The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-10-05
SMALL CROWD At
EAST HILL MEETING

With only q small crowd in at
tendance, speakers of the Home Rule
association offered arguments in sup
port of the proposed charter in pre-
cinct 81, Wednesday night, on the
East Hill Playground.
The program was opened by Will
liam Fisher, who was introduced by
NJ. E. Morey, chairman of the meet
ing. Mr.. Fisher dwelt at length on
the necessity of separating the
branches of government, and CEN
tralizing administrative authority.
AS an example of his contention, he
stated that monarchies are the best
governed countries provided that the
monarch is a just and efficient ruler,
and can see the needs of the people
and carry them out.
But, he said, in Democratic coun-
try the authority of the executive
power should not include the right to
make laws, and that under the new
charter the branches of government
are entirely separate. He then took
up the question of election of alder
| men and stated that they represent
the whole city, for, Mr.. Fisher con-
/ tended, while some precincts are
larger than others, the election of two
aldermen at large, equalizes the bal
ance of power. The speaker then as
serted that the administrative busi-
| ness of city is purely matter of
detail and bookkeeping, and that the
power of the mayor beyond that, is
limited to carrying out orders of the
council. Mr.. Fisher then touched upon
the bond issue clause, and stated that
it was placed in the charter upon the
advice of City Attorney John B. Jones,
who stated that it was necessary, to
make the instrument complete, legal
ly.
Mr.. Fisher was followed by Judge
A. c. Blount, who confined himself
chiefly to the theory of government,
gradually working to the present
case. Judge Blount said that he
wished to correct a general mistake,
that the charter proposed is not a
complete system of government but
only amendments to the present sys-
tenn, and that all laws and ordinances
which operate now, unless in conflict
| with some of the provisions of the
new charter, would be effective under
the new system.
Flo McAllister took the stand for
only a moment stating that he would
give way to Judge E. D. Beggs.
Judge Beggs stated that the ques-
ton confronting the voters is a very
1 serious one, and should be taken IN
earnest. He reviewed the work of
the charter board, and gave brief
sketch of the systems of government
which have been tried and proposed
in Pensacola. He stressed the value
of the proposed charter, and COM
mended the charter board highly.
Judge Beggs was followed by w.
Chipley Jones, who briefly reviewed
the workings of the commission form
of government in Pensacola since its
adoption more than three years ago;
Mr.. Jones Charged the commissioners
with building up political machine
with which to perpetuate themselves
in Office, and cited many instances
which he claimed showed glazing err
rors in the administration of the mu-
nicipal affairs.
Mr.. Jones stated that the campaign
against the charter is being waged
by fund made up of contributions
from city employees, and claimed
that a fireman had advised him Of
that fact only yesterday. He brought
up the audit of the city accounts
early in the spring, and stated that il
had never been published because the
commissioners wished the people tc
remain ignorant of the proceedings
in the city hall.