The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-04-16
Journals Special Correspon-
dent on First Two
Weeks of Session.
MOVING SPIRITS. IN LEGISLA-
TURE ARE GIVEN SOME DE-
TAIL ATTENTION-HIL
coUNTYS DIVISION FIGHT.
Albert n. Roberts.

Tallahassee, April 3-(Correspond-
ence).-So far only one bill has been
sent to Governor Broward for his
signature, which was promptly affiX
ed. This was the amendment to the
city charter of Pensacola, making
leaving only one or two appointive.
The bill was one of purely local in
terest, but one which caused a great
deal of interest and some opposition
in Pensacola, so much so that
strong fight was made to defeat its
approval after it was passed by the
legislature, but the new charter as
amended, which had the united sup
port of Senator Beard of the Second
district and Representatives Reese
and Baggett, OF Escambia county,
won out in the end, receiving as be-
fore stated the executive approval
yesterday.
The HiIIsbero Division Scrap.
The other local matter which is ere
ating the most interest is the propOs
ing to divide HilIsborough county, the
| largest in the state in population and
| wealth, by cutting off the portion
huO"u DIS lllC luSlldO pC-
insula, and creating a new county
with the name of "Pinellas.' The
people of the proposed new section
| composes some II or Is per cent of
the total population of HillsborOugh
county, and a much larger per cent
age of the native born white poula-
ton, for there are but few negroes
on the west coast of HillsborOugh
county, and still fewer foreigners, eX-
cepting some eight hundred Greek
sponge fishermen at Tarpon Springs,
strikingly in contrast with the enor-
nous foreign population of the coun-
ty site, Tampa, and suburban cities,
brought thither by the immense cigar
industry which has placed Tampa in
the forefront of cigar manufacturing
cities, and made her port of entry
ninth in size in the entire country.
The west coast people have sent
delegations to the capital determined
to win, while the commercial inter
ests of Tampa have also sent delega-
tions determined not to allow divis-
ion of the Banner County," and
more from each side are on the way
Both representatives from Hillsbor
Ough, Mr.. Decker, from the west
coast, an unqualified champion of the
division movement. and Mr.. Dudley.
of the east side, whose people appear
to be strongly opposed to the PROPOSE
ton, are both members of the House
Committee on City and County Or
ganiZatiOn-or dis-organiZation, as
the case may be-while Senator
Crane of the Eleventh district, a
resident of Tampa, is chairman of
the senate committee. all of which
naturally makes the Banner County
spot very much talked about at
present, and has impressed the state
at large, as we'll as certain elements
more local in their character, that
the Pinellas peninsula is very decid.
eddy on the map,-which, say some
of the promoters of the Pinellas coun-
ty, idea, they have heretofore been
very hard to appreciate. Like most
legislative questions, the situation
may be summed up in one word,-
Doubtful.
If this were preceded by a short
adjective beginning with the same
capital letter, it might be all the
more expressive of the opinions of
many on either side of the question.
So far the HiIlsbOrough county dele
cation has stood together we'll on
public issues and even if they should