The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1909-04-23
LETTER FROM
". R. HARDEE
Believes Present Legislature to
be Composed of Good Men
SPEAKS OF PROHIBITION
Legislators Should Not Rush Matters, but
Carefully Consider the General Effect
Happenings Around the Capitol
Tallahassee, Fla, April 10, 1909.

Tallahassee, Fla, April 10, 1909.
Editor TRIBUNE:
No doubt the people of st. Lucie
county are expecting to hear from me
through the county papers relative to
the Fantastic Freaks" which are
supposed to eminate from the members
of the legislature, and to express my
opinion thereon. In this connection, |
wish to say, that | think we have
good, solid, substantial body of men,
who realize and feel that they have
been sent here by the citizens of the
State of Florida to do those things
which will most effectually promote
her material, educational and moral
welfare. Up to the present time, no
"freak" legislation has clamored for a
place among our laws, and unless ! am
very much mistaken in the make up of
the members, "Freakism" will be ip-
vited to go Way back and sit down."
Of course, little "Grand stand" play
is admissible at times, and the House
patronizingly INDUCES those prone to
this harmless amusement. But taken
as whole, there seems to be feeling
and desire. to get down to business.
There is possibly an impression that
as am on the Temperance Committee,
that the proposed Submission" or
Constitutional matter is before my
committees; but it is not, as it was re-
fered to the Committee on .Constitu-
tional Amendments, which is good
committee for the matter in question,
and will no doubt report favOrably in
short time. Legislators do not rush
things as rapidly as the average citizen
thinks he should, and it is wise for him
not to do so, for every law that is
passed, effects directly or indirectly,
every citizen in the State, and the ut
most care should be taken, for past ex-
perience has demonstrated that hasty
legislation has cost the State many
hundred of thousands of dollars and
has occasioned the introduction of bills
to the present legislature asking for
relief from the hastily and i'll advised
laws of the past. do not mean to say
that no bad legislation will he passed
at this session, for am satisfied that
with the multiplicity of bills that will
be introduced, that it is physical and
mental impossiblity for them to receive
the careful attention and study that
they are entitled to- consequently some
bad legislation will get into our laws.
One of the chief trouble lies N the
fact, that when a bill comes out Of
Committee and read for the first time
in full, a majority do not get more
than, a general idea of what it contains
and is intended for. BY the time it
reaches -, its third reading they have
probably lost the connection and are
therefore at sea, the final result being
that, they have either passed or defeat
ed BILL. the real merits of which they
have but faint conception, and in this
connection, | wish to say, that there
should be some provision made whereby
the Supreme Court should take every
bill passed and determine it's constitu-
before it becomes law. By
doing this, thousands of dollars would
be saved to the citizens of the State,
as they are the ones that finally have
to pay to determine their validity.
Personally | feel that have been ac-
the most liberal treatment as to the
on committees, when it is
taken into consideration, that | not
only did not vote for him but told him
frankly before the caucus, that felt
myself bound by my position on the
question of submission to support a
man who entertained the same views
as myself on that subject. even though
| felt absolutely confident that he
would appoint committees who wou!d
report the proposition favorably, and
my prediction along that line has been
verified by such appointments, on both
the Temperance and Constitutional
Committees. On other
matters of public concern, the position
Of the Speaker is well known by his
record in the House as member two
years ago, and taken in connection
with his utmost fairness in the appoint
ment of committees of all kinds, and
of the Temperance and Con-
Amendments, wish to say
that no mistake has been made in his
being elected to the Speakership.
Perhaps after the term is over, and |
get back to the quiet of St. Lucie
county, / will, through the county
papers, set forth at greater length
some of the things that happen around
md in connection with the Capitol
while laws are being considered. There
ire two classes Of men of which special
mention can be made at this time, one
being Constructive, the other being
Obstructive. The one, being DESTROYS
If passing good wholesale legislation
which is intended for the protection of
he great majority of the citizens, the
,ther to Obstruct measures that do not