The Pensacola journal., 1907-05-02
Reconsideration of Vote on
Carter Resolution Lost
by Vote of % to SO.
MUCH INTERESTED IN ARGU-
MENT AGAINST TRAMMELL
FRANCHISE TAX BILLS BY
PETER o. KNIGHT, OF TAMPA,
BEFORE COMMITTEE.
RX A. 4. Roberts.

Tallahassee, May Yesterday the
House of Representatives for the first
time held two sessions, and cleared
its calendar of all bills on third read
ing, which will place the famous
Pinellas County bill amongst those TO
be considered to-day AS the fate
of all the proposed new counties
rests largely upon the passage of this
bill, the vote is awaited with no less
interest by the citizens of the other
proposed new counties than by those
of the PinellaS peninsula, and the
anti-diviSiOnistS from the eastern
side
In pursuance of notice given the
day before Mr.. MacWilliams of St
Johns yesterday morning moved re-
consideration of the vote by which
the Carter Resolution was lost. After
brief discussion the motion was voted
down, % to So. For another and per
haps the last time the House has
placed itself on record against en-
plOyment of counsel by the l. l. Board
and Investigating Committee. There
was practically no change from the
alignment of the day before.
After a lengthy discussion of nu-
merOus amendments H. B. 10. by Mr..
Long of Clay, fixing the maximum
passenger rate at 1-2 cents per mile
in this state was passed by large
majority. The amendments sought
to make the rates for lines less than
one hundred miles in length three
cents per mile, but, while a majority
of the House favored the amend
ments, they failed of the necessary
twO-thirds vote to amend a bill on
third reading.
At four O'Clock in the afternoon the
House listened to interesting ad-
dresses by Col Brewster of Washing
ton. representative of the National
Audubon Society, and Hon. John Wal
lace, State Game Warden of Alabama.
The Senate.
The day was uneYentful in the
Senate. except for routine, Mr. Zims
Resolution endorsing the candidacy
of Hon William Jennings Bryan for
the Presidency in 1908 was laid on
the table subject to call.
A number o. resolutions were adOp- !
ted, including Mr.. KflgOre's House
resolution, requesting Congress for a !
survey for ship, canal across the pc
ninsula of Florida.
A joint meeting of the Senate and |
House Committees on Education was
held last night for a discussion of
the text book questions. 1t was an
open meeting. and was largely at |
tended. .ss
Franchise Tax Bills.
From three to seven o'clock yeSteT- !
day evening the Senate Committee on |
Corporations listened to arguments |
against franchise tax bills introduced |
by their chairman, Mr. Trammell of !
the 9TH, which will be reported to- |
oh q m =
crowded with members of the legis- |
lature and others interested in the |
very important legislation, Attorney |
General Ellis being one of the most |
interested of the audience. The prin- |
cipal argument against the bills made |
by Col. Peter o. Knight of Tampa |
was listened to very attentively, and |
was clear and logical exposition of
the views of the opponents of the |
measure.
Col Knight said that he addressed |
the Committee not as a corporation
lawyer, but as a citizen interested in
the development of the state, not so
much because of the harm that would
result by the passage of the measure
TO the interests directly affected as
to the people of Florida Two ques-
tiOns presented themselves: First,
whether the bills were constitutional;
secondly, whether necessary and for
the best interests OF the state, and
ne had confidence enough in the com
mitteG to know that they would be
ruled solely by a consideration of
these two questions. He cited a num-
Der of authorities in support of his
contention that under the COnStItu-
ton of this state the legislature has
no power to levy a franchise tax. but |
devoted most OF his argument TO the
of the effects of the bill
if passed, saying that in this state,
with our limited wealth and small
population, a franchise tax would be
no more applicable than it would be
in South Africa, with all respect TO
the introducer of the bin, who Is
good man and honestly believes his
measures are for the best interests
OF the state. 1t is high time, how
ever, for public officials TO realize
that people out Of Office are also in
in public affairs. and time
to stop arraying the classes against
each other. He cOntended that there
is not a public service corporation in
the state that has not enough physi-
cal property from when to derive a
Just taxation, and quoted from the
COmPtrClleT'S Report 10 show that
the railroads of the state are paying
One-fifth of the total taxa
ton, though he cOntended they do
not actually own One-fifteenth of the
property, and they should have no
additional tax imposed uFOn them. Ii
the railroads are not paying their
Just share of the taxes 1t is the fault
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