Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-03-08
WHY NOT A SLAVE
MARKET IN PALATKA?

Last nigt Palatka's legislative
body refused to submit to the peo-
pies decision the first step in a
movement for a change in the form
of city government. There could be
no, mistake of sentiment favoring
such step. At recent meeting of
the Chamber of Commerce a resolu-
ton was passed unanimously asking
that steps be taken by the council to
have the present city charter revised.
Mayor Fearnside, who was present
at the Chamber of Commerce meet
ing, spoke enthusiastically for a
change of the system. Alderman
Pearce said that there could be no
mistake in the sentiment of the peo-
pie for a change, and that his per-
sonal experience prompted a desire
for a change. This was commune
Gated to council last night by an Of
fetal of the Chamber of Commerce
following the offering of motion by
Alderman johnson that an election
of a charter board be called to be
held at the same time that the city
election is held.
Alderman Johnson's was the only
voice raised in support of the motion.
The city attorney was vehement in
his denunciation of efforts to change
the form of government from what
he termed Representative" to some
''untried nostrum," and the president
of the council said he was opposed
to radicalism stirred up by a few
discontinued ones.
The News is prepared to show that
the city attorney signed a statement
in which he gave it as his legal Opin-
ion that the city of Palatka had no
charter on September 10, 1915, and
no charter has been enacted into law
since that time. Even if the charter,
as it is at present supposed to exist
is in effect, Palatka still has charter
provisions for a slave market and for
a whipping post. These were elm
mated as being obsolete when the
city's ordinances were recently codi-
fled, but technically they are still
provisions of the charter.
The city attorney said the people
want a representative form Of gov
eminent, form in which they par
ticipate with the ballot. No change
could possibly be contemplated from
this form in the adoption of a COM
mission or business-like form. Our
present council is certainly not rep
resentatives, for at least two men,
bers of the body are representing
wards in which they do not reside.
The News is not prepared to say that
it is true now, but it has been true in
the past that a majority of the men,
bcrs of the board did not pay their
just taxes, and the statement was
made in open council and was not
cCntradicted.
A commission form of government
is always in the hands of the people.
Commissioners are elected by the
PEOPLE and can be recalled after be-
ing in office for a week if they do
not take care of the trust imposed in
them. But there are so many argu-
ments for a business-like form Of
government and so much evidence of
its vast benefits to every community
in which it has been tried and there
is such universal trend towards its
adoption everywhere that we will not
at this time attempt to submit even
a small portion of the undisputed
testimony to its advantages.
The ridiculous part of councils ac-
ton is that it refuses to permit the
people to say whether they want a
charter change or not. The election
can be held without extra cost, the
charter is prepared and if it does not
suit it can be voted down. If it does
suit the people are entitled to have
t. Nothing could be fairer or more
ust.
City Attorney Merryday stated
asst night that the evidence was that
'alatka does not desire a commission
orm of government and that it was
overwhelmingly and ignominiously"
efeated when vote was taken in !
915. Mr.. Merryday is mistaken.
commission form of government was
ot defeated, but charter drawn by {
he charter board of five, in which
ere were many defects, was defeat
!, from all that we have been able
gather from the files of newspa- 6
rs of that period, with very good t
ason.