The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-04-13
Present Methads of
Submitting Constitu-
tional Amendments

Continued From First PaQe)
BILE growers. He claims this would
be an additional imposition on Florida
growers.
POLL TAX PAYMENTS.
The following bills were introduc-
ed in the senate and house:
BY McAulIcn-To prohibit the pay
ment Of poll taxes by others than the
party against whom assessed.
BY Taylor of HillsboTo-Anti-race
track gambling bill
NBy Sloan of Lakeland-Strong
gambling bill covering all forms OF
betting.
By Hudson-To increase the school
age from six to seven years.
After a warm debate bill was in.
PRODUCED in the house which fixes the
maximum railroad passenger mileage
in the state at "a cents per mile.
The senate turned down the efforts
of Beard by adopting an unfavorable
report on his resolution attacking the
eligibility of Withers and Massey.
Beard wanted the matter set for spe-
cial order, but failed
Nicely of Leon, introduced a bill in
the house creating an office of par
don attorney, and Senator Miller in
tTOduced memorial to congress in
~ ~NAas1tC dEoNAlieS 4Ot JAlC iii DION6I1ellt
or Yellow river in Santa Rosa county
TO PROTECT THE GOPHER
Once again the famous Florida
gopher, known to science as the Tes-
tudo polyphemus or land tortoise, has
found champion in the Florida leg
lslature. During the week Represen-
tative John p. Stokes of Escambia
county will introduce by request. a
bill to be entitled An act TO protect
Under the proposed law it will be
unlawful to take or sell any gophers
during the months Of May, June and
July or to take them with hooks or
other appliances inserted into their
holes or TO take or sell them of a !
size less than nine inches in length |
Of the under shell. A fine of not
more than SO or Imprisonment of |
not over ten days is fixed as the nen- |
atty for violation of the act. The |
game wardens of each county are
charged with the enforcement OF the |
law.
The %orida gopher lives up in the |
sand hills and in the wiTegTaSS cOun- !
try Of Florida and is herbivorous in |
his habits. They live in holes some
times seven and eight feet deep and |
often TattlesRakes or buFrowing owls |
and rabbits also take up their abode |
in the same hole. Gopher stew is a |
recognized Jlelicacy among the DeO- |
pie Of the wiregras5 country and the |
flesh is claimed to be equal to chicken |
as the basic element OF a stew
A similar bill was introduced in a |
former legislature and was referred !
TO the committee Or State Institu- !
tons which was considered most ap-
pTOpriate as both the gopher and the |
alligator are recognized Florida iRsti- |
tutiOns.
TO CHANGE PRIMARY LAW.
An important bill that is scheduled |
for Introduction by Representative !
John Nicely of Leon this week pro-
vides for change in the primary sys-
TEN.
The proposed law is most i'm |
pOrtant as it will do away with the !
second primary and will otherwise |
make radical changes in the present !
system if adopted. The proposed bill /
has been brought TO the attention of |
the members of the legislature al |
ready through the Peoples Lobby |
which is being managed by Claude |
L'Engle.
Under this law the voter will vote |
for a first and second choice, thus |
eliminating the second primary. The /
votes VIII be counted in Tallahassee !
instead of in the counties in which /
they are cast Each ballot box viii !
be sealed and brought right to the 1
capital where trained clerks will count |
them. As there are only $1,000 votes /
cast in Florida, il is estimated that !
a small force of clerks could wade |
right through the lists rapidly and
save the loss of time in securing the
vote that has marked some OF the pri-
maTies where il was days before some
places finished the count and sent in
the results. II would be a great sd
ing also TO have 4 small force N
Tallahassee and do away with the
clerks at the regular election booths
all over the state according 10 those
who favor the law
Governor GilchrisL has been re-
quested 10 appoint delegates from
Florida to the second National Peace
Congress, in Chicago May Ord to 5th.
The governor will be pleased to an
point any FloTidians who are wiling
10 pay their expenses in attending
the congress
Governor GiIchrist and ais mother /
Mrs. !. G. Gibbes, will tender a Tecep-
ton at the mansion Thursday even
ing, April %, from $50 to 1920
o clock TO the members and officers
Of the legislature. After the reception
there viii be dancing from 1880 I'M
III midnight