The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-01-28
Regulation of Public Utili-
ties is a Strong
Feature
UTILITIES MUST
OPEN THEIR BOOKS
Primary Nomination Ex-
penses are Limited to $3.50
and Publicity of Expendi-
lures is Required = City
May Take Over Utility
Plants at Fair Valuation.

Several important additions and
changes were made to the Semmes
commission government charter at the
mass meeting in the city hall last
night when Frank L. Mayes submitted
new sections dealing with election
nomination expenses, publicity of ac-
counts of public utility corporations,
transfers of franchises, and regulation
of public utilities.
In introducing the new sections, Mr..
Mayes said he assumed that either the
Semmes charter or the Jones charter
would be adopted and as he preferred
the right kind of commission govern
ment to thel aldermanic form Of gov
ernment he hoped the Scmmes charter
when finally presented would be in
such form that he could support it.
The sections introduced by Mr..
Mayes and adopted by the mass meet
ing are published on the first page OF
The Journal. The following section
was introduced by him and later with
drawn when Alderman Semmes pre-
sented one that seemed to meet the
same requirements:
PURCHASE BY CITY.
Section -. No license, permit or
franchise shall hereafter be granted
for the operation of any public service
utility for a period longer than twenty
years and the city of Pensacola shall
have the right at any time, on or be-
fore the expiration of such grant. to
purchase such public service utility, or
such part OF same as lies within said
city. and to operate it for the benefit
Of the whole people. the purchase price
of same to be fixed by arbitration IN
such manner as the city may by ordi-C
nance determine. However, in deter
mining such valuation. only the physi-
cal value of the plant and equipment
of such public service utility shall De
considered and no allowance shall be
made for the said license, permit. or
franchise or any rights or privileges
included therein. Any public utility
accepting .or operating under any
license. permit or franchise hereafter
granted shall, by acceptance of same.
be deemed to have consented to a fu-
ture purchase, by the city of Pensa-
cola in accordance with this act, of its
property lying within said city and
actually used and useful for the con-
venience of the public"
JONES SECTION SUBSTITUTED.
An important change in the charter
was the substitution, on motion Of Mr..
Mayes, of section 29 in the Jones char
ter for section 25 of the Semmes char
ter relating to the regulation of public
service utilities. It was adopted with
out dissenting vote.
That the council committee are of
the opinion that the commissioners
elected under commission government
must possess efficiency was announced
when Chairman Semmes said let them
be 'snatched out If they don't make
good" Chairman Semmes made this
statement when Prof. H. Clay Arm
strong sought to have an amendment
made to section IL to relieve the COM
mission of annoyance IN filing va
cancies by providing an examination
Of candidates as to their qualific fications.
The suggestion made by Prof Arm
strong will not be included in the
charter
According to the Semmes charter as
published Sunday morning, the time OF
commissioners meetings was put at
noon Tuesday. but a suggestion made
at the meeting last night to leave the
hour of meeting to the commissioners
to be fixed by resolution of the com
missioners was adopted. The hours of
buiness was, on suggestion of Alex
Friedman, left open to be fixed by reso-
luton.
A. A. Credible, formerly marshal of
Pensa cola, made a motion to strike out
section 81, but failed to receive a sec
ond The section which he wanted