The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-12-16
COAL CONTRACT
OF PENSACOLA
IS ASKED ABOUT
THIS MATTER AND OTHERS DIS.
cussED AT MEETING or THE
GOO o GOVERNMENT LEAGUE
LAST NIGHT.

Perhaps the most important matter
discussed at the meeting OF the Good
Government league held In the court
house last night was the recent is-
suing OF a contract for coal for con-
sumption by the departments of tina
city made by the city commissioners
The contract referred to was awarded
to Cary & Co., the amount according
to statements made at last nights
meeting. being for fifty tons of coal.
1t was claimed by some Of the MEM
that the contract is illegal. on account
OF the consanguinity clause I'm the city
charter.
It was stated that John Massey. who
is connected with the company, owns
more than FIVE per cent of the stock
: Commissioners Johnson. which facts. if
substantiated, would make the con-
tract illegal.
A motion, offered by Joseph Maura,
was adopted providing for the APP
pointment of q special committee to
investigate this contract and to see
what steps should be taken In case
the statements made are proven to be
facts. President Armstrong stated
that he would appoint the committee
as soon as he had time TO look over
the list of members Of the league and
make the selections.
This matter was discussed at some
length and there seemed to be some
doubt as to whether or not the state
! ments as to the coal contract and
the relationship OF Mr.. Massey to
Commissioners Johnson could be es-
tablished. During the discussion. some
member said that it had been printed
IN the newspapers Of the city that
these were the facts In the case.
At this point, E. W. Lawrence took
the floor. and, in a rather sarcastic
manner, asked If this organization was
TO obtain facts from the newspapers. |
and insinuated that the papers did not |
send Representatives to the meetings |
&c the association. but received infor- |
nation secondhand. He was quickly /
challenged. however, and his attention
was called to the fact that q repre- |
sentative Of The Journal was present |
ct that time.
Somers System Discussed.
The Somers system OF assessing |
taxes was brought up for discussion |
and considerable time was spent on |
this topic.
1t seemed to be the consensus OF |
opinion OF the members present that |
this system offered the best solution |
to the taxation problem and It was
finally agreed that President Arm /
strong should correspond with the I
representatives of this system and 1
with number Of the cities in which /
Il had been tested with a view to IN Il
Producing II in Pensacola.
Plain Statements.
Before the meeting adjourned. some
matters pertaining to the government /
OF the city were talked about in plain
terms and some Of the members did |
not fan TO express themselves in /
every day language.
S. Welsh called attention to tha
C0nmff4Nn M fTA 4
city and said that he would like to
know why the commissioners had
placed the man who had formerly had
charge Of these sewers IN the once of
city engineer Mr.. Welsh said that
the sewers In the city IN a number of
localities were in q very unsatisfactory
condiuon. G. c. Keyser here delivered
en- address.
FinaneIers Discussed.
NJ. e. Morey said that there had
peen many runors as to the financial
condition OF the city since the Pen
sacola State Bank had SUSPENDED on
efAttonS and he wanted to know inst
now much money the city had on de-
posit IN shis bank at the time the
doors were closed. He said that va
rious rs1mors had been circulated and
That he thought It was within the
province CT this organization to ascer-
tar. II possible. Just what the amount
y. N. Andrews. who IL = rennn.~
OF the committee appointed By the de-
p0sitors 20 Investigate the condition
or the bank, said .Net It was irnoos- ,
slble Just at this time to ten what !
any depositor had in the bank but ,
that the committee was working on ;
the matter and would be abl4 TO tell I
within the next few days
Permanent Committees. IL
Tt was decided that several perua-
nent committees should be appointed.
although the personality OF them has :
not yet been determined upon. Among
the committees to be appointed will (
be the following: A budget commit (
tee. q finance committee, q polica and 1
fire committee. a public works COM {
rntttee, registration committee and
a publicity committee.
The working committee reported
aat q circular letter had been issued.
calling attention to last nights meet
ing and that q copy had been sent to
each member OF the organization.
Several new applications were re-
ceived last night and passed upon, all
Of them being elected to membership
in the organization. (
Before the meeting closed. several of
the members expressed themselves as I
not concurring In all OF the express 1
sions made by the individual members I
OF the organization and that they did
not wish the press TO quote the speak
ers as representatives OF the body. IS
Cure Your Cold While You Can.
More real danger turks in a cold than
In any other OF the minor ailments The
safe way is TO take Chamberlainss