afiiri
alive could make the motion.
Mr.. Holden then moved that the rul
be waived, which was seconded. t
president then notified the council Il
We such a motion 10 prevail would requ
nd a two-thirdS vote.
TO Before the vote was taken AIderm
l.. N. Robinson, one of the color
members, rose and said: Mr.. Charm
:" | want 10 say few words. want
ed say that was not bought. Nobody p'
ur- me anything for my vote for Hamm
ak and associates. That he had reach
iel a point in his public career as an aid
hts man where he had Just as soon O
mp aside and let the white folks run thin
-ge The remarks OF Alderman Robins
ent created some stir, particularly as no {