The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-08-25
ADOPTS
CHARTER
FOR THE CITY
Is Now Up to People to
Decide by Election
in October.
J. G. WELSH is
OPPOSED TO 1T
Was Only Member of Board
to Cast a Dissenting
Vote.

Twelve members of the charter
board responded to roll call Thurs
day night, and eleven of these voted
to adopt the charter as presented by
the committee, with certain unimpor-
tant changes recommended by the
city attorney, John G. Welsh, record
er and tax collector, being the only
member voting nay, and he explained
his vote by saying that he had not
thoroughly familiarized himself with
the measure to vote for its adoption.
In the course Of a speech explaining
his position, Mr.. Welsh took occasion
to call attention to the fact that the
charter, instead of being a sort of
an amendment to the charter under
which the city is now operating, was
a completely new charter, totally dis
posing of commission form of gov
eminent, and practically eliminating
the present government. He said,
however, that he did not wish to be
understood as desiring to further de-
lay the passage of the committees
report and recommendations, but only
endeavored to explain that, because
he had not had time to thoroughly
read and dissect the proposed char
ter, he did not feel disposed to vote
for it, and when his name was called
he voted nay. Messrs. I. Fl. Aiken,
R. NJ. Cary, VIM. Fisher w. L. WoyeS-
John A. Merritt, John Fl. Christie,
Chas. J. Levey, L. dem. Blocker, G,
IT. Muller, Jr., Clarence Sweeney and
P. K. Yonge voted for it.
This was the final meeting of the
che ter board AS a body, however,
it is in existence eight days longer,
going out of Office September 3. The
attendance of spectators last night
was not as large as had been ex-
pected, and no one from the audience
took advantage of the invitation given
by Chairman P. K. Yonge to speak
on the charter.
The board was called to order at
7:30 o'clock, and eleven responded to
roll call. Mr.. Welsh, however, came
in a little later. Max L. Bear and
S. F. Fulghum were out of the city,
and Charles Hartman was the other
absentee.
Following the reading and adop-
ton Of the minutes. Chairman Yonge
suggested that the committee pre-
sent its report. John A. Merritt sub
mitfed the committees report and
read the accompanying opinion of the
city attorney.
City Clerk C. W. Eggart then be-
gan to read, for the final time, the
new charter. This consisted of TWEEN
/ ty-seven closely written pages, anC
during the reading members had q
copy following the clerk. After the
latter had read about two-thirds Of
( it Mr.. Merritt volunteered to read
/ the rest, which he did. Then follow,
ed the discussion, led by Mr.. Welsh
in which several participated. Put tt
vote at length, however, the char
ter was declared in shape for the PEG
/ pie to vote on it.
/ The charter provides the first cleo
ton October 10. That is on the adop
ton of the charter. The second elec
ton, that of aldermen fourteen il
number), takes place December II
in case the charter is adopted, anC
one week later these officers are in
stalled.
The mayor is to be selected from
the fourteen aldermen thus elected
In other words, the people elect TIL
aldermen and the latter select one o
their number as mayor and anothe
member as president Of the council
There viii be dozen precinct alder
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