Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-14
TALLAHASSEE.

A Daring Legislator and Man of Nerve
Ahead of the Period-Time Must Be
the Educator-Let Down the Fences
Enclose the StOck-BilI for City Gov
ernments-Ship Canals First Lock.
TALLAHASSEE, Feb PA member of the
Assembly has actually had the unheard-of
temerity to wage war upon the lean kline
and razor backed and auger- -nosed swine OF
Florida He deliberately proposes to dc away
with fences, and to restrain his neighbors'
herds and focks from trespassing upon his
such cheeky isudacityg This bold fefOrmer
proposes to keep his own stock from
damaging the property Of others, and
does not intend TO have his own
injured. He very quietly says: snow,
I am going to tear down the fences around
my corn field or vegetable farm, as the case
may be. and if q stray hog, or COW, or horse,
or mule comes into my field and roots mp my
potatoes or deYOurs my roasting ears, VIII
capture the animal, pen him, and not only
make the owner pay me for feeding the crit
ter. but compensate me besides for the
amount Of loss have sustained by reason OF
the trespass. No necessity hereaItef ioF any
more fences, pig tight, b1l strong or hoTsG s
high-no more hard work I'D splltting ana
hauling rails, for the law viii be all de-
fence and protection require.
I verify fear, however, that the people OF
Florida are not vet sufficiently enlightened to
accept the proposition. The majority stun
firmly believe in giving the utmost license 70
cattle to roam where they please, and to de
pend on their wits for their daily food. Right
here IN Tallahassee, beneath the very shadow
Of the capitol, you can see at any moment the
porkers engaged in tearing up the sidewalks
and forming traps and pitfalls Tor the night
pedestrian. Cattle sleep IN the streets, CIV
ing the strolling young gentlemen on the!F
way to visit their sweethearts fine oppOrtuni-
ties for implement. Is it to be supposed that
the members from the rural districts, seeing
the negligence that prevails here, can be IN
- 1.ac gnff of "a
that they have enjoyed from time immemo-
rial :. -. the thought. | am very fearful
that this h adyelGurer is at least decade
in advance OF the presCe H''eration
Seriously. however, tne most nee
Fessary one, and has worked well where II =
in operation. The expenses Of making ana
repairing fences Is enormous, and Is a heaVy
burden upon farmers. A tree rails, crushing
the fence, andi twlnklIng your field swaTTns
with cattle, who tread down and destroy a.
much or more than they consume. The total
amount Of capital locked mp in fences in this
country is a sum OF marvellous figures, anu
would 20 far towards paving off the national
indebtedness. II TINS could De ll1ted from the
shoulders OF our hard working yeomanrY,
their labor would not only be greatly
lessened, but their gains largey increased.
The bill proposes to allow the freeholders OF
any county the opportunity of determining by
an election the VIII Of the voters on the sub
iect. Of course it viii arouse strong opposi-
tion, not only among the people, but IN the
Legislature, and is most probably doomed to
defeat but il should be renewed at each ses-.
sion and handled IN the State press until the
good people overcome their prejudice ana be
come familiariZed with the subject. 1t must
and viii eventually succeed as soon as the
people understand its merits and advantage
and discover that il is to their interest: Then
improved stock, of all descriptions, VIII be the
rule and not the exception, and fat pork, beef
and mutton will be more frequently seen IN
the markets.
Year by wear the ranges Of the nOmadic cat
tie become more and more circumscrlbed, Just
in proportion as the country i settled, and
even down in Brevard, Dade, Manatee and
Monroe those men who now count their stock
by the thousands will find the occupation so
improbable that they will be compelled 10
emigrate or abandon the business. The crack
of the whip and the whoOp of the cowboy
viii soon be sounds of the past and must soon
disappear before the march OF civilization.
4 bin to provide for the Incorporation OF
cities and towns. and to establish UNIFORM
system of municipal government IN the State,
contains the following provisions. Such IN
corporations are empowered TO raise Dy TAX
and assessment upon real and personal prop
erty. and by license tax not to exceed 30 per
cent. of the State taE. such amounts as are
necessary for the improvement and govern
ment of the city. and to have the same author
ity over such matters as the State possesses.
The valuation of city property IS to be
governed by the State assessment and the total
taxes are not to exceed per cent. upon the
state valuation: but this rule Is not to prevent
the imposition of such taxes as are requisite TO
meet the interest on outstanding debts and to
provide for the ultimate payment OF the pfln-
clDal. No city government tdu lidhC
appropriation any one year than can be col
Iected by taxation, and no officer OF the cor
poration can issue warrant except IN pay
ment of an Appropriation.
All collections and assessments heretofore
of taxes are legaliZed and confirmed, and
those not paid can be enforced and collected
in the manner prescribed by law, ana not
withstanding the failure to give the notice re-
quired.
After long, tedious and weary parlIa-
mentary battle, the ship canal bill was order
lafn zfsaFsfl
The patience of the Senators, except such a5
were pecally interested had become utterly
exhausted, and there were several occasions
during the discussion Ewhen a motion for its
indefinite postponement, if pressed, might
have been carried. The interests of the
states have been as carefully guarded as pos
sble, and the measure mas oeen shoTn OF
many Objectionable features. 1t may again
be forced 10 undergo opposition on It's thrd
reading, and even if it passes the Senate, VIII
be subjected to close scrutiny in the Assem-
bly. It's ultimate success is by no means as
sured.
The Assembly committee on the subject has
reported fayorably ON two bills, one providing
for a uniform series of school books to be used
in the public schools, and the other forbidding
school officers from dealing in school text
books. These measures are IN accordance
with the recommendations of the State Super
intendent of Public instruction, and are wise
and salutary.
An adverse report has been had on the bill
to establish a reformatOry school for the edu-
cation of youthful criminals. The committee
say that. while admitting the desirability Of
such an institution, they deem the eXpendi-
ture of so large sum OF money as IS neceS-
sary for its establishment and maintenance
unWse in the present condition of our State.
In the future, when other and more urgent
public needs shall have been met, a reform
school for juvenile Offenders can be established
without burdening the people, and greatly TO
the improvement of public morals.
Such an establishment is urgently needed
in the interest of economy. Scores of negro
gamins roam the streets of our larger towns
and cities, without any visible means of sup
port, and growing up in idleness and igno-
rance to become the future occupants of the
prisoners dock and inmates of the peniten-
tiary. Some steps are demanded in their be
half to add to the security of society.
That veXed question, the extension of the
corporate limits of jacksonville. has been
again postponed till next Monday. Its sup
p0rters and opponents in and around that city
have been vigorously at work, and many pc
titiOns for and against have been laid before
the Senate. Good men are arrayed on either
side and there is great diversity OF opinion.
If il becomes law it Will be with the proyisO
that the voters in the suburbs proposed to be
annexed viii be allowed to manifest their
views at the ballot-bOX.
Nothing Of special importance was done in
either House to-day. Both bodies are getting
behind with their work, and bills are accumu-
lating rapidly on the desks of the secretaries.
There will soon be necessity for night sessions.
Nearly $50 bills have been introduced since
the commencement of the session, and even at
this late day their numbers do not sensibly de-
crease. There is now not the slightest proba-
bilty of an adjournment before the termina-
tion of the constitutional period.
Citizens of Tallahassee are preparing for
the approaching municipal election. The
whites hope to elect an efficient set of officers
and Town Council. The weather is warm and
pleasant w. II. b.
Democrats Domi inant in the Golden
State.
Washington Special.
Ex-senator Booth, of California, who