The Pensacola journal., 1907-04-26
WINS DECISIVE
VICTORY IN THE HOUSE

duced the bill in good faith, he said,
but if the legislature wanted TO Kill
it he could stand it as well as the
rest. An ambiguity in the language
of the act. which Mr.. Reese and Mr..
Farris contended would permit firms or
corporations to pay poll taxes for voters
within thirty days of primary elec-
ton, in which they were supported by
Mr.. DePont, while Mr.. Watson con-
tended to the contrary with great
force, doubtless influenced number
of the members on the final vote.
Governors Veto Sustained.
| The feature of the day, perhaps, was
the sustaining of Governor BrOward 5
veto of the bill passed at the last seS-
sion to turn over to the state treasurer
all moneys in the internal improve
ment fund, which the governor vetoed,
assigning as his reason that it would
establish a precendent that this fund
was subject to legislative direction and
control, which would lead to confusion.
Mr.. Carter of Alachua, led the fight
to sustain the governor, making
| long speech in favor of the drainage OF
the Everglades. and generally sustain
ling Governor BrOward'S contentious as
| to the duties of the trustees in the
execution of the trust from the federal
4
health had prevented his looking into
| the question of whether the legislature
| had control over the internal improve
ment fund in the manner contemplated
| by the vetoed bill, or not He would
not discuss this, however, but would
cOnfine himself to the merits of the
bill, which, he argued very convincing
lily, would operate to seriously hamper
, the work of the trustees, and leave
the fund open to attack by companies
which are suing the trustees under the
land grants of proceeding legislatures.
Endorsed Journals Idea
In the course of his speech he paid
high tribute to Governor Broward
and to the press of the state, and
warmly endorsed the idea advanced by
The Pensacola Journal. of which Frank
L. Mayes is editor. that a ship canal
should be cut across the peninsula of
Florida, declaring this would be more
effective in the settlement of the rate
of transportation than thousand rail-
road commissions could be. Mr. Reese
and Mr.. Parkinson of VOlusia, agreed
with Mr.. Carter in his views as to the
merits of the bill and the trust i'm
posed upon the state and Mr.. Petit
grew, socialist, attacked the bill as
one which would give the land grant
corporations and railroads too good an
opportunity to get hold of the fund. Mr..
Malone of Monroe disagreed with Gov
ernor BrOward's opinion as to legis-
lative control, but announced that he
would vote against passing the bill, on
its merits
Mr.. MacWilliams of St. Johns. made
the only speech against sustaining the
veto, holding that the principle in
volved was worth more to the state
than all the lands in the Everglades,
though he had no personal fight to
make on the l. |. Board, and hoped
they would be successful in their suits
with the corporations, believing with
Mr.. Carter that many of the grants
were unlawful.
The roll call showed IS votes in IA
vor of passing the bill over the COVER
nor's veto, and AZ against its passage.
While the vote could not have been
solely upon the question raised by the
governors veto, il indicates very
strongly what practically every vote so
far in the session has shown, that the
majority of the house of representa-
| tiveS, and as TO that of both houses.
are, in the main, in sympathy with
the ideas and policies of the executive
A vote on any particular measure is
something more than in a general elec-
ton. but one vote after another since
the Legislature organized this year has
seemed to bear out the statement Just
made, would not be hazzarded upon
slight reasons
The special and select orders of the
day occupied the most of the attention
of the house Yesterday morning The
Matthews bill authorizing special
counsel for the railroad commission
Il
Carter bill. providing for an assistant
attorney general was Indefinitely post
poned. A bill submitted by the COM
mittee on finance and taxation, amend
ing the present law relatives to having
a license for carrying firearms. was
passed on third reading, after former
very lengthy discussions on various
phases of the question.
In the Senate.
In the senate after lengthy discus
sion, senate bills Nos. s and 226. by
Mr.. Trammell. relating to franchises
taxes, were made special order for
Monday afternoon. and motion to re-
consider this action after a lengthy dis
cussion was adopted by vote of u
to 10. in order to give certain inter
ested parties an opportunity to be
heard. and then on motion of Mr..
Trammell, the committee on corpora |
tions, which has the bills in charge, !
was requested to report them not later |
than Wednesday.
Senator Adams bill relating to main |
tenance and protection of county con- |
Yicts was carried on third reading
very important bill by Mr. Cane |
of the 11th was introduced. providing |
for the appropriation of $4,000 for an |
armOry to be erected at Tampa, which |
was referred to the committee on mill |
taJy affairs.
County division received fresh i'm |
petus to-day with the Introduction of q |
bill by Mr.. Parkinson of Volusia to |
create the county OF Atlantic and with |
the advent of Hon \. p Jordan and |
other divisiOnists from the southern /
part of DeSOtO county 1t is generally /
conceded that the passage or killing of |