The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1943-05-29
SITTING IN WITH
The LAWMAKERS
BY RUSSELL KAY
lFlorida Bros Assoelatlonl

While newspaper men cover.
ing the Legislative session 30 not
rate the iilustriouS title of Hon
orabls and arc not addressed
as THE Gnetleman from 50 and
So, they nevertheless enjoy
numerous advantages.
The press table is located just
TO the right of the Speaker IN
the spacious air conditioned
House chamber whore they can
see and hear 90 best advantage.
Smoking is permitted and pages
who constantly fit about tn,
chamber will gladly bring one
a Coca-Cola at the snap of a
finger.
Gifts to lawmakers occur at
frequent intervals and are of
every kind and character. Gen
tlemen of the Press are usually
included among the Recipients,
despite the fact we have no
vote Since the session open
ed we have received choice eel
cry from Seminole county,
grapefruit wine from Lake coun-
ty-a product of the Poole Win
cry at Clermont-honey from
the State Beekeepers Association,
picked shrimp from Nassau
county-gift of Senator and Mrs.
McArthur-cigars and cigarettes
from GUESS WHO. oranges from
Lake and Polk, and an OCCASION
al important room number.
Invitations to this and that
generally include the press, ,
and among those received since
the session opened were a buff
fet supper given by Mr.. and
Mrs. Boyce Williams at their de-
hghtful home, supper at
Spaghetti Joe's given by Repre-
sentative Joe Peoples of GladeS
a reception at the Mansion,
picnic supper at the estate oil
Senator Leroy Collins, cock
tail party at the home of Secre-
tary Ralph Davis, a party and
dance given by the Tallahassee
Democrat at the home of Rainey
Cawthon, a party given by the
Speaker and Mrs. Simpson at
The Grove, stag party at the
country club staged by Senate
President Philip Beall, a press
supper honoring the dean of our
group, editor Willis Ball of the
Times Union, given by Cover
nor and Mrs. Holland, and a
shrimp supper at the American
Legion hall staged by the ST
Johns County delegation.
The other evening Represen-
tative Leo Wotitzky, the COVER
nor's legislative representative
Campbell Thornall and l were
holding a little bull session IN
front of the hotel where a taxi
drove up to emit Senator Stands
of Gainesville.
Thornall, recalling a remark
the Senator had made few
days earlier about cutting eel
cry on his farm, attempted to
make conversation with the in
quiry, Have you started cutting
that celery yet, SENATOR" Stands.
who had just come from an APP
preparations Committee meeting
with his mind on budgets, snap
ped back, Heck no, you know
you can cut SALARIES!'
If an innocent bystander were
to drift into either the House OF
Senate chambers and not know
where he was, he'd probably
figure he was attending either
a meeting of welfare workers oil
a Townsend convention. No mat
ter what kind of a bill is under
discussion, debate never gets
very far before some guy jumps
up on his hind feet and start
talkin' about the old people, tht
blind and the dependent chill
dren.
Representative Perry MURRAY
of Polk got so fed up with it las
week that he urged his colleague:
to quit taking up so much time
making campaign speeches ane
get down 70 earth with their re