The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-07-18

the work done by the various club
women over the state in influencing
the votes of their legislators. Tele-
grams and letters poured in from the
women from almost every county to
the men at Tallahassee urging their
support for this measure. If the bill
had failed of passage it would not
have been due to opposition from the
legislators but merely because they
had not been given an opportunity to
vote on it. The$50,0o0 appropriation
asked for was cut down to $780, 900 and
the $50, 1000 maintenance was cut down
to $4,000. This is really insufficient
to do what is necessary, but we are
hoping it will permit fair beginning.
If we can secure hieh-class, expert
enced woman superintendent to start
with, there is every chance for the
school to attain efficient development
in time. This school, as we'll as the
industrial school for boys at Mari
anna has been put under direct con-
troll and supervision Of the Governor
andBoard Of State Institutions, so
that these officials will now be wholly
responsible for the future of these
important institutions. The Appro-
priation Of 100000 that was passed to
rebuilt and equop the boys school
ought to begin a new era for Florida
in the treatment and supervision of
our delinquent children.
The commission to study the need
for widows pensions passed, but was
considerably weakened by cutting off
the $500 appropriation intended to
finance adequate Investigation. This
necessary investigation will have to
be paid for out to private subscrip-
tions.
The commission to study the need
for a hospital for epileptic and feeble
minded children also was created by
the legislature with very small ap-
preparation to cover securing of sta
tistice, etc.
The bill restricting the marriage of
insane, feebleminded and epileptic
people failed Of passage. This mea-
sure should have received more favor
able treatment from so enlightened a
body of men. This is subject, how
ever, upon which most men require
considerable education. Two years
additional agitation will doubtless
change their attitude in regard to it.
! The Palm Hammock grant, minus
the requested appropriation of $1,000,
per annum for maintenance, passed
at almost the last moment. Senator
Drane and Representative Goldstein
pushed it through in the face of count
less other measures clalnoring to be
considered. The granting of this to
the Florida Federation is a great fea-
Their in the cap of the Forestry Com
mittee of the Federation who labored
so arduously for its passage.
! In addition to the above measures
which were especial pets of the Flor
ida Federation this year, a very good
medical inspection for school children
was passed. This law requires one
doctor in each county to be appointed
and paid by the State Board OF
i Health to devote his entire time tc
making the necessary inspections fol-
each county. The amount of data
turned in through these inspections
should be invaluable in promoting
better health conditions among the
school children in the State.
Il Bills were also passed permitting
detention homes in counties having
juvenile courts providing a separate
court to try Juvenile delinquents fol
Duval County, and providing a con
tributory delinquent clause to the jul
venile court law whereby parents arr
held accountable for the misdeeds Of
their children.
An act was passed requiring the
collecting and recording of vital sta
tistics under direction of the State
Board of Health, also an act author
izing county commissioners to conduc
canning and corn club work in vari
GUS counties.
Our child labor law was also ma
terially strengthened.
On the other hand g free tex
book bill met with defeat, as diC
also the attempt to provide land b.
the State in the Everglades for tn,
Seminole Indians; and the attempt Il
make women eligible as school officer
was also defeated.
When all is said and done, however
q pretty creditable showing remain
for the 1915 legislature, probably tn,
most creditable showing made b,
any previous legislature. Undoubt
Iedly the interest and agitation don
by the club women throughout tn
state helped to crystalize the goo
judgement of the legislators on man,
subjects which they had previousl,
given little consideration. Dufini
the next two years we must prepar
. ourselves to assist in stil greater en-
. lightenment for them. 1t has bee
. my experience so far with our leg
islators that it is not their hearts W
need to convert to better methods
but their heads, which are packed $
full with the commercial problem
there is little room left for the NOR
1 n,ireIv moral asnects nf things