The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-04-27
SENATEknLS
Commission
BY. VOTE 25-7
Heated Debate Lasting Two
Hours Preceded the
Final Vote.
RESOLUTION TO
SELL THE ROAMER
New County of Okechobee
Created-suftage Again
Fails in the House.
RESOLUTION TO
SELL THE ROAMER
SPECIAL TO THE JOURNAL.


Tallahassee, Fla, April 26.-After
heated debate lasting two hours,
the senate this morning passed the
house bill abolishing the tax commits
sion. This question occupied practi-
cally the entire morning session, and
the vote stood Is for and against
the bill.
Senator Jones, of the Second, was
the first to speak on the proposition,
stating that while he was not we'd
ded to the commission, there are
some measures before the legislature
which should be decided before any
action is taken on the bill. He intro
duced motion making the bill spe-
cial order for Wednesday at II
o'clock, but it was defeated. and the
bill was taken up Immediately.
Senator Goronto, of the Twelfth,
stated that his position had before
been to abolish the commission, but
since investigation and observation
of conditions in certain COUNTIES, he
be ieved that it was capable of some
good and should be continued.
Senator Wells said that he had
opposed, and continues to oppose, a
useless commission. He stated that
| the commission, when it asked for
more power, said that unless the
power was granted the commission
| would be useless. The power was
denied, said Senator Wells, and under
| their own argument, the commission
is useless.
An eloquent defense of the commits
SION was made by Senator Farris,
who said that much property in the
state is excaping taxation, and should
be discovered by the commission. He
argued chiefly against the escape
ment of railroad franchises from tax
action, and said that they (the rail-
roads) were trying to influence the
senators to abolish the commission
| for fear that they would be. justly
taxed.
/ Placing the president pro tenn in
the chair, President Johnson took the
floor and said that the commission is
as useless as the buttons on the back
of coat, and provided jobs for three
men at an expense of $4,000 year
to the state. He said that it is by
saving in the small things that the
state can conserve its resources, and
believed that all such useless
branches of the government should
be abolished.
Short speeches were then made by
Senators MacWilliams and Sheppard
against the bill, while Senator Alex
ander defended it.
New County Created.
The next matter up for considera-
ton was local bill creating Okecho-
bee county, to which there was some
little objection by Senator Wilson
whose district is affected by the
change. The committee, of which
Senator Wilson is member, hac
had the bill under consideration
three times, and each time had re.
ported favorably, unanimously. Con
sequently his opposition on the floor
of the senate was unlocked for, ane
finally stopped with the passage Of
the bill, with only a few vote.
against IL.
To Sell Roamer.
On motion of Senator Oliver, o.
Apalachicola, the bill authorizing ant
directing the board of state insti
: buttons to sell the state shell fisl
commission steamer Roamer wa
taken up out of its order and passed
, with no dissenting votes. In thu
short discussion which preceded it
: passage it was shown that it cos
l The state about $25 day to keel
the boat, and it was seldom used b!
the commissioner.
|. Senator Farris gave notice tina
he would move to reconsider the vot,
by which the tax commission wa
) abolished, and it is expected that
second debate will be precipitate,
: when the question recurs tomorrow
. Suffrage Again Fails.
: Practically the only matter of i'm
: portance in the house this morning
2 was the reconsideration of the vot
= hxy e1.h,,n csnv, III