Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-02-22
BUSINESS MEN
 TAKE 4 HAND q. Of q. Wants to Revise the Commission Form
 Measure. NAMES co M N [ T Y II II Will Go-Operate With the People to Get Proper Safeguards and
 EcOnGmiza.%
 F
NAMES COM M I IT Y II |


 the pending Pine Bluff commission form of government bill at it's reGu- lar trustees meeting at the Hotel jef- ferson yesterdav and after being as sured by Chairlnan F'reidell of Mil Ter county, that the .5enate committee on cities and towns, had postponed the hearing on the measure until one day next week, a committee was nani- ed to cooperate with citizens of this city and prepare another bill, 2lVln& to Pine Bluff an immediate conmis sion form of government and to ill. clude in it every safeguard that will be of benefit and satisfactory to all of the residents of Pine Bluff. Presl- dent Hearn, of the Chamber of Com merce at the request Of the trustees, appointed the following committee, which will meet with Senator T. C. White and Representative Miller and Wilson here today and discuss the proposed legislation:
 J. E. Boyce, chairman; ". F. Cole man, William Nichol, J. II. Mann, Harry Hanf, W. \, TrulocS and Ii. (. Spaulding.
 The matter was brought up by MT. Boyce. who thouoIt that the approach of prohibition, which will mean a big reduction af the city.s financies, jus tified some action on the part of our
 people. He said hat the commission
 form .sbill shuuld be carefully drawn and that the citizens he given every proteation iu the future management of city affairs
 Tt is a serious state Of affairs that
 confronts us" said MT. Boyce. Pine
 Bluff is soon to lose about $21 ,000 an
 nually, ii the stateNide prohibition
 Eiu becomes effective but notwith-
 standing this reduction in the re- venues, the present commission form
 bill which has already passed the
 House, adds an epense to the city
 government of $5,S00 a year. The r people Of Pine Bluff, in my opinion = want a commission form of goVern- l ment, if it is properly given to them. t government for seventeen years, be
 ine now member of the o5ard Of Public Affairs. and believe that I am ; familiar with the city's financial cut. . look.
 s w. N. Trulock asked MT. Royce to \ state his main objections 10 the pres F ant hiIl
 "I haye not read the bill carefully, ,
 said Mir. Boyce, but l know that it
 retains three or four elective officers, !, abClishes ihe city council and adds to = the salary of the present mayor and $ provides for two additional commis- sioners, giving the city an added eX- penses of nearly $6,o0o realize a
 great majority of the people want
 commission form, but they do not
 want an extra financial load on their
 shoulders especially with an em ty treasury staring them in the face. |
 see no objection to the Governor nam-
 ing the commissioners. That is the , least thing to be considered in the | measure I believe that the Governor
 will give us better men by appoint } ment than we would be able to elect, } because the best men do not always
 offer for office.
 l. H. Mann suggested that the bill ! go into effect two years from nowfand intimated that the present bill might I he killed with good effect. He sug- , gested that it be revised two years
 hence.
 The revenues of the city at this
 time are only sufficient to maintain
 the police and fire departments and
 the city officials, with some incident
 al eXpenses,' continued Mr 3oyee. t 'Thcre are absolutely TO funds avail . able for street improvement work Y A motion carried that Secretary | Spanlding communi ate with Chair s man Rreidell, of the Senate cities and
 towns committee, and request him to
 postpone the hearing on the bill that
 was to have been held Friday after !, noon. and give committee of Pine
 Bluffians. from the Chamber of Com
 merce, an opportunity to be heard and |. present amendments. Nr. F'riedell l, over the phone, informed MT, Spanld- 2 ing that the hearing had already been
 rostponed until one day next week Q and Senator White informed him that
 he would he glad to confer with local
 citizens on the measure Saturday l. when he expected to be in Pine Bluff ), W. F Coleman said that from whai n he could learn the Miller bill was