The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1909-06-06

HeNe certain defects in the much
abused PRIMARY system
lnIs measure requires a full pub
hcattou of all campaign expenses he
lore toe primary is held and among
other tnlT & 1t DISTINGUISHES forever
IN primaries anyone convicted Of
bribery in such an election. Il cuts
out the donation and "handOut' bust
ness too. even as regards contrihu-
lions towards painting the church or
putting a new steeple en- it The
candidate must hold tight on the
strings of his pocket book or his
name viii be kept off the ballot. They
won't object for primaries have got
to where they cost the candidates
small fortunes.
At first it looked like there was to
be no change in the primary law A
number of bills were introduced
feature in many being that they
sought 70 do away with the trou-
blOus second primary. They were
all boiled down into one bill in the
house by Representative Medley of
Leon. after much trouble and the
house proceeded in relentless style
to kill the whole bill. Cash of Tay-
Tor, came out before the fOotlights
shortly after His bill didn't monkey
with the second primary but makes
Oju0G iii DgtldDL tudilSCS II was
passed. And il didn't get to the SEN
ate until the night before adjourn
ment. But the rules were waived and
it was taken up and passed by a
large vote
Florida will abide by the primary
system Two wears longer IT is ru-
mOTed that an effort was made a
short time ago to really call a con
yeution and establish the old cOnven-
ton system. But it was gwen up.
Many consider the Cash primary bill
a good one but there are others who
are prone to discuss out the whole
primary system and who say that
it will help TO drive everyone out of
the Democratic primaries If the
governor signs the bill time will tell
To Davis Of Madison is due the
credit for the idea that the assess
ment of the railroads and telegraph
lines should be made by a commits
sion instead Of being lett to the con p
trolleT alone as at present He IS
allowed to consult with the attorney
general and another at present but It
is virtually in his hands. The now
idea was not intended as a reflection
upon the work of Mr.. Groom. It IS
the principle involved.
The bill passed the house but
-
fell into the hands of Senator Flour
nov. chairman of the committee on
finance and taxation. il was destined
to be changed. The idea of Repre-
sentative Davis was to have a board
composed of the comptroller. the at
torney general and the president Of
the railroad commission do the as
sessment work. Mr.. FlOUTnoy evoIv-
ed the idea of having five disintcr-
ested citizens Of the state do tho
work He offered q substitute to this
effect. II was passed by the senate
and on the last day was made a law
subject to the approval of the gov
ernor by the house.
RACE TRACK BILL
Much feeling was aroused by the
anti-race track gambling bin by Sen
atOT Sloan of Lakeland. II resulted
in a practical victory for the race
track people. The bill was finally
passed but it was amended so that it
will not go into effect for two years.
Four meets can be held in that tine.
The legislature will be in session
thirty days before il goes into eff
feet and that legislature might re-
peal the law But it was the best the
originator Of the bill could do and
they accepted il in that form rather
than to lose il altogether
Representative Light. the little far
mer from down in old Marion cOun-
~. kicked M the biggest fUTore of
the session of anybody And il was
all a surprise to him too. He in
tTodUced a franchise tax. The cor
poratiOn forces cIassed it as most
drastic. Light said it wasn't. But
it never saw the light of day. The
skillfuI fiIlibuster which has handled
." 10" for Of tho house in order to
prevent the reaching of just such
rsuS succeeded. u could never he
brought uD for vote.
FILIBUSTER OF NOTE.
That fIibuster is worthy of note (
The new members didn't know il was
on. Early in the session the Calen-
dar began to fill with bills. good and
bad and Indifferent Day after dav
was taken IN with the most trivial
But IS the session drew
near to is close the authors of meas
ures which the others did not want
passed began to see what had hap (
pened. They COuldu'S get their bills
I'D for a vote A minority was able +
TO prevent securing the requisite two +
thirds to waive the rules and take
up messages from the crowded cal /.
endar out of their regular order. /
Representative "Jeems" Alexander I.
had in q franchise tax bill also and :
so did Senator West in the senate .
Rut they never saw the light of day ,
either /
Few appropriations were made by .
the legislature One Of the very few
made was that of $4,000 for i'm
Of the state rife range
ar Black Point near Jacksonville. !.