The Pensacola journal., 1913-02-15
League to Work For
Semnes Charter is
Formed in Meeting

Formed IN Meeting
(Continueo from Page one)
cratic form of commission govern
ment.
About this time Alderman Renshaw
arrived.
IS vIcE.PREsIpENTs.
On motion of II. H. Thornton, aug
mented by suggestions from Mr.. Con-
cannon, It was decided to have an ex-
ecutive committee Of fifty-seven mem
bers. 1t will include the two officers
and fifty-fve vice-presidents. five of
whom shall be chosen from each pre-
cinct IN the city.
Mr.. Semmes then said that the
meeting was not one intended to bind
anyone to the Semmes committee
charter. but an open meeting for dis
cussion Of both to which everyone
was invited. He said the business OF
the league viii be to send out circu-
lars with the name OF Mr.. 1Iuldon at
fached and to otherwise openly oppose
the adoption Of charter which many
think does not offer bona fide COM
mission government.
Herbert Felkel said that talking
points are needed as well as literature
and that he thinks it would be a good
thing to show the voters that the re-
call clause viii not give the negroes
any control, as they will not vote at
the primaries. therefore. win not quail
ify to vote on the recall.
About this time Attorney ]. J. Sui
1ivan arrived.
Alderman Concannon then talked
briefly about the clause relating to
the taking over by the city Of any
public utility. advocating that 1t shall
be arranged that the city may by
proper purchase acquire the Plant of
any public utility only after fifteen
years, and not at any time before the
expiration of such time.
It seems that Mr.. Concannon had
overlooked a part Of the sixteenth ar
ticle IN the Semmes committee char
ter, as that expressly states the cor
poration granted any public utility
franchise shall remain in possession
for fifteen years.
Mr.. sEMmEs SPEAKS.
Mr.. Semmes was called upon for an
address and made a strong defense OF
his charter preparatory to attacking
the claims OF the advocates Of the
Jones charter.
TT is ridiculous, even folly" he con-
tended. s'to say that these three men
elected to the commission will go into
ef1ce and deliberately try to break
down the provisions of the charter
under which they were elected by the
people Of Pensacola. Each depart
ment in the government OF this city
win be under the direct supervision of
one OF the three commissioners and
it will be his part to develop it to a
point of efiicieney.r
About this time F. F. Bingham ar
rived
"The voters will help him make
good" Mr.. Semmes continued, ''by CIV
ing him the power to appoint to the
various positions in the department
under him and they will certainly hold
him to his duty Of administering the
affairs of that department to the best
interests of the people of Pensacola.
But what man Is going to go down
to the city hall as the member OF a
commission Of ten without pay when
the mayor can remove him and four OF
five more on some pretext or other?
say in all frankness, gentlemen. that
] wouldn't care to do that. And where
IS the business man that would.
Il tell You that the Jones charter
would break down democratic city
government"
After talking some more about tbs
differences of the two charters and
after references to anonymous com
munications being sent out by per-
sons favoring the Jones charter and
working for its passage, Mr.. Semmes
said he considered, was forced to con.
slider, that such a charter offered op-
portunities for one of the 'slimfest
dirtiest deals" that could be framed
up. The mayor. he said. under It's
provisions. could build about him an
invulnerable ring.
He spoke also of the talk that the
police would have to work twelve
hours a day. instead Of eight. He said
he didn't believe any thing of the
kind. but that they would work eighi
hours. as now. and have an occasionai
holiday, as they do in other commits.
sion governed cities. And the money
he added, which would be saved ir
other departments would show the
wisdom of the change.
The police might have to work !,
little harder, he said. for the saloon
laws and others would be more rigid.
" enforced, but he didn't believe fol
an instant they wouldn't have as few
or fewer hours than they have now
."vote for three men to represent
sou as commissioners" he said, sanC
you also vote for the best carrying
out of everything of interest to ths
CITY
ABOUT $4,000.
Mr.. Semmes said that Mr.. Sullivan