The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-09-12
FOUR FLORIDA
DISTRICTS ARE
LEGALLY MADE
ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
ANDREWS SAYS THAT 1918 LAW
WILL STAND-PRINTER MADE
A TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR IN
PRINTING LAW - CANDIDATES
WILL RUN FROM FOUR DIS
TRICTS.

Today'S developments in the contro-
versy over the validity Of the legis-
lative act by which four congressional
districts instead of three, were created,
cause legislators, lawyers and politi-
clans to express the belief that the law
is wholly valid. and that any defect
discovered is purely clerical in char
scter and can be readily remedied, says
the Jacksonville Metropolis.
By wiring the attorney generals of
fee yesterday, the Metropolis learned
that the enrolled bill on file in the Of
fee Of Secretary Of State H. Clay Craw-
ford is correct in so far as the second
and third districts are concerned. AS
sistant Attorney General c. 0. Andrews
sent the following telegram on the
subject:
Tallahassee, Fla, Sept. 9, 1913.
1.-The Metropolis, Jacksonville, Fla:
Original enrolled bill on file in the
ONCE Of the secretary of state uses
the word second instead of third in
section Of the act, and this controls
instead OF the printed acts in which
the typographical error occurs
&C. o. ANDREWS,
Assistant Attorney General"
Judge MaxweII's Opinion.
Upon reading Mr.. Andrews's tele-
gram, Judge John S. Maxwell stated
that he did not think there was any
doubt as to the validity Of the law.
He said:
THE error appears to be purely a
Typographical one in the printed act,
and the law will mean what the Iegis-
lators expected it to mean.
''The law provides that the change
shall not go into effect until the terms
of the congressman expire, March T.
hJIf
dtdates from running from the four
districts in the next congressional
primaries and qualifying for office
from these districts in the general
election following"
In this connection Mr. Andrews wired
today as follows:
Tallahassee, Fla, Sept 10.
Metropolis, Jacksonville, Fla:
Under chapter 6472, laws 1918, don't
think 'dhere Is any question but that the
four Florida congressman will have to
be elected by the four designated dis
tricts in election next year. I know of
no reason law is not valid.
&C. o. ANDREWS"
Judge Maxwells attention was also
called to the fact that the -e-district-
ing act contains no repeating clause.
THAT isn't necessary" he said, 'as the
act in itself is a repeal Of district
boundaries as they have been described
before"
Frank Chase's Views.
Frank Chase, who is a candidate for !
congress from this district in the next |
primary, stated that he |
had studied the act, and expressed the |
same opinion as that given by Judge |
Maxwell. He said:
my opinion is that the law will al |
low of candidates running from the !
four districts in the next regular con-
gressional primary and election, and !
that it will not again be necessary for |
a race from the snate at large. Re-
CARELESS Of the sta tus Of the law. how |
ever, T am II the race to stay. I will |
make the race from the state at large
If it is necessary, but would, of course,
rather run from the fourth district.
I studied conditions carefully before
Feeding to run. and believe 1 will be
elected"
Government Officials Talk.
Internal Revenue Collector Hays
Lewis and Customs Collector J. F. c.
Sriggs recently discussed the law with |
L well sknown attorney, having noted
The defect in the printed bill, and their
conclusion was the same as those
given above. IT think the bill is all
light in every way" said Mr.. Lewis,
and am glad that the defect appears
% be only in the measure as printed.
Speaker Of the House Ion L. F'arris
vas asked for a further statement on
Ie subject, but he was engaged in
important legal duties and did not
nave time to express himself at length.