The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-12
BY J. Il. Reese.


Tallahassee, Fla, May 1L-Touched
strongly In dramatic colors the house
OF representatives this afternoon took
action. discharging the venerable
house messenger, James Edwards, upon
the evidence brought in by the special
committee appointed to investigate the
alleged attempt to bribe Representative
Wall. The action of the house follow
ed closely the action of the house,
sitting as a committee of the whole,
which declined to take action against
the aged messenger. Almost the entire
day was taken up by the house in con-
Bidering the evidence.
Sitting as a committee Of the whole
the house considered a resolution offer-
ed by Reaves that the committee re-
port to the house that the honor of
the body had been called into ques-
tion and the stigma demanded that the
house discharge the messenger. The
resolution was debated at length dur
ing which the record of the mes
senger as legislator in earlier days
and as a citizen and soldier was re-
viewed and tributes paid to his honor
and courage, which brought tears to
the eyes Of the old man. He was de-
Tended by Gornto, Rogers, Casseaux,
Porter, Chase, Wells and McClelland.
Only Reaves and Floyd spoke in favor
OF the resolution.
SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED.
Rogers offered substitute that the
evidence taken by the special commit
tee was circumstantial and failed to
place the blame on the guilty party.
The vote on the adoption of the substi-
tute was % TO 1S in it's favor, and the
committee upon motion rose and made
this report to the house, through
Chairman Dougherty. Upon the mo-
tion to adopt the report Representative
Matthews of the investigating commit
tee moved that it be tabled. This mo-
tion prevailed by a vote Of "a to "a.
Matthews then moved that the house
messenger be discharged. This was
J, adopted BY 3S TO 20.
REVERSED ITS ACTION,
Thus the action of the house sitting
as the committee of the whole was
reversed in fifteen minutes by the
house as a legislative body.
When the Reaves resolution was
offered Representative Wall, who was
the member to whom the messenger
had passed the package containing two
hundred dollars on the night of May l,
asked to be excused from participation
in the vote. When the Rogers substi-
tute was adopted, Wall addressed the
chair and asked that he be permitted
to retire from the house indefinitely.
He regarded the absolution of the mes
senger as a condemnation of himself.
The chair ruled that the committee of
the whole could not consider his res1g-
nation.
Upon the reconvening of the house
A. NJ. G. Russell, Jr., was elected mes
senger to succeed Edwards, who i'm.
mediately prepared to leave, but was
surrounded by sympathizers. Among
those who extended their hands was
Reayes, who had been the chief op-
ponent of the messengers vindication.
The old man refused to take the repre-
sentattve's hand, saying, Il hope to see
you ia deeper disgrace some day than
WALL WILL RESIGN.
Representative Wall said tonight:
-'sI, shall resign tomorrow If the COVER
nor will accept my resignation. l Will
not rest under the divided action OF
the house"
The messenger said he would give
out a statement tomorrow.
81 have been discharged and dis
graced without specific charges being
brought against me or without evil
dence to find such charges" said the
former messenger.
In his statement before the commit
tee OF the whole, the messenger stated
in answer to the report of the special
IHdL uC AoiO
ing, and would give hundred dollars
from his own pocket to locate the
guilty rascal"
REPORT is LENGTHY.
The special investigating committee
appointed to take evidence and report
on the alleged attempt to bribe mem +
Der of the house of representatives
Hon. L. D. Wall of Bradford, filed its
report this morning, with a transcript
of the evidence, covering 121 typewrit-
ten pages.
A forecast of the tenor of this re-
port was made in these columns. Tne
committee arrives at no definite con-
clusions and virtually dumps the load
OF evidence and its report like load
Of poles" on the house, and asks,
what will you do with it?"
Continued on Page Two.)