The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1911-09-08


a contract Just as you understand that
you want il 10 be, and we will sign il. y
Mr. Hilburn made many other points in
favor OF the Palatka company, and closed
by urging the council in the interests of
justice and the taxpayers of the city TO
award the contract to the Palatka Gas
Light and Fuel Co.
Judge Calhoun followed in an eloquent
appeal for business justice, which could
only be accorded by awarding the con-
tract 10 the Palatka Gas Light & Fuel
Co., whose bid meant saving of over
$125. 90 per month TO the taxpayers OF the
city 1t also meant simple justice TO a
company of nearly quarter of a cen
tury's honorable history in the city. Mr..
Calhoun is the secretary of the company.
His speech was an eloquent and forceful
one.
Alderman Thompson also made
short, forceful speech TO the board 10
''act as men" and do the right thing by
awarding the contract 10 the lowest bid
der--the Palatka company.
c. S. Hammatt of Jacksonville then
spoke. Mr.. Hammatt is the same man
who appeared before the council some
weeks ago asking for franchise for
"Mr. Clark and associates. Since Mr..
Clark took to the tall timber the fran
chise was asked and granted TO "Mr.
Hammatt and associates" The News
doesn't know Mr.. Hammatt, but he is
man of halting speech and torpid liver.
That much was evident from his talk
and looks Tuesday night. His bid, he
insisted, when examined in the light OF
electro scientific knowledge, was the
lower. Ii meant what il said and said
what il meant He could not shade the
figures one iota. His company ought
10 be given the contract. True they
hadn't a dollar invested in the city now,
but if the contract was given them they
would invest. Not 10 give il TO them
would be an advertisement 10 the world
that Palatka did not desire outside capi-
tai TO come here and invest.
Alderman USina said he thought there
had been talk enough and the council
ought TO be allowed 10 vote. The mem
berS were prepared TO do so.
But Alderman Coughlin wanted a
word. He briefly defended his action
in favoring the higher bidder. Mr..
Hammatt and his associates knew what
they were doing and any scientific cleo
trician knew that they were the best
bidder.
Alderman j. V. Walton, who made
the minority recommendation then took
the floor. Mr.. Walton is lawyer. He
talks as lawyer, he thinks as a lawyer,
and like all lawyers, when the emergen-
cy arises, he takes advantage of techni-
calitieS and builds his case upon them.
He made points about watts, kilowatts,
and candle power. His one point of
value was that Mr.. Bailey'S bid had been
amended. His original bid did not
specify an allnight service. He Mr.
Bailey had subsequently stated that it
wasn't in the council resolution, but that
he meant an all-night service. This,
said Judge Walton, was enough 10 throw
out the bid and the council should
award the contract TO Mr.. Hammatt and
his associates.
Alderman Usina said that Mr.. Walton
was making an argument as an attorney
and the council didn't want his opinion
as an attorney, but as an alderman.
Acting Mayor Gay, who with Alder
man ]. II. Haughton made the report
favoring the giving of the contract 10 the
Palatka Gas Light and Fuel Co., here
stated that the committee had gone all
over the points made by Judge Walton
and had decided that they were not
important, and that he and Mr.. Haughton
had signed the recommendation favoring
Mr.. Bailey'S company with their eyes
open and after afull investigation of all
the facts.
That was all. Then came the vote
on the motion of Alderman Coughlin,
seconded by Joe Adams, colored, "that
the contract be awarded TO c. S. Ham
matt and his associates" as follows:
YcaS-Aldermen Walton, Coughlin,
Howell, Fcarnside, Adams and Robin
Son-6.
NayS-Aldermen Wilson, USina, Hol
den and Thompson.
Alderman Benz. |. Gay, who favored
the Bailey contract, is acting mayor
during the absence of Mayor Davis, and
therefore not entitled TO vote.
Alderman Houghton was called out
of the meeting about O'Clock 10 attend
a rehearsal at the church, and was there
fore not present when the vote was
taken. That he favored the Bailey
company is evident from the fact that
he signed the report TO that effect.
Alderman Cannon came TO the meet
ing sick. He stayed nearly through the
arguments, but was too ill TO remain
longer and got excused. 1t has been
stated that he came to the meeting on
purpose TO vote for the Bailey company.
Alderman l.. A. Smith was not pres
ent at the meeting, and the News doesn't
consider ii part of IFS business TO queS-
ton him concerning what he would
have done had he been there.
Nine out of every ten business men
: seen by the News are indignant at the
action of the council. Some have gone
as far as TO denouncc ii as the most dis
graceful affair in the history of Palalka.
| One man, while of the opinion that the
council did wrong, says there may be
something TO the other side which he
) has not been able to see. One man, and
orly one of those although
r there are otherS-Says that the council
; did the only proper thing, but
! That man doesn't like Mr. Bailey even
a little Bit and has been doing his ut
, most TO get the new company here He
was one of the men who favored grant
ing the franchise to the vamooSed MIR.
| Clark and his associates.
? A powerful lobby has been active in
the interests of Mr.. Hammatt (who has
l nothing) and his associates (who are said
, 10 have something).