The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-05-03
GOSSIP AT THE
STATE CAPITAL
(By JOHN c. TRIcE.)


dog of the Morals" of the people of the
state He would make a second viola
ton Of certain prohi laws punishable
by a five years Imprisonment or five
thousand dollars fine. or both such fine
and imprisonment, at the discretion Of
the court. He has bill in the house
for that purpose, besides number of
other bills OF like nature. But the one
which promises to bring him the most
notoriety is one to prohibit the indie
cent exposure Of the person of any
man or woman. Whether the gentle
man has had his sensibilities shocked
by the low neck and high skirt cos
tunes of the Tallahassee angels is not
set forth. but in that event it is likely
he will be lonesome for assistance If it
Is his purpose to make a change in
either of these Authorizations. THEW
nave been the admiration OF hundreds
of legislators and visitors, who have
no thought OF being shocked by them
In fact canot see any indecency in
them.
Not quite half the session is gone,
and more than five hundred bills have
already found their way to the house
calendar, and there seems to be no let
up In the number yet to come.
II the old times were now in vogue
the members of the house would be
open to the suspicion Of having i'm
bibed freely at the governors reception
OF that excellent vintage which maketh
the eye sparkle even unto the next
day. But no one can look over the
list of those ladies who presided at
the punch tables and have the least bit
OF suspicion Of such a thing. 1t must
have been some other kind of inspira
| ton which made them work so hard
the day following the reception.
In a discussion on the flobr of the
house the other day, Mr.. Scales, the
banker member from Taylor county,
revealed the fact that the schools of
this state are in debt to the tune of
s6,so0,o0o. Rather startling, to say the
least.
Mr.. Johns, one Of the representatives
from Bradford county, is very digni-
fled young man, besides being a prince
ly good fellow. But his dignity suf-
fered rude shock in the house Friday
when his seat gave way and precipi-
tated him to the floor. 1t happened
while the vote was being taken on the
bill increasing the salaries Of cabinet
officers.
Mr.. Newton, Of Orange county, who
Is the chairman Of the legislative ex-
pense committee, is the only man in
the house who has declared he does not
want the job of employing the pretty
stenographers. Perhaps for that very
reason, the house voted to impose that
duty upon him.
| While the house refused on Tuesday
Of this week to defer the time for the
payment of taxes this year, it is stated
upon what seems to be good authority
that there is bill being prepared to
do this very thing for the years to
come.
! II too many cooks spoil the broth, it
is possible that Florida may yet have
to suffer for the lack of a suitable
game and fish law. Everybody is tink-
ering with it, and while there are a
number Of strong men trying to bring
together the different factions, there
has nothing shown in the distance yet
that is in any way certain. OF course
there is yet hope, but hope is an abid-
ing human attribute under all circ I'M
| stances.
| The next big recreation event hold
| ing out inducements to the legislators
to play hockey, is the annual picnic at
Wakulla Springs. 1t comes off on the
first Saturday in May, which this time
will be the 7th day of the month. 1t
would be difficult to keep away from
this picnic those who have ever attend
ed one. 1t is an occasion when the
housewives Of the great empire" of
Wakulla and many of those of Leon
county, vie with each other in the
| quantity ard qualify of food prepared
and spread on the grounds. That pro-
sale guy who wrote. 'the way to reach
the heart Of man is through his
| stomach" has made many converts, but
| none of them greater than the women
of this section, and their very best eff
forts are put forth on the occasion of
this annual picnic.
South Florida legislators are still
| shivering. A brisk northwest breeze
sent the temperature tumbling down to
what seemed to some of them pretty
cool weather. 1t has been the coolest
spring seen in this section for a great
many years, and with each recurring
cool spell the fellows from below the
frost line have a relapse of the capitol
removal fever.
Friday nigth proved an unlucky oc-
casion for the forestry experts who
came here to tell their experience in
| preservation and demonstration in 9TH
er sections. 1t being the week end, and
very nearly all the members of both
houses gone home for Sunday, the aud
ience was very small. The lectures are
said by those present tn have heen very