Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-05-04
WANT COMMISSION
 10 PUSH APPEAL
Continued From Page One.)

permanent. He urged the necessity of it and defended the Bridge Commis- sioners had been unjustly villified and misrepresented. The time was con- ing, he said, when such men as w. D. Hearn and P. P. Byrd and other good men of this city could not be ap- preached to cooperate in movements that would help build up their city and town. He argued to take the bur. den off the shoulders of the commis- sion and let the people stand by them. Rabbi Ephraim Frisch and Father Lucey were called for and both made strong speeches in favor of the was not certain that the Free Bridge bill was legal one, but he was posi- tive that it was moral one. He be- lieved it should be built and that those of the north part of the county should cooperate with their friends on the south part to that end. Father Lucey said Pine Bluff has reached a point where it demands the Free Bridge and he told story illustrating why the cost will never grew less. !.
 On motion of William !Nichoi the mass meeting approved the action of the Bridge Commission and said that it was the sense of those assembled that the case be appealed to the Su- preme Court and that thes cost be borne by those present
 Judge E. J. Kerwin and District At torney T. Havis Nixon were also call ed for. Judge Kerwin reviewed his J activity in the recent election but said that he bowed to the will of the ma jority and was just sitting by" and watching developments. He defended his action in passing the Free Bridge bill, declaring that if it was the will of the majority to secure the bridge he was for it. He construed the law as meaning that, should the Supreme Court kill the present bill, the ori- ginal bill, passed during his adminis- tration as county judge, would be re- vived and that former Commissioner Hearn and Andrews would have the legal right to build a bridge at cost of $5,000.
 District Attorney Nixon said he was Tout of gear with those present and had not expected to be called up- l on. He said he had signed against 3 the bridge and was still against it be- . cause he did not agree with all of the s provisions in the act. But if the ma jority want the Free Bridge he said . he would be for it, even though his aa idea did not fully coincide. He plead ] ed for harmony among all the people and wanted to see the opposition brought over and peace restored in the county.
 Elmo Marsh read the following affi- davit, showing the Bridge Commits sioners have majority for the Free Bridge in both value and number:
 sworn Statement.
 Pine Bluff, Ark, April 2, 1912.
 We. tine undersigned hereby certify that we have carefully examined the petitions now on file with the Boart of Directors of Jefferson County Bridge District and compared the same with the last county assessment of the land within said District anC find that same are signed by ma jority in numbers and in value of tht holders of real property within sait district as shown by said last county assessment.
 Total assessed value of lands in district as shown
 by last county assess
 ment $S,722. .5sO.O( Total value of lands rep
 resented by signers to pe- titions ....................,.,.. 4,S4S. .646.O' Total number of real es-
 tate holders in district as
 shown by last county as- isessment ........ ............. 4.6s2.o Total number of real
 holders as shown upon pe-
 titions ............... 2.S24.0 ! fIIn testimony whereof. switness9 ou signatures this May s3Ad, SlS12. |
 F. R. BLOOM. JOHN GILLESPIE,
 ROY HANF.
 Sfafns nf "A rkanSaS ..1i