The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-10-16
Tells His Side Of the Boards
Transactions Regarding
Wood and Other
Propositions.

County Commissioner n. IT, Went
worth IS still seeking notoriety before
the public. Ia Saturday mornings
paper he publishes a lengthy article
Among other things ne says with ref
erence ITO the wood proposition
brought before the board BY SoderHnd
win say that II would be folly e
think 81 buying slabs Tor use at the
jail as the price OF coal does not JUS
tify using these slabs at all The
slabs would not be worth the price Of
hauling to the jail"
In reply I would say one OF the en-
ployes OF Mr. Charles Larkin. a saw
nall man I'D Escambia county and who
IS a tax payer brought the proposi-
tion to me that pine sawmill slabs
that had not been IN water could be
purchased and used advantageonsly.
IN hiss judgment, as a kindltng wood
and at d cheaper price than the cord
pine wood, and requested me to place
this matter before the board which
4 did, for investigation and the same
IS now under Investigation to see If
we cannot save money to the county
BY doing that.
Mr. wentworth says Talking about
the putting Of sign boards or signs on
the bridge. / FOR one do not think this
a fair proposition TO the people I
do not know who made the PROPOSE
tion to Soderllnd but feel that II was
made in good faith and the maker did
not take into consideration that TO
put sign on one Of the bridges would
establish a bad precedent" Mr. A. A.
Wrighton, one Of our substantial citi-
sens and tax payers. who Is too well
known for high class dealings for me
to further comment on. brought the
proposition about putting a sign on
the lift Of the bridge across Little
Bayou, stating that If he could secure
this privilege that he would wire the
bridge for electrical lighting and bear
the expense OF that lighting 50 long
MS he enjoyed the franchise. As the
question Of lighting expense and the
up-keep would be a considerable saw
ing Of money to the county, therefore
thought it my duty to present this
proposition to the board, which did,
for the boards consideration, and at
this time 1t Is In the hands OF COM
mittee for investigation and report
back 70 the board. Mr.. r. Il. Vent
worth with myself are the members
Of that committee.
Mr.. wentworth further says: Ever
since I have been q commissioner Mr..
sonderlind has been trying to run my
district for me, he not realizing that
AZ needed any assistance would ask
for It. He has brought many PROPOSE
lions befre the board IN reference to
the seversu districts. II Mr.. Soderlirid
was really trying to save money for
the people, would not mind him try
sng "a run my district for me, but his
propositions would be very costly II
put through. For example, he made
d proposition to have a man put q
door check on one OF the doors in Mr..
Robertss office, the price being $3.50
] bought a door check for $3.50 and
1t took -he janitor 20 minutes to put
It on, a difference Of $24.00"
In the first place Mr.. Wentworth
assumes that he had jurisdiction over
and under the law is permitted TO run
what ne calls his district. Mr.. Went
worth ought to know as a member Of
the board Of county commissioners,
that lie alone cannot run his district.
nor can any other county commission
81 run the district from which he is
elected, but the board as a whole con-
ducts the business affairs Of the coun-
ty throughout the whole county The
members. Of the board are elected from
a certain district ia the county but.
his duties. which are fixed by the
statute law, pertain to the whole
county. Mr.. Wentworth has under
taken 70 assume jurisdiction and sup
ervisIon over the county's property in
district No. Il / do not agree with
him that he has that right. I know
a. 1.a III nf
every county commissioner TO work
together. in harmony, to carry on the
business of the county IN all the dis
tricts Of The county. Section 1875 Of
me Revised General Statutes fix the
mowers and luties Of the Board OF
County Commissioners OF each county
,rhore are sixteen paragraphs which
define specifically the duties OF the
hoard. For tho information Of thel
tax payers I will recite some OF those
duties here. The law says: "The
board OF County Commissioners Of
each county shall have the power at
any legal meeting TO elect one Of their
members chairman, and to make such
orders concerning the care of and the
,nprovement Of the corporate proper
a., OF the county as may be deemed ex-.
pedlent. and also: first, to build and
keep ri repair county buildings roads
and bridges, second. to cause county
buildings to be insured In the name
81 tho Board OF County Commissions
era etc. etc" / might enumerate the
rest hut this Is sufficient because the
succeeding paragraphs complete and
cover various duties Of the board as
a board.
have quoted these to show that the
board 81 County Commissioners have
charge OF and it Is then duty, to look
after the care and Improvement Of the
corporate property OF the county and
"a build and keep in repair county
buildings. etc Mr.. Wentworth. since
he has been on the board. has arro-
~sted Is himself the right to direct /
the repairs and supervision Of the
rourt house building and annex at the
eorcer OF Chase and Palafox and the
county Jan and court house building
81 tho corner or jefferson and Ear
-t,aafa and resents the board I