The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-02-20

jected by the commissioners can hoIo
= primary at his own expense, if he so
desires-How many men have suffi-
Client means to finance primary
alone?
Clearly this is the Judgment of au-
tocratic power, without restraint, and
would result in the commissioners
choosing their own successors in office
and perpetuating their power and pol
icies. In other words, doing things
that the people do not want. and pre-
venting the taxpayer from selecting a
successor to undo it.
Again, my opponents will say, such
a thing as doing things, the people
do not want, cannot happen under this
charter for the people have the Initia-
tive and Referendum. I deny that to
be fact Like the Recall, it is made
practically impossible. That, however,
will be discussed when I reach the re-
spective sections.
Sec. {. Provides that all candidates,
who have qualified by receiving the o.
K. of the commissioners, shall have
their names placed on the ballot and
that the candidates elected shall take
their terms from the votes cast-that
is, longest term to candidate receiY-
ing the highest vote, etc.
And then: the spending of money or
other thing of value, in behalf of
candidates election, is prohibited.
However, the candidate who should
| fail to get the approval of the COM
missioners, and has to finance the eX-
! penses of primary, is singled out ana
required to do three things that the
candidate, who gets his nomination
from the commissioners, is not re-
quired to do, before he can get his
name printed on the ballot, for the city
election.
| 1st. He must file a sworn state
ment with the mayor or the board of
:. commissioners, that the total amount
of money, ETC., spent, or promised by
him. etc, or to his knowledge by any
one spent in his behalf. in aid. etc, of
his nomination, did not exceed $4,000.
| End. He must also show by this
statement to the commissioners not
more than 48 hours, nor less than "a
hours before ten a. m, of the day OF
the primary election, that he filed in
the office of the clerk of the circuit
court, etc, a sworn statement show
| ing ct, the names of persons, firms or
institutions to whom etc, such money,
or other thing of value, was paid or
promised ETC., the purpose thereof and
amount thereof"
Bird. He must also show by this
statement to the commissioners: THAT
he did not spend or promise any
money or other thing of value other
than shown in said statement previous
to or following such primary election
in aid of the procurement of such
nomination"
Here again, the commissioners are
given autocratic powers.
To the burden of the primary can
didate putting up money to hold pri-
mary for getting a nomination, is add
ed the additional burden of threading
this maze of difficulties and conditions
in getting his name on the ballot, and
he must do these things at a particu-
lar time, and note the particularly
with which he must time the filing of
his affidavit with the clerk of the cir
cult court, before the election.
Note too, that his affidavit, contain
ing the three things have mentioned,
including the recital 'of what he filed
with the circuit clerk, must be sub
mitted to the board of commissioners
before he gets on the ballot. The
board must be satisfied that this Aft
8
name on the ballot. What! you ask
(after the man is nominated in a pri-
mary, the expense of which he had to
pay, and the people, by their votes,
have nominated him, do you mean to
say his name does not go on the bal
lotO That is just it. His name does
not go on the ballot, unless the board
says so. and their decision is final.
The legislature, in granting this char
ter and comforting this power upon
the board of commissioners, gives the
board the discretion to challenge the
regularity of the primary candidates
nomination and may turn him down,
and refuse to place his name on the
ballot, and that action could not be
set aside, because the board is, under
the charter, the sole judge.
/ That is the law of the case boil
ed down. So you see the board has
the power under the charter to name
the candidates to succeed each COM
missioner as his term expires, and
thereby perpetuate itself and it's acts
until "vested interests" have vested N
the beneficiaries of such
i Sec. ). Provides qualifications OF
commissioners: He must be u years OF
jage, or over, and a qualified elector
in the election.
If found to be disqualified. after cleo
ton and duly qualified (notice the last
Ave words), his place to be filled as in
cases of death or resignation.
And how is that? You ask
BY the board Of commissioners-the
two autoerats of the pie counter; (sse
section seven of the charter.
You can easily see where this is
wrong-and violative of every princi-
pie of democratic government.
In the first place, the whole propo-
sition of the people electing mar,
who may be disqualified, and then
turning the elective power over to two
men, is preposterous and only the
, dream of a royalist.
Sec. 6. Provides for bonding the
commissioners and that the premium
on the s25,O00.o0 bond of each COM
missioner. shall be paid by the city
This is not in accordance with good
business. All public, state and county
officers, and in all banking or private
businesses where EMPLOYEES are re-