Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-05
FROM FL0RIDA'S CAPITAL
YESTERDAYS LEGISLATIVE PRO.
CEEDINGS.
Bills Introduced In the Senate and
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OfW. j. j. Dun
can, Ex-Member of the Legislature
from Hamilton County.


Assembly:
By Mr.. Plummet-To prevent the sellini
Of oleomargarine as butter.
By Mr.. Calling out the organizes
militia to aid the civil authorities.
By Mr.. Newsome-To amend the act Il
relation to public roads.
By Mr.. McCrary-For the better proteC
tion of laborers.
By Mr.. Moore-To provide for the execu
tion of writs in other counties than tha
whence issued.
The Legislature adjourned at IL m. on
OF respect for the death of W. j. J. Duncan
ex member of the Legislature from Hamil
ton county, who died last night of pneu
monia.
An Odd PetItiOn-Sketch OF Senator
Dell, of Alachua-A Good Demo
crat and Clever GentIemam-Th,
Raid on whisky Sellers 1--WE
Rocks in Their Path-The Gam
blers TO be Euchred-A WOrkfDs
Legislature - Fat Swine - Editor
ChOate-HOn. HI. A. L'EngIe.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla, February S.-Some yer.
odd and quaint petitions are from time to tim
brought to the attention of the Legislature
One of this character was recently introduced
from which take the following clauses:
'They are poor men, who are unable to pay
the bond without inflicting great hardship
upon themselves and families
They are good. law abiding citizens of ou
county. who believed they were only doing
poor innocent man favor in assigning hi
bond.
1--WE doubt very much the ab lity of the Stat,
to have convicted him, and we do not believC
that caused him to run away, but on account
Of other things that he had done. which the
said bondsmen were entirely ignorant of a
the time they assigned the bond.
Hon. John B. Dell is the first Democrat, who
has represented Alachua county in the Senate
since reconstruction.
He is tall of stature, slender, straight as al
arrow, and all his movements indicate vigol
and activity. His pleasant countenance anC
agreeable manners spring from a kind heart
and generous nature 1t is hardly necessary
to add that these advantages have given him 8
host of friends, and that he is strong mar
among young and old in Alachua.
His father, Colonel Maxey B Dell, was one
of the earliest settlers of Alachua and lived
there when the Seminoles piled the scalp knife
and tomahawk, and was often compelled to
After the close of the war in which many OF
the savages were captured and sent West, and
the remainder driven to the Everglades, Colonel
Dell returned to his homestead and remained
till his death, which occurred in 1854. He was
married three times, and reared a large family
of children.
Among these was Hon. Philip Dell, who for
sever / years represented his county in both
houses of the Legislature, and at Governor
Miton's death was Speaker of the Assembly.
The parents of the subject of this sketch
were both GjorgianS. Senator Dell was born
in Alachua, and has never moved from that
county. He is a skillful and successful plan
ter, and takes deep interest in agriculture,
and is now the Chairman OF the standing SEN
ate Committee on that subject He is about
forty-two years old, of fine physique, and bids
fair to attain green old age beneath the
shade Of his own vines and fig trees
Against his wishes he was nominated for the
Senate last summer, and with his cOnfreFeS of
the Assembly, made a bold and aggressive
campaign, resulting in the success of the en-
tire ticket by over five hundred majority He
i a sound, consistent Democrat, and will
always be fund squarely planted on the side
of good government
Two of the salient features of the bill. TO
which referred in my last letter, relative to
the sale and use of distilled ardent spirits, and
which was introduced by the joint Committee
on Temperance are as follows:
Sec 4. Any person or persons who shall en-
gage in the business or occupation mentioned
i'll the preceding sections shall be liable, on his
or their bond, for any injury sustained from
the drinking If distilled spirituous liquors. sold
by the person or persons, or the agent, or
clerk, or employees, engaged in Such business
or occupation at the place where such business
is carried on, and the wife or children Of such
person so injured shall have the right to bring
suit, by her or their next friend, on said bond
in the name of the Governor OF the State of
Florida, for the use and benefit of the wife or
children of the person so injured, for damages
sustained by reason of such injury.
n mar yNf1n shall call
distilled spirituous liquor to minor without
the written permission of the parent or person
having the charge of such minor, shall be gull
ty of a miSdemeanor, and, upon conviction
shall be punished by fine not exceeding one
hundred dollars, or imprisoned in the county
Jail not more than three months, or by inn
prisonment and fine, at the discretion Of the
court
1t is thought that the temperance men can
muster sufficient strength to put the bill
through, although it will arouse more or less
opposition. There will probably be several
amendments offered.
Another bill is in course Of preparation. in
tended to strike direct blow at the vice of
gambling, in all of its many hueS and colors.
If it becomes law, as judging from the tenn
per of the Legislature, presume it will, the
gang Of pestiferous biacklegs who infest the
State every winter will be forced to seek
other pastures.
The bill proposes to repeal the act granting
license to keno and all games OF chance, and
to punish all perSons engaged in gaining,
either as dealers, managers or participants.
The Legislature, thus far, has been en-
phatically working body. Each House gets
through with the orders of the day at the
morning session, leaving the afternoons for
the business Of the various committees. In
the Senate there have been no speeches longer
than ten minutes. But few, If any, of greater
length have been delivered in the Assembly.
There has been but little "buncombe," except
in the way of memorials to Congress, and not
much display of partisan feeling.
Tallahassee seems to be q hog paradise,
They are permitted to go where they please,
and do what they please, and hence grow fat
and saucy. There were killed here last week,
weighing respectively 422, 43S and 444 pounds
dressed. The latter was of the Essex variety,
and two years old, the others Berkshires, and
younger
Mr.. Choate, assistant editor of the Flortdian,
prepares weekly for his paper, a clear and con-
else compend of the WORK done by the Legisla-
ture He Is a hard and Industrious laborer in
the fields of journalism, and he and his senior
Captain Dyke have just about as much work
as they can stand up to.
Hon. 81. A. L L'EmgIe, State Treasurer, has
arrived, and will soon assume control of his
office. He will discharge his responsible
duties most faithfully, and viii be found equal
to the occasion.
The Senate had a lengthy session this morn
ing and disposed or a large amount OF busi-
ness. The press upon them was such that
they were compelled to hold an afternoon ses-
sion. Among the bills presented in that body
was one by Senator Dell, for the removal Of
the capitol to Gainesville, which was referred
to the Committee on State Institutions.
The weather Is cool, but clear and delightful.
w. II. B.