The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-10

Representative Floyd or Franklin,
this morning succeeded In amending
the oyster tax bill of Mr.. jennings OF
Escambia placing a tax Of twenty five
dollars on all aliens taking, or longing,
oysters. The tax applies to non-resi-
dents also. The bill seems to be one
of considerable Importance while the
inland residents may not be aware OF
1t. Mr.. Floyd commended that the
present law had been construed In his
own county to mean that every alien
employe Of an oyster boat should pay
the license. He contended that It
would not do to place a tax on the
boat itself, for the reason that false
sales, or ownership Of the boat could
be effected and defeat the purpose Of
the bill, and that the law had to be
explicit on the point as to the impose
ton of the tax on individuals. The
bill passed as amended, but over the
protest Of Mr.. Jennings.
It was stated in the Tallahassee dis
patch under yesterdays date that a
clerk in the tax redemption department
was examined by the committee In
vestigating the administrative depart
ments. This was an erro. The at
tache who was examined is connected
with the land department.
KILL GOVERNORS BILL.
Representative Gray's bin to abolish
technicalities in court procedure, being
one Of Governor Gilchrist's pet meas
ures. was indefinitely postponed by the
house this afternoon after a lively
fight. II was over this subject that the
governor and the supreme court jus
tices have been firing at each other.
One OF the justices drew a bill which
IS favored by lawyers generally. their
attitude being that II the court pro-
cedure IL to be reformed II will be
better accomplished by a commission
which the bill provides shall be named
by the legislature. The Gray bill was
adversely reported by the judiciary
committee and lively debate ensued
when Chairman West moved it's post
ponement. Gray stated that the law
yers were opposed to the measure be-
cause 1t would probably reduce prac-
tice and incomes. Every lawyer in the
house voted to kill the bill except
Floyd and Fee. The lawyers deny that
they opposed the bill on such grounds
hut assert on the contrary that they
are as much in favor of a change in
the practice and pleading but regard
the other measure as the better method
of reaching the evils OF the system.
The Gray bill provided that no judge
ment should be set aside or new trial
granted upon technical grounds when
no miscarriage Of justice was effected
The vote to postpone was % to %
The governor has signed one general
bill, that being for the state board OF
health to employ a sanitary engineer.
APPOINTED INSPECTOR.
w. B. Ivey, of Jacksonville, has been
appointed supervising inspector of ma
val stores to succeed NJ A. Brown
The appointment takes effect in July
L. w. Bethel and E. r. Roberts have
been appointed judge of criminal court
and county solicitor, respectively, al
Key West.
HIGHWAY COMMISSION.
A joint committee of the house and
senate tonight agreed to draft a com
mittee bill for a state highway COM
mission. Representative Angle, whose
bin for the abolition of the convict
lease system was endorsed and whose
resolution for a constitutional amend
ment to issue bonds for ten million
dollars was favorably reported, thinks
that both measures will go through
the house.
MacWilliams's bill for regulation Of
gas and electric light rates passed the
house and Will receive an unfavorablt
report from the senate. The commit.
tee hearing was held this afternoon.
1t is reported here, but not con.
flrmed. that MCMILLAN, OF Tampa, viii
be in the race for attorney general.
NO SNUB INTENDED.
Speaker Jennings said tonight thaf
no snub was intended for Gov. Gil
christ in the failure to read his mes
sage to the house and that the regu
lar order had been passed when tn,
message was received and it went owe
on the rules. The message was reaC
today. One member or more will ris,
TO a question of privilege tomorrow
and explain that no slight was intend
ed to the governor. The speaker sail
he had received letters in regard to tn,
matter already.