The Palatka news and advertiser., 1917-04-06
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE
FULLY ORGANIZED
And is Now Hard at Work
Hardee is Speaker of
the House.


were held on Monday night, when the
following nominations were made:
In the Senate.
President-J. B. johnson of Su-
wannee.
President pro tem-W. M. Igou of
Lake.
Secrteary-C. A. Finley of Leon.
Asst. Secretary-J. A. Bedingfield
of Leon.
Bill Sccretary-John Anderson.
Stenogra phers-Miss Eliza Nc
Keown, Miss Mabel Sheppard, Miss
Mike Cradle.
Sergeant-at-arms-W. P. Thomp-
son.
Enrolling Clerk-W. r. Tcrrill
EngroSsing Clerk-Miss Laura Nc
Cord
Reading Clerk-C. B. Smith.
Mesenger-T. L. Wells.
Janitor-T. w. Gwynne.
Doorkecper-W. C. Jackson.
haplain-Rev. R. G. Newsome.
Pages-Clyde Middleton, Robert
Sander and Toni Farr.
Officers of the House.
Speaker-Carey A. Hardee OF Su-
wannee.
Speaker pro tem-W. M. Taylor of
Manitce.
Chief Clerk-R. A. Green of Brad
ford.
Assistant-J. Irwin Walton.
Bill Clerk-C. C. Epperson.
Reading Clerk-W. B. Lanier.
Assistant-Miss Mrytice McCas-
kell.
geant-at-arms-W r. Griffin.
Messenger-J. N. Rogers.
Chaplain-H. S. Howard.
Doorkccper-C. c Lee.
Both branches met for organization
at noon on Tuesday when the above
named officers were formally elected,
and committees from each body in
formed the governor and the other
branch that the Senate and House
were organized and ready for busi-
ness. The first thing on tap was the
message of the governor.
In the Senate the various standing
committees were appointed by the
president. Senator Chas. f. Davis
| is the chairman of Judiciary Com
mittee A, and Senator James E. Cal
lins is chairman Of Judiciary B.
These are the most important COM
mittee assignments.
Mr.. Justice Whitfield of the Su-
preme Court administered the oath to
mombcrs Of the House, the mebmers
going forward in blocks of six and
Icing sworn.
The new chaplain of the House
made good the promise of his friends
end his prayer on opening was inside
of one minute. Representative E. R.
L. Moore of Franklin, was shocked;
he felt that the members needed more
prayer. Mr.. Moore is the champion
Of religion in the House and all bills
of q religious nature will be handled
by him.
Senator Wells of Leon will intro
duce what he calls "bone dry" bill;
this measure is very stringent, pro
hibits common carriers from handling
LIQUOR intended for shipment into dry
counties or precincts that have voted
dry; prohibits having liquor in your
possession in dry territory, but 1t rec
ognizes the liquor business in wet ter
ritory; it was likely intended to take
the place of constitutional prohlbl-
ton.
However a resolution is to be in
troduced providing for the submission
of an amendment to the constitution
nroviding for statewide prohibition.
Senator MacWilliams of st. Johns
introduced on Tuesday resolution
commencing President Wilson for
his address of Monday night, and
pledging him the support of FLORIDA
| in the war with Germany.
The Cats forces in the House. were
slaughtered on the first round. The
House isn't going to be dominated by
Cattocrats. That was shown IN the
nomination and election, of attaches.
Hon. William Jennings Bryan, eX-
Secretary of State, who was IN Ial-
Iehass2e in the interests of the pro
hibition amendment, was invited to
address g joint meeting of the Sen
atc and House yesterday morning at
10 o'clock.
Thirtv-cight bills were introduced
!, +ha Senate on Wednesday and
thirtv-ninc in the House.
Joint resolution No. 1, proposing
IN amendment to the constitution OF
FLORIDA, was introduced in the House
bv Rcpreeentative Frank Clark, Jr.
This is the prohibition amendment)
House Bill No. 2-the "bone dry
LIQUOR bill-wNs introduced hv Mr.
Nathe7on of Alachua. This bill rec
ognizes local option. E,
The Circuit Judges of Florida,
through ATTORNEY General West, have
made recommendations to the legisl2-
trre to abolish capital punishment in
the state except in certain cases.
It was given out from Tallaha9see
on Wednesday night that leading
members of the legislature were plan
ming 70 bring the prohibition amend
ment up for a vote on Thursday
morning without discussion, get a
vote on it and settle the matter. so
as to clear the way for other leg
islation.
The Baptist Church.