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March 30, 1953
Mr. Allen Morris
Capitol
Tallahassee, Florida
Dear Allen!
As you have heard, I did not plan to name the members of the
Rules 00mmittee prior to the opening of the session, but felt
so badly about the misunderstanding which arose over previous
committee releases that I am glad to do this. If you need
these names for a story fine--if you don't. it won't make
me mad if you leave them out entirely and I can follow my
original plan of release.
I am sorry I was unable to get in touch with you while I was
there over the weekend, I called by what was pointed out to
me as your new office, to find you gone, and hoped to see
you down at the Press Association looting. Then I called your
home and office later but wes unable to reach you at either
of those places.
The Rules Committee, as I understand it, should be a committee
the business of which is to facilitate the consideration by
the House, under established rules of procedure, of legislation
important to the State, and to expedite the consideration of all
legislation.
Proposed Rule 26, which is substantially the same as Rule 26
of the 1951 House, provides that "The committee on Rules and
calendar may, at its discretion, submit a special order of
business to be considered on a specific legislative day, or
part of a day." Rule 27, of course, provides for the Rules
Committee to set a special order calendar from day to day.
It is not my understanding that these provisions of the rules
were designed to further the interest of any particular
Legislator or the preferential consideration of his legislation,
but to enable the House to proceed in an orderly fashion to
Page 2--Mr. Allen horris--3/3o/53
a consideration of those measures which the interest or the
State or Florida demands should he first considered.
It further seems to me that acting under the authority of
these rules the Rules Committee should also attempt to
organise the work of the House in such fashion that legisla-
tion should he considered as a part or a special class
rather than on a catch-as-cstch-can basis.
To achieve these purposes it is essential that the Rules
Committee be composed of persons who have a background of
experience in the operation of the House which enable them
to see the broad picture of legislation in a proper
prospective. It should also be composed of members who,
individually, can advise the other members of the Committee
as to the progress of legislation from committees, so that
the Rules Committee can understand not only what legislation
faces them on the calendar, but also what legislation is still
in committees but can be expected to be reported out, favorably
or unfavorably, and on what schedule.
To that end I have waived the usual privilege of the Speaker
to appoint the Rules Committee individuals who might be
considered friendly to him, and have appointed to that
Committee the Chairmen of committees from which may be
expected to come the bulk of the legislation which the House
must consider. This does not mean that the Chairmen of all
important committees are on the Rules Committee, but it does
mean that those who are on the Rules Committee are all
Chairmen of what I deem to be important committees. Those
committee members, and they are of course auoject to change
at any time up to their announcement on the opening day of
the session, as follows:
Cobb of Volusia Floyd of Dede
Rood 0? Manatee Morgan of Duval
Conner of Bradford Moody of Hillsborough
David of Broward Johnson of Hillsborough
Fascell or Dede McFarland of Gadsen
Atkinson of Leon Boyd of Lake
Ayres of Marion Puqua of Manatee
Bollinger of Palm Beach Elliott of Palm Beach
Surles or Polk Murray 0! Polk
Page 3--Mr. Allen Horrie--3/BU/53
Heine of St. Johns
Shepperd of St. John. and
williams of Seminole
Allen, you know or course that on may take certain
liberties with the above quotat on, and it would seem
proper to me for you to lake such references in your
article to the new rules as you understand them, and the
purposes we were trying to achieve.
Uith warmest personal regards I an
Sincerely yours,
C. Farris Bryant
1r
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1rhK 95?
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:.r>;:ai.ic:r:-tion of those sneasures wble:i tl.e 1titorest of U. L;ito of --lorida demana should a f'irst canaidered. D. further men to ine tint actirig under the authority o .as TEla t:,rRules Colatuittee should also attempt to -e-;:Inim -'.work of tuo i:ou:,e in auch fashion th:st legl .Joe 1500.1! a corisideret:.a a part o-: a speelal clas 2 -t .::..2 cliari on a catels-iic-catch-can ;m b. N ;-fr:10ve L::otic purposra it la 0::.r-e'1t jal that the fmler. -..rn..' t te-:..e compord of percors -....o have a background or :192!'10000 121 ti.C 0-yr:rlt 200 Of t 2 tiOude whiCh enEi .-16 ti.G' a :n i.i.c : roaa pie i u--e of legi 1:tt iori in a proper .[ --: et '-ve It 3 oul:.| -1150 i -cc r.posed of mal er.-. 'i'io, : lviduull:. can tav lo: ..l:e otaer riew.:cra of the Jommt. ..t-: i a v:gress of 10;-:1. lation fror: coutmitteet :so th.. .: a.2:.: ac:ialttee :.:r. u;cl-:ratared rial. orily what legielet c:.--;. r. ..ar:: Clit the calender, :-ut alto wi:at legis1,.E100 1:e .no ir'.1-.tr. -23 :-ut r:2: e expected -.O oc report,.d at fav 3 2..'a.:3ra. 17, a... :::. wb:n ;,0:.:51. .e :... t ...::.; I have .:e '.ved tae -21 privilege of the -pe:S L-: :<:-;:.0'.[.. tir: dul!:e Go:t-liitte--:td iv idimic wl.o !.1;;nt 2::.rs.G lendly :-o 1. .m, and 2:ave appotreted t', theit lo:.1.:tits:. t .. -Chair,2c. o e o. 11tterr.:: 1-roia which n-; sa: pre--ee to come tiae .ulk of i .s legislation wuic: ria lie a -.:'""r. :-.--r-. s ala does noi mari the'. ti:e Cua el::c.: 0:' s r.po' ';:' .s e committee are on t: .: Rules com-nittee, : ett 10 .1 ... .t:.a ti.ose wlo -:,rra ora t:ta E.les Coytraitto a all -:31-:30-1 of what I a..:.:-1 to 1 c: Im;,ortant conmittee-,. .'.03 co-i '.tre.: 1:1euiars, am t ..y are of ourse ca. jeet --. ei.an :t' -:..: L -:r-e -1p to thO ..cinouncement on thrs opening :ia-f O Lie .:.:.: '.01'., er' folit.:: '..o. 1. 7 Voluv ia 71ayd of Ade 200.1 : Meate-: ::orgain 0:' Duval Co-:me:of farrid Cord -:aody oi' 5:.lle ..oroui5. Invid of :fro.;.tre Jo.,nson of ]|111. orou,5i. --5 -:011 of Daa:...?arlano of Gud.. -:.r. .a ilir.on of leon hoyd of lake igr-:s of Etrion Fuqua of yanate 50l~-liger of Palia .:ur-:. ~11tott of --alm me-1 .url--.of Polk : urray of Polk
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