The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-05-30
FIOUIOA'S GREAT
DRAINAGE PROJECT
interesting Measure Before Leg
iSIature.
70 RECLAIM EVERGLADES

m RECLAIM EVtKGLADES
puI Calls For a Bond Issue Of Six
Million Dollars-Special Session
Nav Re Called to Deal With Ques-
ton Corclusively Later.
One of the interesting measures
boforp the Florida legislature is a
Jra;nape bill, calling for a bond issue
of elk million dollars with which it is
rronosed to reclaim the famous Ever
blades. News dispatches indicate that
tbn bill is encountering stout opposi-
tion not, however, because of any
onostion as to the Importance or feas-
;bility of the enterprise itself, but be-
cause of a doubt in the rAnds of some
of the legislators that the fund pro-
nosod is sufficient for the work re-
rnired. They contend that before the
omount of the bond issue is fixed, the
snecial drainage commission now at
work on estimates should be heard
from.
It is predicted that special session
of the general assembly will be called
later in the year to deal with this mat
ter conclusively, and friends of the
reclamation project, prominent among
whom are Governor Trammell him
self. are confident that in one form or
another it will be carried to compile
ton,
Temperance Measures.
The house passed four temperance
measures, including the so-called Da-
Wis dispensary bill, which alone
brought on the fight from the liquor
men. Sections of this bill which
would have prohibited the sale of in
toxicants in less quantities than half
pints in sealed packages, and the CIV
ing away of liquor, commonly known
as treating" were killed by amend
ment
The Tomlin bill, preventing the fire.
quenting of saloons of other drinking
places by minors was passed uiani-
mOusly.
The Bitch senate bill prohibiting
the shipment Of liquors to dry coun-
ties, except to persons for private use,
was passed by vote of Ga to 3. This
bill is practically the same as the
Webb bill, passed by congress.
The bill introduced by Adkins, of
Alachua county, regulating manufac-
ture of liquors in counties, where man.
ufacture is allowed on application to
the county commissioners, was passed |
unanimously.
Initiative Favored By Solons.
The state senate committee on priv
ieges and elections by vote of A to
l, decided to report favorably the res
olution providing for the initiative
and referendum in Florida. The res
olution was adopted by the house of
by a vote of SO to 2.
Allow Judges 500.
The house passed a bill allowing
Judges of circuit courts 500 each a
month for travelling expenses. and
passed to its third reading bill that
hey be elected instead of appointed.
Convict Lease System. /
The fight to abolish the convict
ease system in Florida took a new
urn when the house introduced new
dill providing that the lease should
terminate January 1914, and passed
it to its third reading subject to call
on the calendar. Governor Trammell
drafted and had introduced a bill
early in the session providing for a
gradual abolition of the lease system.
This was accepted by the house but
when it reached the senate it was lit
orally torn to shreds and its own au-
thor couldn't recognize it. The sem
ate is in favor of more radical meas
ure and the house leaders believe the
new bill providing bluntly for the ter
mination of the lease next January
will be more acceptable to the upper
branch.
Press Censorship.
Representative Darnell, of Key
West, has introduced a resolution in
the Florida house for a press censor
ship, particularly for the weekly pa
pers of the state.
Extra Session Probable.
Belief is growing that conflicting
opinions will prevent the passage of
any adequate good roads bill before
the legislature adjourns, in case OF
which it is likely that there will be a
general demand from every section Of
the state and south Florida in par
ticular, that Governor Trammell i'm
mediately call an extra session and
try to force some definite action on
this all-important subject.