The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-05-27
Agre enent is Yet to Be Had
of Most Important Meas
ures Solons Were Sent to
Pass.
FILLIBUSTER WOULD
BRING ABOUT DELAY
South Florida Members May
Become c tent gu S
About Reapportionment-
Dipping Bill Special Order.
(RY HERBERT FELkEL.)

TallahaS aSSee May 26.-Florida's law
makers have ten more working days
in which to agree upon and enact some
of the most important laws they Were
sent here to pass. Fish bills, game
bills, road bills are all up in airplanes
One report has it that a leader has
been chosen and the house will get
down to business early this week or as
soon as the state division matter can
be disposed of: while another rumor
is to the effect that an effort is already
well under way to organize the South
Florida members of both branches for
a fillibuster to obtain reapportionment
of the state as to legislative represen-
tation
If the organization can be perfected
they will block the passage of all
bills-locaI, appropriation, everything
until the state is reapportioned. It is
claimed that is the only way they will
ever get it, this session, or any other
session.
The statewide compulsory dipping
bill has been made a special order in
the senate for Tuesday at eleven
o'clock. The bill to tax the output
of phosphate mines has been set for
final disposition at the same hour Mon
day morning. The senate voted to
adjourn Saturday till Monday after
noon. The bill, however, viii remain
on the calendar as a continuing order,
and may be brought up any day. The
bill appropriating for the state institu-
tions at Chattahoochee. Mariana and
Ocala has been set for tomorrow af-
ternoon.
A motion to reconsider the vote by
which the bill creating Glades county
was K lied is pending and probably will
be disposed of Tuesday Friends of
the proposed county are working hard
to muster more votes than they had
on the last show down but it is not
believed they are gaining as many as
certain other developments are losing
for the new county.
There is also pending motion to
render the vote by which the senate
killed a bill compelling physicians to
render to the board of health certain
morbidity reports. The house bill, by
Representative Williams of Leon. pro
yiding for compulsory school attend
ance, has been made a special order in
the senate for Thursday at eleven
o'clock.
In connection with the road legisla-
ton, it has been pointed out here
that some of the northwestern states
are bonding their automobile license
taxes for good roads, the license
moneys carrying the interest and Gre
ating a sinking fund. 1t is estimated
that Florida can bond hers for at
least twenty five million dollars. Civ
ing the state much ready money to
spend on her highways. In some
states the supreme courts have ruled
that under the constitutions it required
a constitutional amendment, while in
other states it has been done by leg
islative enactment.
The question of what would be
necessary to do this in Florida is being
investigated. Our constitution pro-
yides that the state cannot issue bonds
except when invaded or for the pur-
pose of cutting a canal across the
state The proper way to raise money
for roads is through the automoplles'
it is agreed, rather than bonding the
entire property of the state. con-
stitutionaI convention would solve
these and scores of other problems pul
that. too. is hanging on the calendar
in both houses.
The reapportionment obstructionists,
some of them, claim that the way to
is to call a constitutional
and do it then. They VIII |
vote for the convention but not Tor |
reapportionment bill based on the pres |
ent constitution. But Representative
Perry says the reapportionment should
precede the convention so that the |
counties would be properly represent
ed in the convention the membership /
of which would be the same as that
of the house of representatives, the
counties being represented in the same
ratio tsWha1 assurance have you,
asks Mr.. Perry, that convention
cald before. reapportionment would
elve the under-represented counties
an, better eprcrtionmen- plan than
nSw exists?"