The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-05-28
WEDNESDAY. MAY 20. 1913.
The Legislative
News Bureau.

The following letter by Representa-
tive Marcy B. Darnall, chairman Of the
house publicity committee, is self-ex-
planatory:
Tallahassee, May 25, 1913.
Editor Pensacola Journal
When l introduced my resolution in
the house calling for the appointment
of publicity committee" for the pur-
pose of furnishing concise reports Of
the bills passed, for the benefit of the
small weekly papers of the state, 1 ex-
pected some criticism from the corpo-
ration serving papers, like the Times
Union, Tampa Tribune, Pensacola
News, ETC., but did not expect it from
a true progressive paper like The Pen
sacola Journal.
This resolution was introduced be-
cause several papers, especially the
editorial almost daily for the purpose
of discrediting the legislature, especial
ly the house, by holding before the
public a few freak bills which have
Leen introduced tand promptly killed.
as samples of what we are considering
in the way Of legislation.
These attacks are 1inspired by the
fact that some of the measures passed
have not met with the approval of Hon.
Peter o. Knight and the corporation
crowd and are absolutely unjust, espe-
cially to the house, as the actual record
of this body will show.
We have no complaint to make re-
garding the regular news reports sent
out to the larger papers of the state
by the Legislative Press Bureau, and
said so in my statement which ac-
companied the text of the resolution
furnished to the press and printed in
ali the leading papers of the state, in
Guiding The Journal.
But the average country editor has
not time to wade through the mass of
matter furnished the large papers, con-
quently he gets his impressions from
the editorials mentioned. which are
diligently sent to him by knight and
others interested in discrediting our
efforts.
The matter sent out by our pub
licity committe is entirely devoid of
comment, being merely simple con-
densation of the record. and that it is
appreciated by the editors for whom it
is prepared is evidenced by the IA ct
that nearly one hundred of them
printed 1T n their issue of last week
and have placed our committee on their
mailing list as an indication that they
desire the service continued.
Another point I wish to make clear
IS that this is q house committee and
has nothing to do with the senate, al
though we expect at the end of the
session TO furnish a brief summary of
the most important laws enacted by
both houses.
These reports are welcomed by the
small papers who cannot afford a regu-
lar service and whose editors have not
the time to prepare a condensed re-
port each week. Many of them have
expressed their approval and the desire
that this committee be made a perma-
nent institution.
If you will look over the list of
measures passed by the house, ! am
sure that you will agree with me that
we have considered many of the bills
which are desired by the people, and
many others will be disposed of within
and night to get through with all the
more important measures, especially,
before the close of the session.
Owing to the large number of local
bills offered (Which are of Importance
to the localities affected) a great deal
of time is consumed in considering
them, It is true, but the people want
them and we must do the best we can
to comply with their wishes.
/ have written you at greater length
than l had intended. but as The Jour
nal Is paper for which I have long
entertained a sincere admiration and
the one consider the most influential
note that my motive in regard to the
publicity committee was mlsunder-
stood
While this is not written for publi-
cation, l have no objection to your
quoting from 1t, if you wish, and 7
would appreciate any comment which
would tend to place the matter before
the public in its proper light.
With best wishes, 1 remain,
Faithfully yours,
MARCY B. DARNALIA
Chairman House Publicity Com
editor Key West Citizen).
The Journals editoria! on the estab-