The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-06-04
JONES STILL CONTENDS VOTERS
UNDERSTOOD BOND MONEY WAS
TOBE MATCHED BY GOVERNMENT

tracts several weeks ago to c. H.
Turner Co, Of Pensacola. and Hollo-
way Construction Co, of Mississippi.
for forty-five thousand dollars, odd
hundred dollars worth OF construction
work on the Pensacola -Flomaton high
way, without federal aid, coupled with
Its act Of last Tuesday In letting the
contracts for the construction of IL
miles Of additional highway construc-
ton WITHOUT A PENNY OF FED
ERAI, AID. SO completely answers my
first charge, that there is no possi-
BILE point of controversy between the
commissioners and me on this point.
/ My second charge. am sure. needs
no substantiation In the minds OF a
| preponderating majority Of the citi-
zenship Of the county. Indeed, 1t is
but necessary that one should recall
his own impressions In the matter;
and then to ask his next door neigh
Dor, and his next door neighbours next
door neighbor, as to their recollections
in the premises.
am perfectly willing to rest my
charges upon the result Of such an
] inquiry Indeed, I'll 60 further and
say that II ninety per cent Of the rec
objections of the people do not coin
eide with the charges which I have
made, will withdraw my charges
and acknowledge publicly that have
maligned the comm tssioners.
/ My assertion that the actuating mo-
tives of the commissioners in their
haste to let contracts, WITHOUT
FEDERAL, AID, for the s. 1-2 miles of
road contracted by the commissioners
Id<t Tuesday. were political, was based
upon a statement made to me by
County Engineer Wheat This state
ment, to be sure. Mr.. Wheat, IN a
communication published III The Jour
tralize, by twisting into another
meaning. But nevertheless, he ad
mits having made the statement.
So this feature of the controversy
is settled beyond any shadow Of doubt
1t doesn't matter a "tinker's thrip"
what may be found buried in the
musty pages of any literature which
1.-THE joint commission on road construc
ton in Escamtia County, may have
lhad printed during the progress Of the
bond campaign. / have said hereto
fore, and repeat here, the joint COM
mission was not the only organiza
ltion in the county which interested
itself In the bond campaign, nor did
the personnel Of the commission en-
body all of the individuals who cam
paigned for the bond issue.
The main point at issue isS what
was the understanding OF the people
about the disposition of the proceeds
of the bonds.
There is no question about that un-
fderstanding; nor is there the remot-
est shadow of a question that this un-
Outstanding has been violated by the
commissioners in their action in let
ting contracts for highway construc-
ton WITHOUT FEDERAL OR
STATE AID. And particularly does
this violation Of the peoples under
standing impress itself upon the pub
lie mind when it is considered that
there were $4,000 Of federal aid funds
available when these contracts were
let; and furthermore, that $780, 900
more of federal cid would be avail
able to the county on or about July
/, next.
OF course II isn't q pleasant task
to undertake, to bare these facts to
public gaze, but somebody should do
it, so why not
When l wished the task upon my
self, / was not upmindful of the prob
able consequences. Therefore, am
still unscathed by the Recommendations
which have been heaped upon me by
the county commissioners, their sata-
Iites, for having told the people the
truth with reference to the conditions
in their highway improve
ment matters.
expected that my efforts In this
direction would be branded as poll
appointed in my anticipations. But / /
am conscious of the fact that politics
had nothing to do with prompting my
crusade for the people in this matter,
and / believe that a great majority |
Of the people know that It had not.
on the other hand. however, be- |
lieve that the people are as wise to |
the fact as I am, that politics. and |
else Is responsible for pres
emit conditions in the county's high |
way matters.
And some of this politics has been
been very crude and unscientific, as |
witness the contract let on last Tues
day for two miles OF paving just be- |
yond the crossing Of this highway by |
the NJ. S., B. & P. r. R., at West Pen
sacola.
This very construction may, and in
all likelihood will, play havoc with |
this road as a federal air project.
The Pensacola Nunez Ferry road /
has not as yet been designed by the
federal highway authorities as fed