The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-02-20
R. P. Reese on the SemmeS Charter

another phase Of this grant OF power
to two men, that belongs solely to the
people; that is this: Two commission
ers, under this charter, can combine
against the other man and force him
to resign, then elect some one who
pleases them. thus multiplying the will
Of the people.
Sec. 8. This section provides that
when two vacancies occur on the
board, as they sometimes do, the re-
manning commissioner shall call an
election, if there be one; if none, then
by county judge.
If all three commissioners vacate,
the governor shall appoint three COM
missioners to hold office until their
successors are elected at a, special
election to be called, etc. Should the
county judge call election, to fill such
vacancies, he shall do so within thir-
ty days from such vacancies, etc.
There is no provision here in the
event of a vacancy in the office of two
commissioners at one time within what
time, or when, the remaining commits
sioner shall call special election to
fill the vacancies since he is the only
one that shall call an election upon the
Vacancy occurring in two offices at the
same time, it should be stated when he
shall call such election.
Sec. 8. This provides that the three
commissioners shall elect one of their
number mayor, the mayor to have no
veto power.
This reduces the power and gives it
into the hands Of two men, to do any
thing they see fit, without hindrance.
Sec. 10. The commissioners, by this
section, are delegated the preroga-
tive belonging to the people under the
constitution-that is, electing one Of
their number police commissioner, one
of their number fire commissioner,
one of their number commissioner OF
streets and public works.
The people in the election Of the
commissioners, have no voice in Sc.
lecting or designating the officers for
, these respective places.
The section further provides:
Each commissioner to receive SAL
airy of 100000 per annum, payable
monthly, and devote all their time,
from a. m, to IL m, and l p. m,
to p. m, to the affairs of the city.
The objection to this is that the adj
vocates of commission government
; have urged as a reason for a change,
that I'VE ought to have paid men, who
will devote the whole of their time to
the city's business just as any other
employed man is required to devote
his time to his employers business"
The proposed charter, however, only
requires a 100000 man to be on the
job seven hours a day. giving him
the other seventeen hours for his own
private use. Where is the private
business, with a 100000 employee
who work seven hours day?
| This is evidently an oversight on the
part Of the committee. They would
: not work a business (?) administration
different from the ordinary eight hour
or ten hour man, who gets less money,
I'm sure.
Sec. IL By this section all officers
of the city, including the marshal,
chief of the fire department, city ply
stefan, etc, etc. are to be appointed
by the three commissioners, and be
under the control and management
etc, of that board subject to remov-
, al for incompetence, etc. or any other
good cause if complaints or charges
shall be preferred, etc.
The salaries of these officers to be
fixed by the commissioners.
Here we meet the same proposition
that runs through the whole charter.
delegation to two men of that power,
that under our system Of government
is lodged in the people.
Sec. L.. Section twelve provides for
the continued corporate existence of
the City of Pensacola, etc, and the
; present laws (ordinances) not in con-
f1ict with this charter, etc, all pres
ent ordinances to remain in force I'M
til repealed under this charter, that
is by two men.
The corporate limits to remain as
now. Commissioners, however, to be
elected by whole city vote.
: Rights, powers and property of the
city, which were vested in it. shall
vest in the new organization. No
: right or liabilities for or against this
city to be effected by change.
Sec. IS. Regulations as to public
health shall remain as at present es-
tabIished unless changed by new en-
actments of the commissioners.