The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-03-03
MINORITY REPORT

| accepted the appointment on the
committee appointed by the president
of the Chamber of Commerce with re-
luctance, Cor the reason that according
TO my Views. the question of the bonds
having been settled by the qualified
voters in the riIanner provided by law.
under the rules of government estab-
lished in this city, and the entire coun-
try: that however. strong public SEN
timent may have been then or at any
time since or now. it became and still
is the duty of the city commissioners
to carry out the mandate OF the voters.
The principles of good government
demand that this be done, and if by
resolution Of citizens or otherwise. the
city commissioners are prevented from
or do not carry out that mandate, then
the will of the majority is thwarted
and the law as established by the con-
stituted authority is held up to ridi-
cule 1t is not matter with the city
commissioners as to whether they wish
TO construct municipal docks. but 1t IL
a duty which they can be required to
perform, even though each one of the
city commissioners may be personally
opposed to doing so. The point Is made
that the voters of the city who were
qualified Nd voted on this proposition
were the proper persons TO settle IL
and that if every member of the CHAM
her of Commerce was at that time or
are even now opposed to the bond is
sue this should not have caused the
city commissioners at that time or now
to hesitate" to carry out the Will or
the voters To do otherwise would be
to say to the voters yes. you can vote
on propositions and adopt them, and
they can be studied afterwards by
committee, and we will then decide
what should be done and inform your
officials. The people prefer TO do their
own thinking and If the Chamber OF
Commerce manages TO tliwart the viii
of the voters, then IL assumes a hos
tile attitude towards the public from
which it expects support. This is
matter the Chamber Of Commerce
would we'll let alone since the voters
have settled it, unless they mean TO
substitute their wishes for the will Of
the voters. ] believe in government by
the viii OF the majority properly ex-
pressed, and, however, ! may feel per-
sonally on proposition when the ma
jority speaks, / believe in yielding to
their will.
Men who have made study OF this
proposition and know from experience
the good resulting from municipality
owned terminals are all unqualifiedly
IN IdNOT VI tiIt pTOpOslblOu
tt is admitted on all sides by. every
one that we need the docks but it is
said the amount of money available IS
not sufficient. The location Of the dock
would have much to do with the cost,
but competent engineers say we can
build a unit OF q good dock which
would be available for use for 100000.
That would be move in the right di
rection and we could add as occasion
demanded until we have O. complete
modern dock
1t appears that the city is taking
care Of her obligations and Is in good
financial condition and IL it deemed
proper could include a considerable
amount in her budget next year for
finishing municipal dock or furnish
ing equipment therefor.
A municipal dock and belt line rail-
road can be built, operated and finally
paid for without costing the tax payers
a single dollar II This statement is
true, then why should any person or
interest Except railroad INTEREST," oh
ject to the building Of the dock? The
committee when appointed We're known
to be three opposed to the proposition