The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-05-31
SESSION
SHOULD Be FOR
STATEPURPOSES
Pensacola Commercial AS
sociation Asks Governor
to so Specify in Call.
PENSACOLA, AS WELL AS A NUM-
Der OF SEAPORT CITIES, IN
NEED OF CHARTER AMEND
MENTs so AS TO OWN AND oP-
ERATE MUNICIPAL DOCKS AND
BELT RAILROAD.

Being in a similar plight as Jack
sirous of an extra session Of the Flor
ida legislature being called for the
purpose of having passed city charter
bills for the various cities of the state
wishing to be given the right through
their charters to own and operate
wharves and belt line railways to han
die commerce.
The Jacksonville Board OF Trade
proposes to pay the expenses Of hold
ing the legislative session just to have
it's charter remedied, but the Pensa-
cola Commercial Association is Of the
opinion that there are a number of sea-
port cities in Florida which need SINH
lar charter amendments and that the
special session should be called for
state wide and not local conditions of
Jacksonville. Having this in mind the
association sent to the commercial
bodies in Tampa, Miami. Key West,
st. Augustine and st. Petersburg the
following telegraph message yesterday
afternoon:
Pensacola, Fla, May 80, 1912.
Have wired governor as follows:
referring to special session legisla-
ture requested by Jacksonville, Pen
sacola Commercial Association is plan
ming for municipal docks and belt rail-
road here which will require charter
amendments. Other port cities doubt
less require similar amendments for
reasons outlined in Jacksonville letter.
Urge you therefore to call special ses-
sion to remedy statewide not local
conditions"
If you are interested, please send
similar telegram.
PENSACOLA COMMERCIAL ASSO-
c. w. DoBsoN
President.
GOVERNOR WANTS SESSION.
Close friends Of Governor Gilchrist
are of the opinion that he would like tc
call a special session Of the Legislature
to enact certain legislation which he
thinks necessary for the good of the
state, and with the governor of this
frame of mind 1t is probable that ar
extra session will be called if the sea-
port cities unite in making the request
The government refusing to make
appropriations unless the municipali-
ties own their docks has made 1t i'm
perative that Florida cities which in
tend to increase their shipping indus
try have their charters amended to
allow them to own and operate the
wharves.
1t is the opinion Of John B. Jones
city attorney, expressed in a letter tc
T. A. Jennings, speaker Of the house OF
the Florida legislature, that the city OF
Pensacola should have more power in
it's charter, and ne recommended that
Pensacola ask for the same powers
which Jacksonville is seeking.
BELT LINE RAILWAY.
The Commercial Association has
been planning for some time to create
a movement which will result In the
city of Pensacola owning and operating
a belt line railway and a wharf suffi-
cient to handle the increasing COM
merce Of the deep water port. WitA
the belt line railway and the wharf
railroads cannot be prevented from
building to Pensa cola and will be in
sured OF waterfront.
In answer to Speaker Jennings's let
ter asking about the authority OF the
present charter, John B. Jones, city
attorney, wrote:
Hon. T. A. jennings, City.
Dear Sir: Complying with your re-
quest OF yesterday evening, | cite you
to the following provisions of the char
ter of the city of Pensacola:
Section /. That the inhabitants OF
the city Of Pensacola are hereby created
corporate with power to govern them
selves by such ordinances and resolu-
tions for municipal purposes as they
may deem proper, not to conflict with
this act, nor the constitution and laws
of this state, nor of the United States;
with power to acquire prop
erty for municipal purposes by pur-
chase or otherwise, and to use man.
age. improve, sell and convey, rent OF
lease the said property"
General provisions, THE wharves
shall be under the control of the coun-
CONTINUED on Page Seven-)