The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-06-12
PEOPLE HEAR MANY SPEAKERS.
COMMISSION FORM OF GOVERN
MENT DISCUSSION ATTRACTS.
LARGE CROWD.
Mes~rs. Jennings, Clifton. Epp,. Boyle.
Bciscr. McI.aurin. Manning and
Noise Make Speeches for AMI
Against the Proposed Form of City
Go,crnmcnt-Jcunings Will Not
He Candidate for Mayor Again.

cuss the commission form of govern
ment was held at the court house Fri
day night. AS an oratorical contest
the meeting was decidedly success.
but as an attempt 10 enlighten the
voters Of Sumter on the workings of
the commission form of government
and tell them what II was and what
II stood for. the meeting was a failure
as was the first meeting.
While all. except a few. seemed
agreed that the meeting was not to
discuss the law. but to decide which
form OF government vas best for
Sumter. there were very few of the
speakers who stuck to this side Of the
question. The law with its real. or
imaginary. defects. a$>pointed. out by
Mr.. Epps at the last meeting. was the
topic most generally under discussion.
The people seemed to want to learn
more about the commission form OF
government and not disputes concern
Ing technical points of law. and to a
great extent they were disappointed.
The most enlightening article was
the letter from Mayor Glbbes OF CO.
lumbia. which was read by Or. Baker
at the opening of the session. This
letter stated in clear cut phrases that
the savings under the new form of
government during the first seven
months OF its existence was approx
nateiy $4,000. Mayor Gibbes stated
In his letter that the amount was saw
ed because the commission form of
government had spent judlciously and
with system. while under the old gov
srnment the citys money had been
spent without system. 1t was the sys-
tenn and not the men under the old
form OF government which had been
responsible for the waste of funds.
Dr. Baker stated In opening the
meeting that at the former meeting
dicusslon had been on theoretical
points. but this time they had endeav-
cred To secure Mayor Gibbes or some
other member OF the commission in
Colombia o. eou, o''-- c-A vol, the
people about che workings uf tat
commission fOrn of government but
ursucc, study as az of these gentle
men had previous cngosements. Hc
then read Mayor Globes iel,e. which
was heard with interest. 1t was de-
sided To limit the time of each speak
OF to fifteen minutes. to be extended
at the will of the house. Each Of the
first four speakers had this time ex-
tended to more than twice the orig
inal limit.
Mr.. Jennings was the first speaker.
he stated that he would try To show
that the act was all right and that the
serious and disastrous defects pointed
out by Mr.. Epps at the last meeting
were mere "bug-a-boos" He said
that some people stated that he was
urging the commission form of gov
eminent from selfish motives. as he
wanted To be Mayor under the new
system. lie had also heard some say
that NJ. Boyle was opposing the com
mission form of government from sell
hsh motives, as he wanted To be may
OF again under the old system. lie
would not under any circumstances
or conditions. or for any considera-
h.. f,,r
He wanted that made plain at the
start. ilc could not SAY about MIR.
Boyle. lie was i'm favor of the new
form Il government because ne real
ized thrt the present council had been
unabl go administer the affairs of the
city in busincSslikc way and he
thouglt tlat there would bc un intro
duCtion Cf business system with
the adoption of the commission form
Of go' rnmcnt. IIc then went ON into
an explanation Of the law
There i<enot one member of the
sumter bar. "a far as can learn
who agreed with MIR. Epps or his i'm.
tcrprct itiou eft the law governing
elections suid MIR. Jennings II wat
tho whole bar against one lawyer:
which was apt q, bc correct? lie
pointed out that thc section referred
o. by Mr.. Epps simply governed th"
election on the adoption Of the COM
mission form Of government and
nothins further. lie stated that the
recall. initiative and referendum were
not pu, in thc hill to hc used often. a.
would probably b. many years IL cvc'
bcfOr' they were. ever brought u
could correct urv tuin1r dcfcrts i'm