Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-11-07
PLEAS FOR PASSES
HEARD MONDAY BY
COMMISSIONED rs
Committee Said Barring
Passes Would Work
Hardships

Matters at the meeting of the
county commissioners reached a
point of emphatic sarcasm Monday
afternoon when delegation of con-
siderable size occupied an hour in
speaking upon the Importance to Pa
latka of continuing the "pass" sys-
TEN on the bridge spanning the st.
Johns.
S. J. Hilburn, who headed the dele
cation, opened his remarks by say
ing that the committee had come to
discuss the plans regarding the new
rates of toll on the bridge and the
abolishing of the pass plan. To this
the chairman of the board said that
time was being wasted if .tbFf was.
the object, because because s1Eet, the board
had made no p.S with definiteness
as to what csf nges would be INSTALL
+. ed il tbss.IEfesent system.
Mr.. Hilburn insisted that any citi-
zen had the right to address the
board, and while he was glad to learn
that no plans had been fully decided
upon there was all the more reason
why those who had called for the
purpose of addressing the board upon
the topic should be heard. He then
told of the disastrous effect the
adjustment of the pass system
would have upon some of Palatka's
industries, as well as upon those
growers and producers who lived
east of the river and brought the
stock each day; declaring that even
though there was money lost by the
county because of the carrying of
passengers by those who had a pass
for only car and driver.
Chairman Glynn said that there
was strong desire upon the part of
those who had used passes to have
the plan cont. nued. He added, at the
conclusion of the remarks of Mr.. Hill
burn, that the time of hte board
should not be taken up in discussing
matters which had not been well de-
fined. C. C. Hudson, however, took
issue as to the duties of the commits
sioners and believed they should hear
whatever the taxpayers had to say.
Mr. Hudson admitted that he had
three cars and all were crossing the
bridge upon the one pass-but add
ed that another firm was running
five cars on the same plan. A quick
call might be made from Hastings
or some other east coast town while
only one car was idle, and then it
would be necessary that such car be
requisitioned whether or not it was
the car for which the pass had been
secured. He admitted that frauds
had been worked in many instances
regarding the carrying of passengers
without paying toll for them, but be-
lieved some plan could be devised by
which such actions would not be re-
peated.
Chris Walton objected most EN-
practically to hearing the commission
ers say they had not time to listen to
an open forum on the question of
tolls. The commissioners were mere
ly servants of the general public, and
he should use his right of speech
when he chose He thought the COM
missioners would commit a wrong
that would injury many if it abol-
ished the pass system, or in any way
increased the charges which large
firms are paying at the present time,
and he minced no words in saying
what he thought At one time Chair
man Glynn was a ia loss as to wheth-
GER me should claim blowout or
merely slip into reverse as the speak
,er placed a little more emphasis to
his remarks.
Others Of the delegation made nc
remarks regarding the matter under
deration-choosing to wait unit
a meeting should be called for the
express purpose of hearing all com
d. plAints and suggestions regarding
any changes which might be deemed
beneficial by the commissioners.