The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-05-21
TWO UNUSUAL
THINGS HAPPEN
in The HOUSE
az JOHN C. TRtcE.

TalIahasees, May 20.-Two things
first time during q day sitting since
this session opened. The house re-
fused to recede from Its amendment to
q senate bill on the request Of the
senate to do SO, and a roll call later
in the day showed no quorum present.
The absence of absentees at roll call
at the time was not at all surprising.
The regular time for adjourning is
late enough, but it had 1ong since
passed, and still there was a plea for
local bill to get by before adjourn
ment. The only surprising thing is
that a quorum could be called back
in about a minute.
In the senate for great many years
there has been very little effort to
enforce the rule against smoking. ex-
cept just enough to prevent the cham
Der from being turned into regular
smoking room by outsiders. And the
senate is always up with it's work.
The house has held on to the anti
quated rule most rigidly. and as a re-
suit there is much confusion by the
members running out and back into
the hall. They go out to smoke. One
Saturday afternoon the rule was sus-
pended for the one session, and 1t is
a fact that more was accomplished
at that session than at any one meet
Ing since the legislature met.
Smokers will smoke. If it inter-
fere with business. they generally cut
out the business for a while at least.
Rules have never been able to change
this one characteristic of men. The
extra session last winter abolished
the rules against smoking. 1t is an
indisputable fact that it accomplished
more in thirteen days than any legis-
lature that ever met in this state.
And there was never any question
about a quorum, and only a minimum
of annoyance by talking and walking
about the room.
Only three more weeks of the ses-
Sion, and the house has reached bills
on third reading just few times up
to date. The chance for doing so in
the near future is extremely improb-
able. So many special orders have
been set and are continually being
set, that there is Attle chance for
the regular calendar. II a member
can get two-thirds OF the members
to agree with him and Set his bill for
time certain, he has some hope of
getting it UP. Otherwise there is lit
tie chance. This conclusion is OF
course based on the Pat. Henry theory
of judging the future by the light
of the past.
The dedication of the Spanish Trail
bridge across the Chattahoochee river.
to take place on the Goth inst, is
one of the most important happen
ings in this section of the state for
long time. The difficulty of crossing
this river for all the years that have
past and gone have prevented the
mingling of the two sections of the
western part of the state divided by
the river in a manner desirable to
them. When this bridge is opened
to travel it will bring about a great
change in this condition, besides ire
mendously increasing the popularity of
the Spanish trail for sightseers COM
ing to the state.
The fellow who started the report
a few days ago that a dead negro
had been found in the water tank
here, had best keep his identity. un-
known to tn city authorities. They
are after him, and If he is found out
the probabilities are he will use the
brakes on his thinking apparatus the
next time it suggests to him such a
Joke