The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-06-07
BY j. HUGH REESE.

Tallahassee, June "a genera.
exodus followed the adjournment of
the legislature of 1918 today and Tai Ia
hassee is resuming it's somnolent quiet
after sixty days of crowd and fuss and
heat. The entire morning was devoted
by both houses to clearing up the bills
that had been passed, the presiding
officers signing them and themselves
taking their ease, the fact of being in
session being a semblance only.
The house was highly entertained by
Floyd, who took the stand and taking
the roll ca. went down the line and
with the genius that is his gave an
imitation of each member in action,
which brought forth applause from the
galleries and laughter from the MEM
bers.
The most important legislative event
of the day was the veto by the gov
ernor of the Indian reservation bill,
holding that the legislature had no
right to grant the state lands in this
II amer. This is in line with the stand
legislativei land grants were invalid.
The friends of the bill declare, how
ever, that the bill was not a land
grant at all, for the state still retains
the title to the lands and is merely al
Lowing the use of it for the salvation
of the Indians. The governors veto
was up in the house and the measure
was again put to vote but 1t failed
to Hass over the veto.
THE GOVERNORS VETO.
The veto message of the governor
follows:
Tallahassee, Fla, June 5. 1913.
Hon. Ion L. F'arris, Speaker House of
Representatives.
Sir: In pursuance of the provisions
of section % of article of@tha=state
constitution. have the bcfior to return
herewith without my approval the fol-
lowing act, which originated in the
house of representatives:
An Act Providing for and Setting
Aside Certain Lands to the Seminole
Indians as a Reservation Providing
for Trustees in Whom the Title to Said
Lands Shall be Vested for the Use and
benefit of said Indians.
This bill donates for the benefit of
the Seminole Indians, numbering about
400 men, women and children, approx
mately 235000 acres of land of the
state of Florida held by the trustees of
the internal improvement fund subject
to the trusts under which it was
granted to the state of Florida by the
federal government The land which
it is sought to give away belongs to
all of the people of this state. yet the
bill seeks to take the title and the own
ership from all the people of Florida
aoproximating 100000 and place 1T in
only 400 people of the state.
| very much question the authority
of the legiSla ture to make such con-
tribution of the states property, ana
believe that it is not a proper policy
for the legislature of the state to do
nate such extensive acreage to a few
of the people of Florida. The bill car
rles with it an average donation or
500 acres to each Indian, including
men, women and children. The prop
erty donated for the reservation at an
average of ten dollars per acre. which
Is a very low price for the land, |
amounts to S2,S50.000, or a gift of ap-
proximately $4,000 to each man, woman
and child composing the Seminole In
dians. An Indian family of five mem |
bers is given approximately 5000 acres |
or land of a value of $4,000.
1 fully appreciate the fact that at
one time the Indians possessed a great
part of our country and that their pos
sessions were taken from them by our |
ancestors, but the contest which re- |
suited in the white mans victory over |
the Indian was that of the federal gov |
ernment and not the state government |
Continued on Page Three.)