Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 20

Lost? ere Wqrmony In By MARTIN DYCKMAN For A Better Florida, Section TALLAHASSEE When the Leelslature convenes (pCdUdhaseee :.4 I-' bilitation of criminals, abating pollution, reforming insurance and the courts, modernizing education and protecting the consumer to cite major goals that Askew set forth in his own inaugural address. His 12 years in the Legislature's vineyards equip him better than most governors to harvest a bumper crop. And he will be dealing, more or less comfortably, with legislative leaders who are his contemporaries and former colleagues. "We have an excellent relationship," says House Speaker Richard Pettigrew, D-Miami. "The governor has maintained an entirely appropriate posture in regard to the He is giving policy leadership, he's encouraging the Legislature to rethink all the old programs, and, challenging it to do a better job than he's had time to do in his brief time in office THINK," says Senate President Jerry Thomas, Jupiter "one of the most important things is a very Tuesday, it will mark the first regular session 'since 1957 l.

in which Reubin Askew has not been a member of the House or the Senate. That Askew is now governor signifies' many ''other 'i, portentous y- The first session since 1963 in which lawmakers can relate or react to a governor who emerged, from among them, who understands them and whoaspects their independence as much as he values his own. The first session since 1965 in which the governor and a majority of the Legislature are of the same politl- cal party. For 68 of the 87 "veterans" In the House a majority, in fact, of its 119 members this is, Wholly, new experience; a happy one for the majority Demo-crats, a sad one for the strong respect for each other a strong respect in the Senate for the executive branch, and a strong respect of the separation of powers. "He (Askew) recognizes that's the real healthy aspect of a republic that there will be differences of opinion and possibly of philosophy.

And in Askew we have an exceedingly well-informed governor." Thomas recalled that when House-Senate conferees bogged down on insurance disputes during February's special session, they one particularly trouble- (See TALLAHASSEE, 8-B) 0 Truly the first session since rural rule and proxy Voting vanished into the mists that a governor and Legislature seem of the same urban-oriented, reformist frame of mind. SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES plainly suggest that never before have political conditions been, better for reforming taxes, housing the poor, correcting crime through reha- LEGISLATURE OPENS TUESDAY SECTION News Of FLORIDA Sunday, April 4, 1971 1ifttT'ff Si 45? V' ma av By RICH OITEL Associated Presi Writer TALLAHASSEE Taxes and prison reforms are heavy on the minds of leading lawmakers with two days remaining before the start of the 1971 legislative session a vivid contrast to one year, ago. In April 1970, the dawning stages of an election year, leaders of the Senate and the House promised- citizens "no new taxes." With slight exceptions, they kept their word. THE CORRECTIONS system was accorded the low status it had become accustomed to, far down the line among such concerns as mental hospitals and What a change a year 'as: K'P MURRAY DUBBIN tax reform No. 1.

'tax reform program and has plcpd a $209-million tax pro- gram at the top of his shopping list for the session. The Legislature, not compromised by the butterflies? of an election year, has increased its staff and, hence, its availability of information tremendously. Work, in the fields of finance, taxation and appropriations has gone on at a heavy pace for months. INTEREST in prison 1 rei form has been stimulated by disorders this winter at Rai-ford, the state's largest pris on, and heightened coverage of corrections by Florida news media. Again, legisla- tive committees have developed volumes of new information on justice in the state.

tilt all begins with the con-- yipning of the Senate and -House at 9 a.m.; Tuesday. The first day is planned as a contrast to the flowers, oratory and early quitting times of past session openers. BOTH House and Senate leaders plan a full working day, complete with action on bills. The formal introduction of bills in the two chambers likely will take up hours. And both chambers are expected 5 4 4 I ,1 ''-i' "Tte ft for that is everything from lis i MUM I'tf' 1 .1 A' '''V'Staf? Photos by George Trabant and Tom Bennett one end of the rainbow to the other," said House Rules Committee Chairman Murray Dubbin and other leaders rank tax reform the No.

1 concern of the 60-day session, and prison reform close behind it. JERRY THOMAS an historical first. Tho Music Was Hot But The Weather Was Cool scope of programs to which it THE REASON'S for the has committed itself most- "It was real coo-oool, man!" That was the comment of one teenager at St. Petersburg's 50th Parade of States Saturday, high point of the city's gigantic annual Festival of States. That remark may have referred to the smart-stepping bands, such as the South Hagerstown High School Band from Hagers-town, Md.

(above), or it may have referred to the weather temperatures in the low about 15 degrees below normal for April. But a great time was had by all, especially members of the Wilson Senior High School Band of West Lawn, Pa. (below), who won the Florida Governor's Cup as the best out-of-state band. Monday's Times will be a big, colorful souvenir edition of the entire festival, including many parade pictures. Drominence of both are clear, education, Democratic Gov.

Reubin The state faces a severe fi- nancial pinch caused by the Askew ran on a "fair-share" (See LEGISLATURE, 3-B) JEFFERSON COUNTY Poor People' Marchers Have A Confrontation TALLAHASSEE (IP) About 140 "poor people" demonstrators resumed a march toward Tallahassee is in Leon the State Human Relations County. Commission, helped mediate SPIVER GORDON, a South- tween the marchers and pm rhrfctian T.PnrWshin c.m. deputies and State -Highway the capital along narrow, high-speed U.S. 90 Saturday ference sald Patrol troopers. aner a coniron anon wun jei- deputies forced demonstrators XHEY (the demonstrators) ferson County deputies.

off the pavement and onto the came Qut of Monticello ap. Authorities said no arrests grassy shoulder. parently without any notice were made. Gordon said the SCLC'sent -and proceeded out to the high-Jefferson County Sheriff word to Tallahassee for "rein- way, when the sheriff caught Don Watson, who drove along forcements" to bolster the up with them and ordered the march route in his squad strength of the march group, them off the road," Douglas car with a badge-wearing The march resumed after said. platinum blonde beside him, about a half-hour when the "They alleged the deputies -J fs- i 4- said his deputies ordered the demonstrators agreed to walk shoved some of the women black marchers off the two- on the opposite side of the and children." lane highway about three highway facing traffic in miles east of the Leon- columns of two.

The compromise included (See MARCH, 3-B) Harry Doublas, director of Jefferson County line. mm The Ballot 1974? On In athanie I Reed. -I, He's outspoken, sometimes dangerously so (note the appraisal of Nixon's chances in 1792), and he doesn't hesitate to step on toes. It's an image the public seems to like. The fact that he will become, with U.S.

Senate confirmation, a high-ranking official in the federal agency most concerned with natural resources should do nothing to hurt his image, and probably will enhance it. NATHANIEL REED, the conservationist, no doubt always will be a conservationist. But now he's opened the door, at least, to the possibility he might try to expand his sphere of interest and ney, who with Kirk tried to destroy William C. Cramer and instead created a rift in the Florida Republican Party that might not heal for many years, much less by 1974. ON THE other hand, Reed came out of the intramural warfare without a single black mark and could become the catalyst that the GOP needs to pull the party back together.

It is hard to imagine the Cramer forces going all out to Gurney's re-election Reed? He's young (37 now), he's rich (a multi-million), and he has the confidence, admiration and respect of thousands, maybe millions, of tal conscience might fall back into the quagmire of apathy and-or indecision. Thus, he'll be watching closely from And, continuing the speculation, it is worth rioting that another influential political post will be up for grabs in 1974. THAT IS the job of U.S. senator, a position now held by Republican Edward Gur-ney of Winter Park. Political pundits probably will poo-poo the idea that Reed might challenge Gurney, assuming Gurney intends to seek re-election.

After all, they will say, Reed was very close to former governor Claude Kirk, who was very close to Gur office in which he could help correct the course. "A LOT depends on what happens in the state during the next two years," he said, "but I do not rule out the possibility that I 'will become a candidate for off ice." Reed did not mention a specific office, nor would he under questioning. But the statement opens the door to quite a bit of speculation. The 1972 election will see races for the U.S. House of Representatives and the Florida House and Senate.

IT'S DIFFICULT to think of Reed running for" one of these offices, although it certainly is not out of the question. But he did say "two years" on several occasions. That takes us into April 1973 and no election of. monumental importance will take place that year. But that would be the year to gear up for a major political effort in 1974.

The governor's chair will be on the line in 1974 and it seems logical to assume that Democratic Gov. Reubin Askew will try for another four-year term: REED has said publicly and 'privately that he has nothing but the highest admiration and respect for Askew, but he "also has said that Askew is a "single-minded man" and right now the governor's sole aim is to bring the state onto sound financial footing. By JAMES RYAN Of The Times Staff Floridians recognize the name of Nathaniel Pryor Reed as that of a conservationist and pollution fighter. It might be that in a few years they will recognize the name as that of a political candidate as well. Nat Reed Thursday resigned as chairman of the Florida Air and Water Pollution Control Board.

Next week, possibly, he will become assistant secretary of the interior for fish and wildlife and the National Park Service. IN ANNOUNCING his resignation, Reed said, "I doubt if I'll be gone more than two years. I love Florida. I think I'll miss it too much to be gone any There was no doubt about the sincerity of these statements. But was there more? There was.

For one thing, Reed is not entirely convinced that the Nixon Administration will be returned to office by the voters in 1972. A lifelong Republican he could become a victim of the change. In the interim, he plans to keep a close eye on Florida and its progress, particularly its quest for environmental quality. If there is faltering, he very well might run for an NAT REED he'll be watching. Reed has no quarrel with that, but in the struggle to exchange red ink for black, he's afraid that the long strides Florida has made toward development of an environmen.