The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-05-16
Uniformity of Books
Overshadows All Else
Before the Legislature
Continues From First paae)

Continues From First paee)
steps towards the ultimate abolishing
OF the present convict lease system
depends very much upon the passage
of q bill now before the senate pro-
yiding for the purchase and equip
ment of a state prison farm.
The bill was recommended by Gov
ernor GilehrtSt in a special message
early in the session and was intro
duced by Senator Humphries. II
makes an appropriation of 100000
from the convict lease fund Cor the
purchase of state farm and for the
erection OF buildings upon it and it's
improvement generally. The measure
further provides that all female and
aged or sick conYicts shall be with
drawn from the lessees and placed
upon this farm.
The only trouble about the passage
OF the bill is that 100000 sounds
mighty big to this legislature, regard
less OF what fund its out o. or what
1t is to be expended for. And ii is
really somewhat doubtful If the meas
ure wiz go through carrying that
much with it. II adopted il will mean
the beginning OF the end OF the pres
emit convict lease system. There is a
fast growing sentiment in Florida for
The complete doing away with the sys-
tenn.
Senator Humphries introduced
public printing bill yesterday which
will cnange the present system of let
ting the state printing considerably
IL Is like the bill passed by the 1907
legislature and which vas vetoed by
Governor Proward. The difference Is
that the bad points set forth by the
former governor in his veto message
have been carefully avoided in the
present measure, II pronibits the
state printing being done outside the
state and Is intended to make it pos
stble Cor any reputable printing plant
in the state to get in on the bidding.
II has been claimed that the SIS 0oO
check now required Of bidders keeps
on practically every printing OUTFIT
in the state.
STATE PRINTING PLANT,
Representative Bynum has intro
duced a measure providing for a state
plant. He figures that the
state would save tens of thousands |
Of dollars every year if 1t owned its |
own printing plant and done all of |
It's own printing. The bill is now be- |
fore the house and has aroused con
siderable interest 1t Is rather doubt,
full, however, if the state will embark |
IN the printing business at the pres |
spt time. The legislators are hold !
lng the state purse strings tight and |
they have got to be SHOWN before /
they will consent to the necessary ex-
Denditure incidental TO the eqUipping |
Of such a plant.
Representative Stokes, of Eseam- /
bis. has got the loan sharks on the 1
lead run, as 1t were. His bill sailed /
right through the mouse and went (!
over to the senate. He went before |
The committee and steered 1t safely /
through and secured a favorable re- |
port. And now its ny 10 the senate /
and is without doubt going through. |
Jacksonville is the only city that mas /
set up any kind o. opposition. There |
are said to be over two hundred /
institutions in that me-
rOpoiis. Stokes is just a young law
yer, but for several years-long be /
lore be dreamed Of being legislator
sven-he had his eyes cut on this
lass Of business
A FREAK BILL.
A freak bill boboed up in the sen
ste the other DAY. And IL came from
10 less . psrsoR than President of the
Senate Hudson. II prohibits the run
sing at large Of bermuda grass or. al
east, that is the object of the bill.
But Mr. Hudson dfdnt originate IL.
Some Dade county constituents asked
is Introduction.
The automatic shotgun has iust