The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-04-13
BUSY WEEK AMONG SOLONS AT
THE STATE CAPITAL
Tallahassee. April 6, 1917.

A week full of interest ended to-
day when both houses of the legis-
lature adjourned shortly before noon
until late Monday afternoon. Many
of the members returned to their
homes and those that remain are
busy with the various committees.
Seldom has a legislative body lost
less time getting down to business
than has this one. In the senate Mr..
Johnson named his committees the
first day of the session and in the
house Mr.. Hardee announced his as
signments Thursday. Many bills have
been introduced in both houses and
several local measures have already
been passed. In the lhouse this
morning ninety bills were ready to
be turnd over to the committees 10
which they had been referred and
many will be reported back to the
house by Monday. So much has been
crowded into the few days that every
one willingly acquiesced il the motion
to adjourn when it was offered to-
day.
Among the important measures
that have been introduced are the
prohibition measures that were given
first place on the calendars of both
houses, a measure for the taxing of
inheritances by Frank Clark, Jr., one
for the initiative, referendum and re-
call by Mr.. Smith of VOlusia. free
text book bill, compulsory educa-
ton, and bill providing for another
state building to be used by tax com
mission, hotel and shell fish commits.
sions. auditing departments and other
departments now subjected to the in
convenience of moving to temporary
quarters every two years in order to
vacate committee rooms, were intro
duced by Mr.. Williams OF Leon.
bill was introduced in the house
today proposing that the sessions of
years instead of bi-ennially, as under
the existing laws. This measure pro-
vides for the sessions to last ninety
days and special sessions thirty days
This bill was offered by Mr. Franklin
of Okaloosa county Commercial
training was required of high school
graduates in the bill introduced by
Mr.. Roberts of Orange county. An
eugenics bill has been introduced IN
both houses, with its provisions ap-
plying to men. Bills to create Flag
Ter and Okeechobee counties are on
the calendars of both houses and will
be passed early next week.
Representatives Light and Crosby
of Marion are among the most sub
stantial and influential members Of
the house. Both have important COM
mittee assignments and are held in
high esteem by their fellow members.
Personally we feel under special OBJ
legations to Mr.. Crosby and Mr.. Light
for their interest and assistance in
electing Hardy Groom, Jr., a page in
the house AS soon as he arrived at
the capital Mr.. Crosby took charge of
the matter and left nothing undone to
secure enough pledges to get the
nomination on the first ballot Mr.
Crosby made the nominating speech
and both he and Mr. Light stayed on
the job until the vote was announced
showing him elected on the first bal
lot with the flattering vote of fifty. In
seconding his nomination many en-
dearing references were made to this
little boys grandfather. Hon A. c.
Groom lately comptroller of Florida,
whom Mr. Stockton termed the
Great Comptroller"
SARAH GROOM Bitch