The Pensacola journal., 1907-04-26
Energetic Fight of Escam-
bia Representative De-
feated Watson Bill.
SUGGESTION FOR a
SHIP CANAL ACROSS THE FLOR.
IDA PENINSULA STRONGLY EN-.
DoRsED ON FLOOR OF HOUSE
GOVERNORS VETO OF FUND
BILL SUSTAINED.
Special to The journal.

Tallahassee, Apr. 25.-The closest
vote of the session occurred in the
house yesterday morning, when, after
passing through second reading and be.
ing amended numerous times on third
reading, the Watson primary bill was
lost by a vote of 30 to -. As soon as
it was seen that the bill was lost, Mr..
Carter of Alachua, changed his vote
from aye to no, and gave notice that
this morning he would ask a recon
sideratiOn of the adverse vote. This
parliamentary maneuver made the
vote stand &c to 80.
Representative Reese of Escambia,
won a decisive victory in the defeat of
the bill. Nearly week ago when it
came up on second reading he offered
an amendment striking out from the
bill the provision that those who can
not read sufficiently we'll to prepare
their ballots may have the assistance
of one or more of the inspectors, but
lost out overwhelmingly, only seven
answering to roll call in favor OF the
amendment
The day following Mr.. Reese made a
motion TO strike the entire section 3
from the bill. which would have de-
prived the blind and those who are un-
able by reason of lameness to prepare
their ballots. of the assistance of the
inspectors. While this amendment
was far more sweeping than the first,
IL received twelve votes several mem
bers having come to the conclusion
since the first roll call that the clause
objected to was fraught with danger.
Numerous amendments were pro-
posed and accepted, and several voted
down. and until the bill had been read
the third time its passage seemed cer-
tain But the frequent attacks all
along the line had greatly weakened
the support of the bill. and when after
an hours discussion Yesterday morn
ing Mr.. Griggs of Franklin, forced the
issue by moving the previous question,
over the objection of some of the
strongest opponents of the bill, it was
evident that it was losing strength
fast, though the chances seemed IA
Yorable to its passage.
Vote Was Close.
The roll call on final passage was so
closely divided from start to finish that
few if any knew until the ayes and
noes were added up how the vote had
gone. A change of one vote only
NOulu nave uldue II a Jle, WHICH WOulQ
have prevented its passage, while a
change of only two votes out of the
56 would have passed the bill.
Whether the supporters of the bill
will be able to recover their lost
strength sufficiently by this morning to
reconsider the vote of yesterday and
pass the bill remains to be seen It is
unquestiOnable that a number voted
against the bill who have been very
pronounced in favoring section 3,
which, when reduced to the last analy-
sis was really the point of attack, as
charged by the friends of the measure
and frankly admitted by it's foes. so
1t is possible that the vote may be
reconsidered. On the other hand. the
surprising strength developed by the
opponents of the measure since the
first tug of war would indicate that
the Watson law is finally doomed.
Messrs. Reese. FarriS of Duval and
knight of Columbia, were prominent
among the opponents of the bill on its
final passage. while Mr.. Watson was
seconded by Mr.. GriggS in his advocacy
of the measure. Mr.. Reese declared
that the convention system would be
preferable to the proposed primary
law. while Mr.. Watson claimed to be
thoroughly primary man, and the au-