The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-03-02

Attacking it's vital sections from
nearly every angle and proclaiming in
a vigorous manner that 1t will not
give the people representative form
of government, three speakers for the
Representative Government League
last night in San Carlos court deliv-
cred short addresses against the
adoption of the Semmes committee
charter in the special election to be
held next Tuesday. The meeting was
featured by a tilt between Senator
Stokes and Alderman Semmes.
The speakers were John P. Stokes,
state senator; John B. Jones, city at
torney, and Phillip D. Beall, assistant
United States district attorney. j. J.
Sullivan, Sr, president of the Repre-
sentative Government League, was
chairman of the meeting.
Mr.. BeaH delivered the t address
and his remarks were mainly confined
to an explanation of the recall sections
OF both the committee and Jones char
ters. He said that among the sew
eral incorrect things published about
him was that he Is a. nephew Of John
B Jones, who drafted the Jones char
ter. He said that the statement was
untrue, but he would feel proud if Mr..
Jones was his uncle.
He also said that the committee
charter advocates have stated that all
city office holders are favorable to the
Jones charter. He declared this to be
untrue from the fact that L. Earl
Thornton, city engineer, is an avowed
supporter of the committee charter.
After Mr.. Beall had explained the
mnaner in which the recall sections
OF both charters may be put in opera
ton, he said that under the Semmes
committee charter it was not required
that formal charge be placed against
a commissioner to recall him. and that
the newspapers are anxious to see the
committee charter adopted because it
requires sections providing for the
publication of many things.
In concluding his remarks Mr.. Beall
recited "Old King Cole in illustrating
how the committee charter creates
three fiddlers and asked "is Mayes or
Felkel old King Cole"
STATE SENATOR STOKES.
The principal speaker was State |
Senator John P. Stokes, who said he |
did not favor either charter with much |
enthusiasm, but had not much hesi- |
fancy in choosing the Jones charter. |
He said that the people are told by |
the advocates of the Semmes commit |
cola a business government and elm |
mate politics, but he could not under
stand that statement on account of |
the numerous elections to be held if it |
is adopted.
The power given to the three men |
under the committee charter to hire /
and fire city employees, Mr.. Stokes |
said, will not eliminate politics and /
give business administration. There
is nothing to stop them from reducing |
the salary of an employe If they want
to fire him.
Mr.. Stokes asked why had the civil
service provision been omitted from
the committee charter, which, he said,
was in the Des Moines charter, from
which it had been drafted.
If the committee charter is adopted,
he continued. 1t is so worded that it
will be necessary to go through all of
the present charter to find out If they
conflict.
said Mr.. Stokes, a majority OF them, |
two, always remain in office for two
years and do not thereby reflect the
popular will of the people. Under the
Jones charter all members Of the
board of control go in at the same
time, thereby rejecting the popular
will, he said. He said the Jones char
ter does provide for a recall and that
the judge of the circuit court can CAL
recdii elSStioh On Inc proper peu-
ton. Under the Jones charter, he said
you can fire "A man out II he does not
act right, but no one can be fired un-
ess a majority says so.
PRIMARY ELECTIONS.
Mr.. Stokes said the primary cleo
lons must be continued in order. to
allow the people to enjoy their political
preferences, but If the Semmes COM
nittee charter is adopted the results
IF the primary can be wiped out by
he votes Of those who did not partici-
pate in it. In the Jones charter, said
he speaker, no one can vote in a re-
,all election except those who were
Iualiied to vote in the genera. cleo
ion.
Mr.. Stokes said the Jones charter
CONTINUED On Page Eight.) &