The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-01-26
HE BELIEVES IN A
: COMMISSION FORM
Thinks People Should Look
at the Charter Question
From a Commercial Stand
point - Says Commission
Government Is Not a Fad,
But Has Been Successful
Elsewhere.

G. L Steele, of the Zirnnern Coal
Company, of Mobile. yesterday gave
out statement which embraces his
views relative to the points which
charter for the city of Pensacola under
commission form OF government
should embrace.
Mr.. Steele, who is now living in thig
city and conducting business for his
firm, expressed his ideas by a commits
sion government enthusiast
1T is natural" said Mr.. Steele, that
should look at the charter question
from q commercial standpoint
The most pessimistic cannot help
but see bright future for Pensacola,
with the best and most accessible har-
Dor on the gulf and one of the cheap.
est and best coaling stations in the
world With two new railroads already
in and large improvements being made
in the facilities of the pioneer rail-
road, who can doubt but that there is a
bright future for our city.
What bearing, then, will the new
charter have on the city of Pensacola?
TT is a recommendation to Pensacola
that she has become dissatisfied with
the old charter and wants a new one.
The old charter, some say, and the old
forms of government, were good
SC were ox-carts good in their day, but
for the Pensacola that is to be the
newest and best is needed.
Surely commission government is
not an. experiment. It has been tried
and tried successfully in over two hun
dred cities already and has saved Bir-
minsham thousands of dollars. The
same is true of Memphis and other
cities too numerous to mention.
'Tt is said by its opponents to be
fad But let us look at the com
mon sense of it. A city is a corpora
ton: q large corporation that has q
considerable business to be looked
after. What does any other corpora
ton do when 1t wants men to handle
its business? Does 1t elect men from
certain sections, counties, states or
wards? No sir; the men who are in
terested in the corporation get together
and select the men who are to man
age their business from anywhere they
can find capable men who have busi-
ness ability that peculiarly fits them
for the management of their affairs.
No favors are shown, and no consid-
erations Of friendship or kinShip. The
men who are to have charge OF these
offices then select all subordinate en-
ployes. It Is common sense that Pen
sacola, as a corporation, should do the
same, If she would succeed.
GREAT COMMERCIAL FUTURE.
"It is my belief that Pensacola is on
the threshold of a great commercial
future. therefore everything about the
town should be made rs attractive to
outsiders as possible.
1One Of the first things a prospective
seller looks at, is the government OF
the city. Houston has had an abnor-
NAL growth since the adoption Of com
mission form and the same is true OF
Galveston. These two cities are our
rivals as gulf ports.
IN my opinion opportunity is knock
ing at our doors. II we are to have
a great city here, we must lay aside
all selfish considerations and be ready
to grasp every chance to make way
for the greater Pensacola that seems
within reach.
pure commission government is
one of the proofs of progress in a new
or old and growing city and will do
more to make Pensacola inviting to
the newcomers than any other thing
we can do"