Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-01

Sketch of Dr. Rs } PerPY-A Good
Bill of HIs-EmancipatIOn jam
Where Were the White Re-
publIcans?-Dr. COnOVer Blows His
Horn = Temperance Movement
Lieutenant Governor Bethel.
TALLAHASSEE, January Sc.-Dr. Robert ].
Perry. one of the members of the Assembly
from Monroe county, has recently introduced
the following very excellent bill. 1t provides
that
"All Aldermen hereafter elected for the in
corporated cities and towns in this State shall
be elected for and hold their office for the
term of two years. Provided: That at the first
meeting of the said Aldermen, so elected under
the provisions Of this act, they SHALL by lot,
divide their body into two classes, as nearly
equal in number as possible. one OF which
classes shall hold their office for two years,
and the other class shall hold Office for one
year, and an election shall be holden to elect
the successors of each class, SO to elect their
successors at the expiration of the term of the
said classes respectively.
One-third of the board will thus be composed
OF men possessed OF some experience in muni-
cipal affairs. and who will have a general
knowledge of the wants of the community in
which they reside.
DIR. Perry wes born in Pittsylvania county,
Virginia, in 1888. of English and Scotch extrac-
tion. He was educated at the University of
Tennessee, and graduated in medicine IN 1860.
I16 GuJSEoQ tu6 SOQI0QeFAB6 army LlO LOllOW-
ing year as private in Col Douglass Ninth
Tennessee Regiment During the same year
he was appointed Assistant Surgeon, and
was promoted to the rank of Surgeon in 1853
Surrendering with Gen. Joseph +. JohnSton's
army at Greensboro, N. c., in 1865, he started
off on a wild-goose chase to Brazil, and, re.
turning, settled in Key West in 1867. In that
city he pursued the practice Of his profession
until 1870, when he accepted the position of
Acting Assistant Surgeon in the United States
naval service. He was honorably discharged
in 1879 under an act of Congress mastering
out volunteer officers of the navy.
Since that time he has been successfully en-
gagged in the drug business at Key West. He
married an accomplished daughter of Hon. ].
b. Browne, who formerly represented Monroe
county in the State Senate.
DR.. Perry stands high in the Masonic fra
ternity, having served in '79 and 80 as Grand
High Priest OF the Florida Grand Chapter of
elected at the annual meeting of the Grand
Lodge. their Deputy Grand Master
That he is popular at home is demonstrated
by the fact that he is the present active and
efficient Mayer of Key West.
DR.. Perry is a fne-looking gentleman, of
pleasant and agreeable manners, and bears the
reputation very deservedly of being one of the
most intelligent and industrious members of
the Assembly.
The negroes of this county celebrated yes
terday the anniversary of the emancipation
proclamation. Large numbers gathered at an
early hour around the stand, which had been
erected on the court house square. and lis
tened to addresses from Brudder Widderspoon,
g. w. Stewart, A. B. Osgood and John Wallace
Dr. Conover was the only white man on the
pla form, and when he arose and removed his
hat, his bald Uranium gliStened in the sun like
an ivory ball amid a pile of twelve-pounder
shells.
His remarks were a vindication of himself
against "the charges of designing men of his
own party and he made no allusion to the
prosecuted poliico-parson, who yearDs to get
into Congress.
At the close of his speech an announcement
was made that a collection would be taken up
for the benefit Of Brudder Witherspoon This
caused the audience to disperse with startling
rapidity, and very much doubt if 1.-THE dusky
Sign-post on the road to Paradise received
enough to defray his expenses for one week
in the city OF Washington. The colored Re-
pubIicaus can't help him. ahd the white ones
WON'T so that the distinguished divine stands
apoor chance of attaining his wishes
One of the banners bore the inscription ''Our
Sainted Lincoln
nected with the Legislature put in an appear
ance. Alachua's little giant, now in the city
was not present.
A petition, numerously signed by parties of
Nassau county, has been received, pray ing
that the license imposed upon those who sell
spirituous liquors be raised from $50 to Fl0-
600. Many of the signatures are those of mer-
chants who are now dealers in the article The
special committee on the subject is preparing
some stringent legislation, which will probably
be sanctioned, as there is strong temperance
element in both houses
good bill went through the Assembly yes
terday, imposing heavy penalties on those in
terfering with laborers while engaged in their
avocations. This is intended to apply to such
cases as the mill riots, that resulted last sum-
mer In the loss of life at Jacksonville
Lieutenant Governor l.. w. Bethel, President
of the Senate, was born in Nassau New Provi-
dence, in 1885, and removed with his parents to
Key West in the year 1S47. He was educated
at Walnut Hill School, in the town Of Geneva,
New York
His law studies were pursued in the office of
Hon Homer q. Plartz United States District
Attorney, and In 1868 he was admitted to
practice. For four years he served his county
as its solicitor, and for four years successfully
he was elected Mayor of Key West He DOS
sesses the confidence of the Cosmopolitan
population OF that extreme Gulf city to re-
ma-kable extent, and his popularity among
the large Cuban element is Inboundsd.
at the Democratic State Convention last
summer his nomination for his present posi-
ton was made by reclamation, and the large
majority given by Monroe county is attributa-
bic to great extent to his individual effortg
Governor Bethel is a gentleman OF remarka-
bly, fine personal appearance, and would be a
man OF note anywhere. His manners are easy
comes in contact most favorably.
Rumor has it that the eligible ladies OF Tala-
hassee were rather chagrined to learn, in re-
sponse to their anxious inquiries, after his ar
ing wife, and the tender father of five lovely
children.
He presides over the Senate with grace and
dignity, rules promptly and correctly, and is
held in great esteem by that body.
Mr.. A. G. Gentry, of your city, and son OF
the irrepressible" and ubiquitous" travelling
agent of the MORNING News, is now one of the
attaches OF the Tallahassee City Hotel He is
as genial. and bids fair to be as popular, as his
father. w. b. B.