The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-05-16
BY Fred NJ. Allen.

Tallahassee, Fla, May 15.-Uni-
formity of school books is now the
question that ovCrshadows nearly all
else before the Florida legislature
despite the fact That there are many
other important matters on the calen-
dars and the session is drawing to a
close at a fast clip. One entire day
during the past week was taken up
with the discussion of this problem
There is a strong sentiment for
state uniformity Of text books and it
seems like there is a nearly as strong
sentiment in favor of county uniform
ity. Its a great big question for
there's no getting around it that the
people Of Florida are paying the heav-
lest kind o. a tax to the school book
corporations and that they are paying
at least a third more for their books
than the school children Of Georgia
and other states.
COUNTY UNIFORMITY BILL.
Senator McCreary has a county uni
formity bill before the senate and has
successfully swung it along through
as far as the calendar OF bills on
third reading and it is probable that
it will be called up ON final passage
this week. Then the final stand Will
be taken. In the house the state uni
formity bill is holding the boards and
seems 10 De IN Tue A6a0- Nv QAt-sf.s
ton isn't a bit settled yet, and as was
stated. the session is drawing TO q
close as fast as the days will chase
of the calendar.
Prohibition was pushed out o. the
way long ago but there are number
OF temperance measures which are
moving along quite successfully. One
of these. by Senator Sloan OF Lake
land, defines drunkenness little more
clearly than the existing statutes and
Senator Buchanan, of Jacksonville,
who led the anti-pro1i hosts to gal
liant defeat when the McMullen reso-
lution was passed, has offered an
amendment which provides that hab-
itual drunkards shall be examined as
lunatios and sent to the insane asy-
lum for treatment. This is still pend
ing before the senate,
CONSERVATION as a result rules
among the booze artists throughout
Florida as some of them are opposed
to being classed as common. every
day ''bug house folks" IL begins
to look like Florida is going to make
a clean job of it and run both booze
and booZers on.
One of the most important temper
ance measures which was passed to
third reading by the senate during
the week will have the effect of pre-
venting the sale of near beer any
where in the state. il is bill by
Senator HUMPHREYS, OF Bradentown,
and defines Notwithstanding beverages
as those containing less than ons-
hall OF one per cent. of alcohol. Sen
ator HUMPHREYS set the mark at two
per cent, but Senator Henderson,
who voted against the McMullen pre-
hikition resolution, amended the bill
TO the lower percentage so as to cut
out the near beer
WALES CLAIM BOBS UP.
tt was supposed that the Wales
claim was settled for good. but the
matter bobbed up serenely again this
week when Governor Gilohrist sub
mitted special message reviewing
the old claim and making certain rec
concentrations. In substance he rec
ommends tina. nothing further be done
than TO make the $4,000 offered Col
WALES before available to him alone.
This will leave il UP 70 him 10 settle
vita the Beard heirs as best they can
arrange It, but will take the entire
matter out Of the way of the state
Whether or not the Legislature shall
at this session take the preliminary
Continued on Page Two.)