The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-06-21
CLAIMS DAVIS
LIQUOR LAW IS
FULL OF JOKERS
Law, Which is Effective Oct.
/ Was Not Passed Accord
ing to Constitution.
NO RECORD WHERE
RULES WERE WAIVED
Jacksonville Paper Finds one
of the Jokers Contained in
New Measure.

The Davis liquor law, effective Oc-
tober /, passed by the last legislature
with view Of regulating the sale of
liquor by prohibiting the sale ex-
ceptinq In sealed packages. IL FUN Of
"jokera," according 20 the Jackson
vile State, edited by M. Bryan Mack.
The law, besides prohibiting the sale
Of liquor excepting in sealed packages
Of not less than one pint, also pho-
hibits drinking in saloons, requires
the latter 70 be closed early in the
night and "a otherwise a very string
ent measure, but Il Il now claimed
that It Is a harmless piece Of leEisla-
ton.
One Of the "jokers" discovered il
that the senate violated the constitu-
ton by reading the measure twice in
enc day without waving the rules.
There is no record where the rules
were waived when the bill was read
twice and passed. The State in stat
ing the case says:
FACTS IN CASE.
The facts IN the case are merely
these:
Section seventeen Of Article three
Of che state constitution az amended
IN 1896 says:
Every bin shall be read on three
/ several days, unless two-thirds Of the
members present when such bin may
be pending shall deem IL expedient TO
/ dispense with this rule"
The record 81 the senate Of April
2S shows that the bin wa. passed on
second and third readings on the
same day, and fails, however, 70 show
that the rules were waived.
II may BE- possible that the rules
were waived but the senate journal
fails 20 so record il and il is probable
that Mr.. Davis got stage fright or
something worse when the bill was
being passed and forgot the procedure
/ 60 follow.
On page % Of the senate Journal
/ for April % the record shows the
process Of passage was as follows:
Senate Bin No. 222:
"A Bill 10 be- entitled An Act TO
regulate the sale or furnishing of in
! toxieating liquors, wines or beer, and
prescribing a penalty for the viola
! ton Of certain Of it's provisions, and
repeating laws In conflict herewith.
WAS taken up and read q second
time in full"
At this point Senator Hines offered
an amendment which excepted certain
clubs, but his amendment was voted
down.
Various senators offered amend
ments and the only one being adopt
ed was the one by Senator Hines
charging the closing from 7 to 8.
On page 40 Of the same journal
the official record says:
"Mr. Davis moved that Senate Bill
No. n be made a special order for
consideration az 4 o'clock D. m. today.
AZ which time Il shall BE- read the
third time and put upon les passage.
Which was agreed TO-"
IL appears that there il where Mr..
Davis spilled the beans. for the consti-
tuition plainly says Every bin shall
be read on three several days, unless
tWo-thirds Of the members present
when such bin may be pending shall
deem il ezpedient 70 dispose with thu
rule"
The record does not show thGt the
rules were dispensed with By consent
Of two-thirds Of the members, and it
u evident that this tecbadcal slip-up
win kin the effect Of me bin.
The supreme eour. Of Florida has
held that the Journal Of either house
; l. accepted on ~ face. and even Il u
should develop that the rules we're
waived by two-thirds consent Il Il
likely that the failure Of the Journal
70 show such action would not change
thC matter in the least
On page so Of the same journal the
record says:
. The hour FOR the special consid-
Grafton Of senate bill No. 122 having
, arrived
SENATE Bin No. 222s
"A bin 20 be entitled an ltct 10 reg.
ulate the sale or furnishing Of in.
toxicating liquors, wines or beer. ans
repeating laws IN conflict herewith
''Was taken up in It's order and read
the third time in full.
q 1