The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-03-02
Supporters of Jones
Charter Hold Meeting
Continues from Page one,

' ~.'' : 49, ~''~%
is the best and the board of control
will keep check on the three commits
sioners elected under IT. Under the
Semmes committee charter the three
commissioners would be given the alb
solute right to levy taxes and grant
franchises and the comptroller would
be the creature of the three commits
sioners who would be the three kings
of the city hail." If the people had a
Waterman to report on the acts of the
three commissioners it would be all
right he said. 1t is true, said he that
the committee charter has a recall
provision, but 1t will not be felt He
declared that the initiative and refer
endum can be had under the Jones
charter if the people want 1t, but the
provision for the initiative and refer
endum in the Semnes committee char
ter is not effective.
Mr.. Stokes asked where did the
committee charter come from. He
said that 1t has been heralded as the
peoples charter, but it is not. He
said that after the utility clause in
that charter had been adopted in
mass meeting at the city hall the COM
mittee met the next day and threw it
out. Why was the utility clause left
out after it had been approved in the
mass meeting. asked Mr.. Stokes.
49,, i SEMMES APPEARS.
When Mr.. Stokes made the state
ment that Alderman Semmes arose in
the city council and moved that the
recommendation of Mayor Reilly pro-
viding for the building CT a city cleo
stric light plant be killed, Mr.. Semmes.
who was standing near the stand,
came upon the platform and asked
permission to reply to Mr.. Stokes.
Mr.. Semmes's request was granted
and he said that he did not arise in
the council nor say word about the
matter, but that it was Alderman Rem
shaw physician for the Louisville &c
Nashville Railroad Company, who said
that the belt line railroad and the mu-
nicipal docks were enough to take on
at this time. When Mr.. Semmes told
the crowd that he had since changed
his mind ON the question. Mr.. Stokes
asked him il he would introduce a
resolution In the council providing for
a municipal electric sight plant. Mr..
Semmes replied that he would do so II
the committee charter IS adopted, but
would not otherwise.
Mr.. Stokes continued by saying that
Alderman Semmes never took the
trouble to arise from his seat in the
half of his constituents when Alba H.
Warren, manager of the Pensacola
Electric Company, was there repre-
senting his company.
He said that in; the event the COM
mittee charter carried it will be a hard
matter to amend sit If the people find
that sue haction SIS necessary.
Mr.. Stokes closed his address by
asking that himself, McHugh and
Clopton be given the support Of the
people in their efforts in the legisla-
ment for Pensacola, and told them to
go to the polls on next Tuesday and
votes for the Jones charter. saying
that they would never regret 1t.
MR.. JONES SPEAKS.
John B. Jones. who framed the char
ter that bears his name, was the last
ST eaker. He said that he felt last
night as he did on the eve OF the cleo
ton when he stood before the people
OF Pensa cola in advocacy of the white
primary and he declared that the con-
test now Is more important than then.
Mr.. Jones said that the papers have
not presented the matter in Just the
proper way, but he thanked The Jour
nal for opening its columns for a dis
cussion OF the question. He called
the committee charter the big cinch"
charter. He asked, DO the commit
tee charter trainers want to get rep
resentatives of the people in the gov
ernment?" He replied to his own
question by saying. mo, they want to
give it to the business men-the big
cinch.'''
AN EMPTY GUN.
Mr.. Jones said that Prof. Armstrong
has stated that the ''gun is behind the
door, when the ueon1e need II 70 IlSe
on the men in Office who do not act
right. But" said the speaker, ''the