The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-10-15
THERE IS NO NEED
TAMPERING WITH 1T
Redistricting Act Will An
swer Every Purpose and
the Intent of the Legisla-
ture is So Evident No
Tribunal Would Disre-
gard It-Extra Session
Would Cost $4,000.
sPECIAL 10 LIE JoURNAL.

SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL.
Tallahassee, Oct. 14.-Ciov. Trammel
| has definitely decided to call no extra
session on account Of the congressional.
redistricting matter He does not think
that there is any necessity for the ses-
sion and believes the redistricting ac1
will answer every purpose and that the
intent of the legislature is so evident
that no tribunal would disregard it,
Gov. Trammeu's views are given in
a reply to a. letter from Hon r J
Fearnside requesting the extra session
The full text of the letter follows:
THE GOVERNORS LETTER.
Tallahassee, Oct. 13, 1918.
Hon. Frank J. Fearnside, Chairman,
State Democratic Executive Commit
tee, Palatka, Florida.
Dear Sir: I am in receipt Of your
letter of the 3rd instant, requesting
that I convene the legislature in special
session for the purpose Of having cor
rected certain alleged defects in chap
ter 6472, laws of Florida, the same
being an act redistricting the state
into four congressional districts.
TN reply I beg to advise that 7 do
not share in the view entertained by
yourself and some others that Florida's s
four congressman cannot regularly and
legally be elected from the four con-
gressional districts created and destg-
mated by the provisions Of the said
Nhapter 6472, laws Of Florida; but, On
the contrary, my opinion is that II VIII
be proper, regular and legal for a CON
gressnan to be elected at the general
election to be held In November, 1914,
to represent, after March 3rd, 1915,
each Of the four congressional dis
triCts Al therein designated.
The act of congress approved Au-
gust s, 1911, making a new congress
siona1 apportionment, provides that
Florida shall be entitled to four Nom
bers of the house Of representatives OF
the United States instead Of three as
heretofore, and that such representa-
tives shall be elected by districts conf
posed of a contiguous and compa ct
territory, and containing as nearly as
practicable an equal number Of inhabi-
tants. The said districts shall he
equal to the number Of representatives
to which such state may be entitled
in congress-
"The act OF congress contenplates
that a state entitled TO an additional
congressman should be redistricted.
The said act provides. however, that
until the redistricting by state law,
a congressman should be elected from
each of the old districts and the addi-
tional congressman or congressman
should be elected from the state at
large. The Florida legislature not
having convened between the date Of
the act of congress authorizing an ad-
ditional congressman and the date. to-
wit, March 4th. 1919. when Florida was
to be entitled 70 an additional con-
gresham, at the general election in
November, 1912, a congressman was
elected from each Of the old districts
and the additional congressman was
elected from the state at large. as au-
thorized by the act of congress- Flor
ida's present congressman. were elect
ed for a term Of two years beginning
March 4th. 1913. Their terms do not
expire until March 4th, 1915. 1t is
plain that our state has by election
heretofore provided for it's representa-
ton in congress until March 4th, 1915.
STATE REDISTRICTED.
THE act of the Florida legislature
the state divides the state
into four congressional districts, the
said act to take effect on March All,
1915. 1t is plain under the legislative
act that the law makers intended that
on and after March 4th, 1915, Florida
should be represented in congress by a
from each Of the four re-