The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-07-13
COUNTY BOARD TO
SUE BL0UNT ESTATE
Wants Taxes From Trustee of Flasler
Estate-County Physician Recon-
mends Matron for Jail.

mends Matron for Jail.
The board of county commissioners
passing resolution introduced by
Commissioner Soderlind yesterday
Guilty in collecting the latter taxes. Mr..
ney, r. Pope Reese, to bring suit
against the Flagler estate for 10 back
taxes on the that part of the estate
counted as personal, stocks and bonds
of which the late William A. Blount,
of Pensacola, was trustee. 1t is claimed
that the amount in taxes amounts to
SIS, 1926, of which the county would
receive about $4,000. Taxes are also
claimed to be due for 20 and 81, but
Mr.. Reese expressed the opinion that
the first suit would settle any diff
Guilty in collecting the later taxes. Mr..
Reese is to be paid a retainer's fee of
$500 for his services and 20 per cent of
the amount recovered in the suit. He
has authority to associate with him
other counsel, agreeable to the board,
the county to be of no further expense
for counsel. The retainer fee of $500
is to be deducted by the county from
the 20 per cent contingent fee received
by Mr.. Reese after judgment or de-
cree.
DR.. j. H. Bickerstaff, county ply
stefan, made a complete report to the
board of conditions at the county poor
farm and Jail. DIR. Bickerstaff reported
that he had found the Jail clean and
the food good, but that the bedding
showed need of more summing, and that
system of lighting in the Jail was very
bad and most inadequate. DR.. Bicker-
staff reported deplorable conditions to
exist in the female section of the Jail,
women of all conditions and life be-
ing placed there. He urgently recon-
mended matron for that part of the
Jail, either white or colored. as the
best means of meeting the situation.
Dr. Bickerstaff also reported seven
bad venereal cases picked up in the
city and placed in the jail by the
county solicitor, and asked the board
for some authority as to what extent
he should treat such cases. He in
formed the board that a thorough
treatment would probably necessitate
keeping the individual in the jail for
an extended length of time and that
the course of treatment used would
necessarily be expensive. These were
the kind of cases handled in the gov
eminent free clinic in charge of Dr..
Kennedy, which has been discontinued,
DR.. Bickerstaff said, and it was the
wish of the solicitor that some cure
be effected before such individuals
were let free in the city again. The
board expressed itself as not feeling
under any obligation to operate a free
f,,i6 +roa Of die
cases, but Chairman Gilmore appointed
committee composed of DR.. Bicker-
staff, Commissioners Soderlind. him
self and Commissioner Candy to meet
with the county solicitor an investi-
gate conditions with a view of deter
mining what might be done. The com
mittee made it's investigation yester
day afternoon, but did not report at,
4 short afternoon session of the board.
The county physician reported the
rs inmates at the poor farm to be near
ly all invalids and conditions at the
farm good. considering.
A communication was received from
Captain H. Fl. Christy. commandant
Of the naval air station asking that the
opening of the drawbridge be reduced
to minimum on account of the great
Inconvenience at times caused to those
travelling between the reservation and
city. Certain hours were suggested for
the closing of the bridge. to be adhered
to when possible The chairman APP
pointed Commissioners Soderlind and
Gates, with the county attorney, to
look into the matter and see what
could be done by the board to coop
crate in furthering the best interests
of all concerned.
The board approved monthly labor
pay rolls ad number of other bills
A bill from the Penscola News for
Sos for the publishing of the majority
report of the board on the investiga-
ton of charges made by Commissioner
Wentworth of laxness in conducting
the county's afafirs by the board the
first part of the year was strenuously
objected to by Commissioner Went
worth. Added to the adopted ma jority
report of the board was published the
presentment of the grand jury and an
address made by Commissioner Gill
more flaying Commissioner Went
worth for making any charges. Com
missioner Wentworth stated that he
did not think it fair and legal to use
the county money in that manner.
Commissioner Candy suggested an
auditing committee, on which was ap
pointed Commissioners Candy, Sober
lind, County Attorney r. Pope Reese
and Langley Bell. deputy in the office
of clerk of the circuit court, James
Macgibbons acting as clerk for the
board. The committee is to have all
offices have bills filed in the clerks Of
flee by the first Tuesday of each
month The chairman of the board
asked Mr.. Bell to request monthly
statements from the banks.