The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-05-03
Shell Fish Commission is
Abolished by Vote of
16 to IL.
GOVERNOR
APPOINTIVE POWER
Several of the Bills of State
Wide Importance Were
Also Passed.
Tallahassee Bureau,
The Pensacola Journal.

Tallahassee, May 2.-Several bills
of statewide Importance passed the
senate this morning, and will 90 i'm
mediately to the house, The first of
these on the calendar was the bill to
abolish the shellfsh commission, to
vest the powers hitherto held by the
shelltish commissioner in the commits
sioner of agriculture, and to allow
the state board of institutions to en-
ploy such assistants to the commits
siOner of agriculture In carrying out
the work as may be deemed neCes-
sary. The bill in effect. takes the
power Of appointing the shellfish
commissioner from the hands of the
governor.
Short debate was INDUCED in by
several senators before the vote was
called, Senator MacWiIIiams opening
the opposition on his statement that
when the bill was up for second read
ing he moved to indefinitely postpone
it. The motion failed to pass, he said,
but he was still of the opinion. Sena-
tor Farris took the flood in Oppo-
sitiOn to the bill, stating that he was
opposed to taking this power from
the governor, and that if he had been
the successful nominee for that office
he would have expected to be clothed
with all its powers and privileges.
He said that Governor Cats was not
responsible to the senate, but to the
people of the state who elected him,
and that he saw no reason why it was
the duty of the senate to concern it.
self in the matter.
Senator Wells, chairman Of the
committee which drafted the bill,
next spoke in defense of the measure,
stating that it was not an attempt
to rob the governor of his patron
age. but was designed for the good
of the office. Senator Calkins spoke
against the bill, on the same grounds
that Farris did, but took occasion to
say that if the governor sent any
nominations to the senate who were
not the party nominees he would vote
against them.
Mathis and Gronto then spoke in
favor of the bill, while Farris. Mac
Williams and CaIkins again spoke
against it. On the roll call the vote
was: Yeas 16, Nays y.
Women Are Eligible.
Senator Jones' bill making women
eligible to election or appointment to
any office connected with the state
/ institutions of education, charity, or
correction, passed by a large vote.
! The only proviso is that she must be
at least d years old. and have re-
sided in the municipality, district, or
county in which the institution is
! located, for at least three years next
preceding her appointment or cleo
ton.
The county depository bill by SEN
atOr Wilson, providing that instead
/ of being divided equally among all
! banks bidding, the county shall place
/ its funds in one bank submitting the
/ best bid. This will allow counties to
| receive interest on money which han
| hitherto been impossible.
Senator Cartons bill, providing
for the erection and maintenance of
! tuberculosis hospitals in counties
/ which shall vote to do so, passed
unanimously, after a speech in which
/ DIR. FOgerty, of Key West, praised
the measure as one of the best which
would come before the legislature.
Uncle Sam Wants Roamer.
Upon inquiry of the Unite States
: anu
sale of the Roamer. the bill author
ling the board of state institutions
to sell the craft was rushed through.
and the house today passed the sen
ate bill, with slight amendments.
The final action of the senate be-
fore adjOurning the morning session
was to pass the senate joint resolu-
tjon, by Senator Mathis, providing
a constitutional amendment relating
to the qualifications and eligibility of
! persons to the Office of state SUPER
| intendent of public instruction.
The resolution follows:
Resolution As Passed.
Joint Resolution No. 222-Joint
resolution proposing an amendment
to Article MI of the constitution of
the state of Florida relative to edu-
cation.
Be it resolved by the legislature
of the state of Florida, That the fol-
lowing amendment to Article XII of
the constitution of the state of Flor
ida relative to education. to be num-
Continued on Page Two.)