The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-04
BY ]. Il. Reese.


Tallahassee, Fla, May s.-The house
galleries were crowded with prominent
people from Jacksonville and other
portions Of the state this afternoon to
witness the fight which was antici-
pated over the anti-race track meas
ure. Much to the surprise of the as
sembled crowd, Representative Chase,
/. who was recognized as the leader OF
the race track forces opposed to the
Sloan bill and its companion bill,
known as the Terrell measure, an
nounced that the opposition had been
withdrawn, and that he would vote for
the Sloan bill.
There were about sixty three men,
bers present and sixty-two voted for
the bill, the slump being complete.
The only vote against the measure
was cast by Rogers of Marion, who Is
a Baptist minister, and he said in ex-
PLANTATION that he opposed the bill, not
because he favored gambling or pool
selling. but for the reason that the
measure was sweeping and drastic and
attacked personal liberty. Race track
onicials were present and saw defeat
Of their hopes.
ATTEMPTED BRIBERY DID IT.
The attempted bribery of Represen-
tativel Wall of Bradford, is supposed
TO have had a telling influence, on the
result today. The house committee
having the investigation of the Incl
dent held the first hearing behind
closed doors last night with telegraphic
representatives of the press present
but pnder pledge to send out nothing
that would prejudice the result OF the
investigation.
The presumption is that numbers of
Representatives honestly opposed to the
j anti race track measure were per-
srsaded TO vote in favor OF IT rather
than take the possible odium Of sup
porting It in view Of the pending In
veatigation with the uncertainty Of the
disclosures to be made.
ATTACK ITS VALIDITY.
That the validity Of the Sloan bill
passed by the house will be attacked
was indicated by Curley Brown. vice
president of the racing association and
general manager, in remarks tonight.
Upon leaving Tallahassee, he said the
bill may not be worth I'll of a lot.
IF it is not, we will race again at
Jacksonville." The plant at Jackson
VILE is valued at one hundred and
nifty thousand dollars.
Anyway" said Brown, "they haven't
hurt me very much. l have conces-
sion from the government In Cuba TO
race for twenty-five years, a conces-
sion that they can't touch. The trouble
with this country is that too many
drastic laws are being passed touching
amusement, and the mcnied people are
being driven to Europe to spend their
money. II the bill just passed Is a
valid bill the plant at Jacksonville will
be worth something always as real
estate proposition"
The probability OF the bill being at
tacked from a constitutional stand
rcint because Of embracing more than
one subject has caused friends Of the
bill to consult and it is likely that
some further steps will be taken to-
morrow.
THE committee on public roads and
highways held a meeting tonight and
acted favorably on the bill to, license
automobiles and one or two other
minor bills. Action on the abolition OF
the convict lease system and state
highways commission was postponed
until tomorrow.
The house amended Flournoy's sem
ate bill appropriating two hundred
thousand dollars for a supreme court
building to read one hundred thousand
and passed 1t to third reading.
This followed the action to indefi-
nitely postponed the capitol removal
bill.
CAPITOL REMOVAL.
The bills affecting the permanency
of the state capitol at Tallahassee
came up under special order at ten
o'clock this morning and consumed the
entire morning session. The bill of
Representative w. A. MacWilliams of
st. Johns, providing that the people
should be given an opportunity to vote