The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-03-04

pal electric light plant, which question
may a little later come before the peo-
pie. In quoting from "City of the Peo-
pIe'' by Prof. Frank Parsons, he said
that electric light companies levy
heavy taxes on people. sometimes
more than three or four times the cost
of service, but in cities which own
their own plants the cost of service is
about one-quarter or a half cent an
hour for service.
AFTER ,SEMMES.
Remember said Mr.. Stokes. that the
chairman of the Semrnes committee
charter did not arise in his seat nor
say a word in behalf of the people
when the proposition was before the
council to build a municipal electric
light plant, but the representative of
the local electric light company was
there and addressed the council in be-
half of his company. He said that
when Alderman Semmes left the city
hall that night he boarded an electric
car held out after hours by the cleo
trio. company for the benefit OF the
aldermen.
Mr.. Stokes closed his address by
saying that If the Semmes charter is
adopted he will work for its passage
in the legislature.
JNO. 3. JONES.
Jno. B. Jones, city attorney and
Trainer of the charter which bears his
name, was the last speaker. He SAID
that he felt that it would be safe to
let the meeting dispense and all go
home and rest for their duties today,
but complied with the request of the
lea que to give some reasons why he
is in the fight. He said he has never
been in the ranks OF the public service
corporations and that no man ever
found him battling for any cause I'M
less 1t was in the interest of the peo
pie. He referred to the Evening News
as a corporation sheet and said 1t
had endeavored to insult him. He said
he stood by Stokes when the latter
was endeavoring in the legislature to
have the public utility clause Of the
Jones charter put into the city charter,
which Frank L. Mayes says is the best
he has ever seen.
When the investigation in the city
council had been finished it was found
that a crime" had been committed
because Happy Dan" Bergin and an
other city employee, the latter now de-
ceased. had received their pay during
the time they were sick. Supporters
Of the Semmes comnittee charter
tried to force city officials into their
ranks by sending a reporter to the city
hall to interview them, hut they failed
in that attempt He said the people
are now fighting the same element that
opposed him and others in their deter
mination to destroy a monarchial form
Of government that existed in Pensa-
celia years ago.
Mr.. Jones said the News of yester-
day asked him If he had that great
love for the city and the people which
he professed. and that If the Jones
charter embodies the kind of govern
ment he thought Pensacola needs, and
having been city attorney for ten
years, why did he wait until after the
them. He replied to this by saying
that has ever been made to take the
rights OF the people away from them.
SAID TT WAS FRAME-UP.
The News also asked him if it was
not a fact that he voted against and
opposed commission government in the
election of Decemb Der 80. Mr.. Jones's I
answer to this question was. Yes, /
did. I knew it was a frame-up. be- |
cause they wanted to get to the $780, |
000."
The News also asked him why he |
did not submit his charter to the pub |
licly called mass meetings for dis
cussion and amendment Mr.. Jones /
said the reason he did not submit his /
charter was because thai was a meet |
ing of Armstrong. the peda gogue, and /
Walker, the wit; handful of dele |
gates from the Osceola club and the Y. /