The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-08-23
Press Opinions of
The Extra Session.
Extra Session Can Pass ANY Bill

Claude l. 'Engle'S DiXie:-NaZareth, as
everybody knows, was bad place, but
il was universally acknowledged that
some good could come out OF it.
II is bad for the governor 10 call an
extra session of the legislature Just be.
cause one town in Florida would like to
add few thousand dollars TO its port
receipts, and increase by some hundreds
OF thousands of dollars the estimate oil
its commercial importance; and get
started on this eight months sooner
than il could in the regular course of
events.
II is bad principle 10 put in practice
that one body OF men, calling them.
selves the Jacksonville board of trade,
by offering 10 foot the bill can get spe
cial legislation for the sole benefit of
Jacksonville by means of a special SEES
sion OF the legislature; because this pre-
cedent once established, future Cover
norS might call special sessions of the
legislature when any other body OF men
Offered 10 foot the bill, which would
put the law making body on the bargain
counters for special privilege for any
body with the price.
But, all these arguments being pre-
scented 10 The governor and he paying no
attention TO them, ], being of philoSo-
phical turn of mihd, am reconciIed 10
the calling together of the Legislature
(Which ! can not prevent because
When the legislature ONCE GET TO.
GETHER, NOTHING CAN STOP IT
FROM DOING ANYTHING il wants TO
do; provided twothirds of its members
agree that they WANT TO DO 1T.
There has been considerable advance
in The public mind as TO governmental
reform since the last session of the leg
islaturc adjourned. Progressive meas.
ureS, putting in effect the right OF the
people TO rule have received the en-
dorScment OF the people at the polls in
the primaries of 1912.
When the legislature convenes 10 put
through the Jacksonville municipal
docks plan, twolhirdS of the members
can CONSIDER ALL BILLS FOR THE |
BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE bringing
the people more nearly into their own,
and MAJORITY CAN ENACFTHEM |
When the legislature convenes and is
ready for business BARE MAJORITY, |
by refusing 10 adjourn, can PROLONG
THE SESSION FOR TWENTY DAYS. |
Long enough TO pass LOTS OF GOOD |
BILLS.
Members of the present Legislature
have been FRESHLY INSTRUCTED by |
the people, and they would doubtless |
WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY to |
carry out the wishes of the people ex
pressed at the polls in the last primary.
Among the many measures that were
unqualifiedly endorsed in the majorites
received by the candidates declaring for
them ! menliOn
State convictS 10 be taken off the auc-
ton block and put on good roads; the
extension and increase of the power of
the railroad commission, including the
power TO MAKE APHYSlCAL NALUA-
TON of the railroads for basis of tax.
alton; more stringent laws for the regu.
lation OF the liquor traffic; an income
and inheritance lax payable 10 the State;
equalization OF assessments in order that
and other large corporations
may be required 10 pay their Just share
OF the taxes; giving the railroad com
mission control of express, telegraph
and sleeping car companies so that it
can bring about a reduction of the mini
mum rate on express packages, and
otherwise equaliZe express, telegraph
ana fullman rates; an employers liza
bility bill, giving workmen fair
chance TO recover adequate damages
and doing away with the contributory
negligence clause.
These are just few that ! think OF
off hand. There are many more meas.
ureS, doubtless, in the minds of legis.
Iators WHOSE IMPULSE TO SERVE |
THE PEOPLE HAS BEEN QUICKEN. ,
ED by the expression of the people al
he polls for ADVANCED legislation /
llong PROGRESSIVE lines.
All of these measures may not be
passed at the special session; but, il we 6
can get some of them through, il will $
hasten just six or eight months the cause
IF reformatory legislation along progress 6
live lines JUST THAT MUCH. /
This is such a good chance for such a )
distinct gain that | am going TO stop
making fuss about the calling of the +
peCial session, having cleared myself OF L
responsibility for il, by expressing my /
Jew that il is unnecessary to call it, and /
Unlawful 10 allow any body OF men To q
Jay for it, +