The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-06-08
STRONG DEBATE
IN LEGISLATURE
PRIOR TO CLOSE
ELEVENTH HOUR DEADLOCK
DEVELOPS OVER ADMIN
sTRATloN DEBT REFUND
ING MEASURE

of the Florida legislature adjourn
ed sine die at 1 :15 o'clock Satur-
day afternoon, rs hours and Is
minutes after the time set for the
conclusion of the regular go day
session.
Action in both houses was
speeded up as the hour for clos
ing drew near. Differences were
ironed out on number of major
issues and numerous local bills
were passed.
An eleventh hour deadlock de-
veloped over the administration
sponsored debt refunding meas
ure - senate bill ITO which
would have placed taxing units
having bond debt troubles under
the rule Of the state board of ad-
ministration.
Early in the week the house
amended the bill to provide for q
local referendum to determine
whether or not individual units
should choose TO turn the solu-
tion of their debt problems over
to the state board.
After a hard battle the amend
ment was adopted but motion
to reconsider the vote was tabled.
Refuses To Concur
The senate refused to concur
in the amendment and the house
was equally firm in It's refusal to
recede. Conference committees
were then appointed. They vainly
endeavOred to reach an agreement
on the house amendment to the
measure. Beth houses were in.
session until long after midnight
Friday night with no agreement
reached.
Saturday morning the house re-
ceived senate message contain
ing the bin with request from
that body that the house recede
from its referendum amendment.
s. Pierre Robineau Of Dade,
leader In the fight to have the
house recede, moved that such ac-
ton be taken. Speaker Tomasel-
10 ruled the motion to recede out
of order, inasmuch as the meas
ure had already been once recon
sidered.
This ruling brought Robineau
70 his feet on a point of personal
privilege, and q stirring verbal
battle began, in which the gem
tleman from Dade and the gen-
tleman from Okeechobee cited
point after point In parliamentary
law to sustain their positions.
Other members Of the house join-
ed In. Word Of the situation
spread through the legislative
halls. The gallery was crowd
ed and every foot of space in the
chamber was filled by eager spec
tators. who witnessed one of the
most dramatic and stirring scenes
Of modern Florida legislative his
tory as the debate continued.
Brought To Vote
A motion to over-rule the chair
and permit further, consideration
Of the bill was finally brought Co
3 vote. The roll call began with
the lines on both sides sharply
drawn and with everyone in the
chamber tense 10 catch each yea
or may" rs the names were read.
Final tabulation Of the vote to-
tailed "a to 46 TO sustain the rul-
ing of It's speaker aud thereby
sounded the death knell Of SEN
ale bin It's, considered by many
the most important bin 10 be con-
sidered BY the legislature during
the entire session.
Speaker Tomasello's name he.
ing the last on the roll. his own
vote prevented tie and defeated
the measure that would have
treated with the bond situation
throughout the state Of Florida
involving many millions of dollars.
Returning To the rostFum and
taking over the gavel which had
been held by W. Mel Christie
OF Duval county, while he dc,
Tended his position on the floor
Speaker Tomasello took imme
date steps Ia bring the session Il
a close. Word was sent 10 tn,
senate that the house was read,
for adjournment. Clocks in III.
senate and house chambers wer,
rextarted.
With all the ceremony imeiden
10 the occasion the 1888 session
Of the Florida legislature adjourn
ed sine die.