The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-12-17

is considerable complaint of a scarcity
of water in the streams for stock. De
forestization brings the same results
every where. A flood when the rains
come and then a scarcity of water in
the wells and streams. VIII Florida
profit by this experience and the pres
ent example, that is the question:
DeFuDiak Breeze.
That Awful Pardonins Board.
The pardoning board seems TO be
in love with the work of letting loose
convicted criminals on the communi-
ties which have pronounced judgment
on these criminals through the couris'
and fixed such punishment Is in the
wisdom of the juries seemed adequate
and proper. So far has the criticism
of many Florida newspapers and the
manifest anger of many Florida com
munities been from making the mem
berS of that board more cautious and
more disposed to carefully weigh the
question of guilt or innocence in
each case and the other important
one of the character of the convict
before granting clemency that they
show a strong disposition 10 defy
popular sentiment and are rushing
out pardons by the wholesale. In
fifty-two cases before them Tuesday
they granted pardons in flfty-all but
two, There may be more than one
reason for this apparent desire ito re-
duce the numbers of those who make
up our chaingangs and to relieve
those who have been mulcted for
heavy fines before the new admins
tration has any opportunity 10 decide
upon these applications. Ii certainly
hc1 hnfx tn q c
the new administration. for it would
hardly work that way. 1t could not be
with an altruistic idea of clearing the
ground for the new administration,
for, somehow or other, we can not feel
that the members of the present board
are 'rbult that way" Wonder who
the two unfortunate exceptions were :?
Either they had no political influence
they or their friends-and their
gratitude would not count as a politi-
cal asset, or they had not the means
of presenting their cases strongly
enough. 1t is plausibly suggested that
these two unfortunates have been
guilty of opposing the drainage
scheme. Maybe.-Jacksonvill Times
Union.
Convicted Burglars Want Full Pardon
o.
Harvey and Thomas b. Bennett, now
serving a term in the penitentiary for
robbing the bank of Green Cove
Springs. in January. 1897, have given
notice by publication that they will
apply to the state board of pardons
at its December meeting for a full
pardon. 1t will be remembered that
these two men, with a third who was
also captured but was pardoned on
account of i'll health, entered = this
state from the north and after, it is
believed, cracking some other
safes, did the job at Green Cove
Springs. They were tracked down by
the fearless Sheriff James Weeks and
his courageous deputy, Arch Murrhee.
and offered resistance TO arrest, COM
polling the sheriff TO use his rife ON
them One or two of them were iden-
titled by Pinkerton detectives, at their
trial, as professional burglars. Prob
ably they will depend upon the SUI
olime example of nerve" they dis
play in applying for a pardon to move
the pardoning board TO such admira-
tion that their request viii be granted.
1t would be a pity, truly, TO keep these
gentlemen at hard labor for the state
when there is such q large field invit-
where. But there's no knowing what
the pardoning board may do 1t may
even fail to see the humor OF the ap-
plication for pardon and unfe&lingly,
turn it down, which would be decid-
eddy a loss TO the annals of hnmor.-
Jacksonville Times-Union.
Railroad Extension
The Live Oak, Perry and Gulf rail-
road has just received a Sufficient
quantity of rail to extend it's track
fourteen miles, which is beiHg done
as rapidly as possible. This ill put
the l. O. p. and G.. TO the Auci1a river
miles below Hampton
Springs, and tapping some of the I'm
est timbersd and agricultural ISuds in
the state.-Live Oak Democrat,
No Harbor Master.
Punta Gorda dock is now IN actual
process of construction We learn
that someone asked the Governor
elect. Gzlchrist, TO APPOINT him d rbor-
master. He replied that such APP
pointment would be simply a t3x on
the commerce of the port. Vessels
do not require the services of har-