Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-05-13
MAGEf UNWILLING TO LET CRITICS
 to UNANSWERED
Asked for Explanation in Normal Matter, Wants
 Open Meeting.

Why he had the legislature make $aO,O00 the minimum for which the branch normal school property here should be sold will be explained by l. F.. Magee, one of the representa- tives from Jefferson county in the last general assembly, to commit tee of the chamber of commerce as soon as that body sets time an1 place for the conference. MT. Magee expresses preference that the confer ence be held "at the courthouse, and that the public and representatives of the press be invited to attend"
 It appears from a copy of a letter MT. Magee mailed last night to W. l.. Matthews, chairman, that the chamber of commerce recently ap- pointed committee to ascertain from the Jefferson county legislator his reasons for inserting an amend ment in the branch normal bill pro- viding that $5O.OOO should be the mi1.- imum amount for which the proper ty here shall be sold. Mr. Magee ex presses willingness to give his rea- sons to "the membership of the chamber of commerce and the pub lic" His letter follows:
 Wants Public Meeting.
 "Mr. w. L. Matthews, Chairman
 Chamber of Commerce Committee,
 Pine Bluff, Ark. "My. dear Mr. Matthew's:
 "In recent conversation you stat ed that you, MT. Arthur Mills and MT. Simon Bloom, mayor, had been ap- pointed by the chamber ef commerce as committee to ascertain my req sons for amending house bill No. 561. to provide that the branch normal school property here, should be sold for not less than $5O,0n0, and you de- sired to know when it would be con- venient for me to me, the commit tee. You were informed that I would meet the committee any afternoon or evening that suited yoar convenience, provided I should be notified of the date and time selected far enough in advance to let me arrange to lay off from my regular employment. Since then have heard nothing from your committee.
 "It is not my desire to seek a con- troversy or publicity, but inasmuch as the chamber of commerce has seen fit to appoint a committee to ques- tion me regarding my reasons for amending bill 561, and as I seem to lave been singled out for attack n the chamber of commerce Bulletin, I am anxious that the membership of the chamber of commerce and the public may know why I amended bill 561, placing minimum of $50,0O0 as the sale price of the branch normal property, and would be glad to have you designate time and place for the conference with your committee.
 "I have learned, though not from the chamber of commerce Bulletin, that the appointment of your con- mittee followed the proposal of reso- lutions, which I conclude condemn my action in regard to the normal school sale price. These resolutions. I understand, are held in abeyance pending the report of your commit tee.
 "As T. believe that the public is entitled to know everything about thu public business, I would suggest that your committee meet me at the courthouse, and that the public and representatives of the press be in ed to attend.
 Just why the chamber of com merce should have thought it neces- sary to appoint this committee to in- terrogate me concerning this matter is difficult for me to understand, as I have never refused to give any in formation regarding any of my ac- tions as representative of Jefferson county in the general assembly, and would have been glad to tell any citi- zen or commercial or civic body why I amended the bill. Since the com- mittee has been appointed, however, believe that the matter should be concluded in the open. So I sug gest an open meeting a. as early date as will suit the convenience of your committee.
 Yours very truly, "I. F. MAGEE."