The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-11-17
TRIBUNE GETS
A REPLY FROM
GOv.TRAMMELL.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OBJECTS TO
THE PAPERS CRITICISM OF HIS
AMENDMENT TO THE BRYAN
PRIMARY BILL.
SPECIAL 10 THE JOURNAL.

SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL
Tallahassee, Nov. 15.-Gov. Tram
NELL has sent the following to the
Tampa Tribune:
/ note the editorial in the Tribune
of the 18th instant headed, 1.-THE Gov
ernor Guilty" In this editorial you
have approved the registration feature
OF the Bryan primary measure as in
troduced in the legislature in it's orig
ina1 form, requiring the registration
officer to only open the registration
book in each precinct for as much as
one day during the months of Novem-
Der and December. Upon the other
hand you condemn the amendment
prepared by me and adopted by the
legislature requiring that the registra-
ton books be opened in each election
precinct for sixty days during 1914
and thirty days every two years there
after.
You seem to think that the deputy
registration officers have to be paid a
salary of as much as two dollars per
day fer the full period allowed for
precinct registration This is not re-
quired by the law, nor was it contern-
plated To take such position you
must lose sight of the fact that in
employing a deputy registration Of
suggest to the officials that the
amount Of work which the registra-
ton officer is to perform should gov
ern his compensation. As to what
ment which 1 advocated to the pri-
mary measure, it is but reasonable to
consider our past experience in the
matter of precinct registration.
Same in Old Law.
The requirement that the registra-
ton books be opened for several weeks
in the precinct is no new feature in
our law. For many years prior to the
enactment of the new primary law
under the provisions of section 257 of
sfa fYr%AS h.
books We're opened in each election
precinct for four weeks prior to each
general primary. Under the former
law 1t was customary for some mer-
chant or some citizen having a place
of business centrally located in the
precinct to be selected as the deputy
registration officer. He could and did
perform the duty required of him in
making registration without materially
with his other business
AS but little of his time was required
to carry on the registration work, he |
was not paid for each day as though |
he was giving all of his time to the
work, but was paid commensurate
with the actual work required. Pro- |
vision for precinct registration should |
and doubtless will under the new law
be carried on in the same common |
sense manner. 1t would be ridiculous |
ton officer full pay for each day when |
only few hours of his time would |
be required in registering voters |
throughout each week.
/ still take the position that 1t would /
work great injustice and discrimi- /
nation against the voters who do not |
live in or near the county seat towns /
for them to be allowed only one day
in which to register in their respective
precincts. Such proposition had it be-
come the law, in my opinion, would /
have placed our elections practically in
control of the large cities and county
seat towns. The citizens living in the |
outlying precincts pay as much towards
carrying on registration and towards I
defraying the expense of the elections
as the citizens who live in OF. near
the county seats, and I believe they /
should have reasonable opportunity to |
register within their precincts with
put being forced to lose the time and Il
undergo the expense necessary for Il
them to grom ten to thirty miles to I
4 county seat to get registered.
VIII you kindly publish this COM
munication.
Very truly,
PARK TRAMMELL.