The courier-index., 1921-02-25

supported Mr. McRae but in cast ing my vote for him it was not done with the idea that it was 8 l vote to abolish the Corporation Commission or any other necessary department of the state government In other words, l supported Mn McRae because 1 then believed him to be the best man in the race, al man who would endeavor to give ourl state the best business administra- tion and a man who would take counsel with and be guided by the spirit of cooperation to the accom- plishment of the greatest develop ment.
 ''In my opinion you are mistaken in your analysis of our Corporation Commission and to abolish it would be step backwards and very detri- mental to real, worthwhile develop ment 1 offer the suggestion that you acquaint yourself more fully with the real purpose of the com mission, with an unbiased mind, having in view the welfare of the state at large, and when this is done I am confident you will see i the matter in a different light.
 ''We do not know the attitude of our Senator and Representatives, bat we believe they are capable of l giving due consideration to such important matters and that we are assured of the best interest of the state at large being cared for by them in so far as they are able | to vote and extend their influence
 Yours very truly,
 70. e. NORMENT,
 Mayor City of Marianna. "
 And now, gentlemen, as you well know, on this floor my motives for opposing the passage of similar bill were attributed to my kinship to the chairman of the commission 1 which this bill seeks to abolish. l While I am fully aware what the | ties of kinship mean, for has not a most eminent authority, Alexander Pope, one of the greatest of Eng lish writers year ago, ably said, Where self the wavering balance shakes it is rarely right adjusted, 1 but to prove to ycu no such motives | influence me on this occasion while 1 oppose the passage of this bill for being drastic and against the best 1 interests of the state as I see fit, l I shall vote for the passage of Stew arts bill which has been introduced in the Senate and provides for a l change in the personnel of the com mission as it now exists and pro- vides for another salaried board to be appointed by the governor with certain other changes to remedy the defects as claimed appeared in the | Act under which the present com mission was created and is acting.
 Gentlemen, let us cooly, calmly and dispassionately consider this matter and in justice to yourselves and for the best interests of the state in protection of foreign cap 1 ital, which you invite to the state, and for the protection of your own public utilities, owned and run mostly by home capital and home l citizenry, and also as protection and shield to those who are the patrons and beneficiaries. of those utilities. That is the paramount order with me today in casting my vote in opposition to this bill, 1 though the magic talisman has been uttered that it is an "administra- tion bill.'
 P. S.-During MT. Woods speech when he began to criticise the past acts of MT. McRae to prove why he did not consider him infallible, Doyle of Lawrence undertook to stop him by raising the point of order that he was not speaking ger maine to the provisions, to which MT. Wood retorted: ''Oh yes, you blind followers of the administra- tion would suppress free speech, the bulwark of American liberty, if you could, but I have the right to be heard on this floor and 1 shall ex- srcise that privilege You are the last one on this floor who could ob- ject to speaking as you have done nothing since the converting of this body but prance up and down these isles elamoring to be heard on ev cry motion under consideration, con suming more time than any ten members on the floor" MT. Wood continued his speech regardless of what the ruling of the chair was on the point. s