8,078
edits
Changes
no edit summary
Bliss was elected [[Mayor of Pensacola]] in [[1905]], and was re-elected to a second term shortly before his death in [[1907]].
According to a political ad which Bliss ran in the ''[[Pensacola Journal]]'' on May 1, 1907, he accomplished much during his mayoral administration. Bliss claimed to have done much to beautify and improve the City's streets, parks, and other public works:
:*He has mounted the first cannons, planted the first palm trees, and done more to beautify the parks of the city than all former administrations, and would have done much more had the [[Pensacola City Council|council]] sustained him.
:*He has built the only shell roads that Pensacola has.
:*He has hardened as many miles of streets as all the former administrations put together.
:*He has built all the cement curbs and gutters in the city.
:*He has doubled the miles of ditches for draining the streets and ponds and marshes.
:*He has cleaned up the city as it has never been cleaned before.
Bliss also claimed to have fought corruption and mismanagement while promoting transparency:
:*He is the only man who has persistently fought the extortions and unlawful dealings of the Pensacola Water Company and carried it to a successful ending.
:*He has faithfully kept his promises to the people, and as mayor has stood up for their rights against all opposition.
:*He abolished the practice of his predecessor of signing, or allowing others to sign, the mayor’s name to the city checks with a rubber stamp.
:*He established a rigid system of accounting in all city departments so that citizens may know where every cent of their money goes.
:*He is the first mayor in years to require the city treasurer to keep a set of books that the city may have an official record of its finances by the treasurer.
:*He has made “grafting” impossible in all departments under his control.
:*He has given his personal attention to all public works and has insisted upon all work being performed honestly and faithfully.
==Scuffle with W. C. Jones==