The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-05-24
BY J. y. Reese.

BY u n. Reese
Tallahassee, May 2S.-It becomes
necessary from time to time to alter
the view according as conditions are
changed. It was predicted that the in
come tax amendment would be ratified
by the senate. 1t now seems extreme
ly questionable. Action was again de-
ferred today, this time until next Tues
day, May 30th. The committee of five
lawyers appointed from the senate to
investigate the question raised by Sen
ator Dayton, whether the present sem
ate had the constitutional right to act
on the proposed amendment, reported
that more time would be required and
asked for the extension. The vote was
taken viva voce and was unanimous
It is understood that the action was
induced by q. telegram received last
night by Senator Charles E. Davis
from United States Senator Duncan U.
Fletcher, which reads as follows:
washington, D. c., May 23.-Hon.
Chas. E. Davis, Tallahassee, Fla:
Ratification by present legislature
would in my opinion be valid ratihca-
tion under the constitution OF the
United States. Some senators consult
ed agree. Others do not. Whether
legislature is now acting would be
complying with requirements of state
constitution as to time OF action Is
more difhcult question. 1t would be
safe beyond question to defer action
until next legislature, when every
member shall have been elected after
submission. II that is done favor
able expression would do GOOD. q.
Fletcher"
It begins to look now as If the rati-
fcation of the amendment would go
l. a 4u1e NHY n
reported that the supreme court OF the
STATE would give an opinion on the
subject. but one OF the justices stated
this morning that tine court had re-
fused to do this.
FLoURNoY AGAIN FORENSIC.
Senator William w. F1ournoy, who
has been much in the spotlight OF late,
was again the leading figure In the
foreground this morning, when he
arose to q question of privilege, and
asked that q resolution which he had
been informed would be introduced in
regard to an article that had appeared
in the Tampa Tribune concerning MS
criticism OF the governor, should not
be offered and that action be delayed.
Mr.. Flournoy took occasion to pay his
respects to the honest press and also
to the dishonest press. The resolution
which had been prepared for several
davs and the text of which had been
published severely censured the corre-
spondent Of the Tampa Tribune for the
article in which expressions were put
into the mouth of the senator which
he disclaimed. He said that he had no
personal feeling against the governor
and had made no personal attack on
him. The article in the Tribune. he
said, not only reflected upon the SEN
ator from the Third but 1t reflected
upon the dignity OF the entire body;
that each any every part OF the article
was an unqualified misStatement. The
senator asserted that he was not afraid
of the truth but that he was afraid OF
the dishonest and sordid motives that
prompted newspaper representatives
to misquote and misrepresent pubic
men In asking that action be delayed
Mr.. F1ournoy said that he had infor-
nation in his pocket which would JUS
tify such a request. The information
referred to he produced in the form OF
q telegram from the Tribune, In which
the paper cleared the Tallahassee cor
respondent of any blame in the matter,
and assumed the entire fault The
message stated that the Tribune cor
RESPONDENT would be concluSively
cleared of any blame by reference to
the files of the Western Union Te.e-
graph Company. That two messages
from Tallahassee became confused.
was the explanation offered by the
Tribune. Mr.. Flournoy went on to say
that the editorial in the Tribune on the
succeeding day, the 18th, was a beau
tiful editorial, and was in exact line
with his own views, which were to the
effect that If the senator had employed
the language credited to him that he
deserved censure. In conclusion. Sen
ator Flournoy said that he had under
stood that the Tampa Tribune with
this Objectionable article had been
widely circulated in his own county.
but that he didn't fear that this article
Continued on Page seven)