The Pensacola journal., 1913-02-20

| this act md the general laws Of the
state OF Florida and the ordinances
of said city. And when an election
IS held for this purpose no ,othsr may
be called for the same or similar pur-
pose for at least two years.
This section Is subject to the same
objections that we have made to those
other sections providing for elections
upon the petitions of the qualified
voters. There is too much burden
placed upon the voters to initiate and
carry through an election. The method
is cumbersome, is embarrassing, is eX-
pensive and is most un- democratic.
This section, like the granting of
public franchises. and like the other
sections providing for the initiative
| the recall and the referendum, should
be SO written as to be automatic
that is, that the voters-without ex-
pense to themselves-and without the
power being conferred upon the clerk
| of the circuit court or any other in
d5vidual, to arbitrarily pass upon their
petitions, to have the right, upon the
mere fact OF being qualified voters, of
signing petitions and enjoying the
privileges of the initiative. the recall
and the referendum without let or him
drance.
There are many men and citizens in
the city of Pensa cola, and there WILL in
| the future, be many more. who are not
at the present time and at that par
ticular- time in the future when petit
| tions may be circulated, registered and
qualified voters, at the previous mu-
nicipal election that should be allowed
to sign such petitions, and the only
qualification that should be required,
IS that they are registered voters,
whether they are qualified to Vote or
not at the time Of signing the petition,
because they can qualify without any
great burden or inconvenience, and
they should not be denied the right
tn participate in the calling Of cleo
tions under these supposed reserve
powers.
CONCLUSION.
This examination of the committees
charter makes clear, that by its adop-
tion, the citizens of Pensacola sur
render every prerogative of local self
government belonging to, and an in
separable part of democratic govern
| mdnt, and turn over to three men, or
two, il you please, all of the powers
they, the citizens, possess.
II a man believes in democratic
| charter, unless he surrenders his prin-
ciplesi and if a man surrenders his
principles, there is nothing left for
him to fight for
The three reservations Of power,
which the charter is supposed to re-
tain and preserve in the hands of the
people-the Initiative the 'Referen-
dunn" and the "Recall'-in exchange
for the power conferred upon the three
commissioners, are found to be i'm
possible of exercise.
The power of granting the peoples
franchises is given over to the commits
sioners without any feasible plan
whereby the citizens may exercise 4
voice or interpose a check.
The commissioners are given the
power to do the duties of the board OF
| bond trustees and to make contracts
and spend the citizens money without
restraint and without requiring com
petitive bidding before letting such
contracts.
The power to grant franchises for
public utilities, for the period of fifteen
years, ties the hands Of the city and
| prevents it from owning or operating
! any similar plants during the term Of
| the franchise.
The white primary Is abolished, and
to the commissioners is given over
the power to nominate candidates for
the office Of commissioner.
A primary may be held for the NOM,
| iration Of candidates, bus the commits
sioners are also given the power 10
nominate independent of the primary,
and no provision is made for the
expense Of holding the primary, ex-
| cept that the citizens viii have to
pay for it out of their own pockets.
Therefore, the negro is made a fac
| tor in all elections because nomina-
| tions for the office of commissioner
are made by the board of commits
| sioners, and although other candidates
may hold a primary, the commission
| ers' candidates are not bound by such
| primary and their candidate, or candi-
oates, go into the general election
alongside of the white primary candi-
| date without obligation to respect any
| primary pledge.
The commissioners, by the unlim-
! tied powers given under the charter,
may easily perpetuate themselves in
power by selection of their successors
through this right to nominate and not
be bound by any primary.
Under the charter, the commission
ers have the power to make grants
Of franchises that would be impossible
to prevent or rescind because the peo-
pIe are required to initiate and put
through the referendum election them
selves within thirty days, at their own
expense, and under difficulties almost
impossible to overcome.
Yours truly,
r. P. REESE.
February 1S 1913