The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-08-31
contract Not Let
BY County Board

CONTINUED From Page One.)
practically everything was in readi-
ness for actual construction to begin.
In discussing the action of the board,
Chairman Ben S. Hancock, of the
Gulf Beach Highway Committee,
stated that the committee would
make arrangements for the road to
be constructed with paid labor, as
was its original intention before the
board of commissioners made the
proposition for the use of the county
convicts and equipment.
The plan for constructing the high
way with convict labor was consid-
cred the only solution to the prob
lem which has confronted the board
since the hurricane of July 8, dis
rupted the road system Of the county,
and with the withdrawal places the
board in the same position which it
occupied before.
When the matter came up for con-
sideration at the special meeting last
night, Chairman Barrineau stated
that he would be unalterably opposed
to using the equipment at this time
with roads in need of immediate re-
pair. for the building of the Gulf
Beach Highway, if it were possible
by any other means to provide the
money for operating the road crews,
but that as all of the resources Of
the board are exhausted and all other
attempts have failed, he would favor
the plan. The proposition was then
made for the committee to use the
convicts and equipment for a period
of thirty days.
G.. E. Dobson, acting for the High
way Committee, of which several of
the members were present, stated
that the committee could not accept
the convicts for so short time, as
the work could not be commenced be-
fore the time would have expired. He
then submitted plan to the board
which provided that the committee
would accept the convicts for six
weeks, of the mules and equipment
for one month.
The board took the question under
advisement, and discussed the propo.
sition at length, calling County At
torney R. Pope Reese into consulta
ton. A decision was finally reached
and Chairman Barrineau stated thai
the board could not carry out its orig
mai plans, as there are some lega
technicalities which prohibited then
from making a lease without thirty
days. notice, and would not allow the
use of convicts except on a publi
highway.
Commissioner Baggett then mad
a motion withdrawing the proposition
made to the comTSittee, which wa
passed.
Extraordinary Situation.
The legal difficulty which present
itself on the other side of the ques
ton is not expected to hamper tn
board, according to County Attorne
Reese, who, in discussing the situa
ton, stated that the state statut
prohibiting work done in one yeal
to be paid out of the budget for tn
ensuing year, would not apply in thi
case, as it refers only to ordinar
conditions. The storm was beyon
the control of the board, said M,
Reese. 1t is clearly an extraordinar
situation, and cannot be controlled b
laws, made only for ordinary pul
poses.
County Attorney Talks.
Continuing, Mr.. Reese said:
'HThe present budget law applies
: ordinary conditions and expenses il
Cured in the ordinary course Of II
county's road building work and otht
expenses. But where an extraord
nary condition such as if the cour
, house were partially destroyed by
storm and the records of the count
exposed, the necessity arising for pr
serving and taking cara of the re
q ords would require that the count
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