Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-27
TALLAHASSEE TOPICS.
GOSSIP IN THE MIDST OF THE
SESSION.
Time Wasted by the Legislature-How
to Economical Question Determined
No MiscegenatiOn-The Veterans to
be PensiOned-The ThOmasville Rail-
rOad-MOre Land Wanted.


No MiscegenatiOn-The Veterans to
be PensiOned-The ThOmasville Rail-
rOad-More Land Wanted.
TALLAHASSEE, Jan. 25.-For the first time
since the session commenced, all of the mem
bers of the Senate were present at roll call on
last Tuesday. This, by no means, indicates
that there has been, generally speaking, a
thin attendance of that body. On the con-
trary, there has been but little absenteeism
and the daily Journals will show that the SEN
ators have been quite attentive to their duties,
and they have accomplished much work since
the Legislature convened.
Much time could be economical by the
passage of a bill giving the judges of the Cir
cult or County Courts the necessary authority
to declare persons the heirs -at-law of parties
desiring to adopt them, without resorting to the
tedious process OF legislative aid to effect the
purpose. Many such bills have been acted on
during the present session. Such an act is
greatly needed, and one has been presented to
accomplish the object.
So with the numberless memorials and
numerous resolutions, which, as a general rule
should be disposed of at once without being
referred to committee for examination and
report. Much valuable time is thus wasted
in the consideration of matters usually of
little Importance.
The Committee on Judiciary in the As
sembly have disposed of q mOoted question in
the following report: ''Having considered re-
solution No. 16, inquiring whether the present
statutory method of recovering possession by
landlords from derelict tenants of houses be
the best that may be devised, and suggesting
thatJ Justices be empowered to act in such cases
beg leave to report as follows: That under
our constitution questions involving the titles
or right of possession of real estate are forbid
den to be tried before Justices of the Peace
and as much as the questions of the possession
OF houses are so inseparably connected with
those of the right of possession that il would
DllnR about
hons to Justices of the Peace, your commit
tee believe that a law giving Justices of the
Peace jurisdiction in such matters would
bring about useless litigation, inasmuch as
they have not sufficient powers under our con-
sttutiOn to give adequate relief in the cases
that might be brought before them"
The Assembly also placed a stern and en-
phatic quetus upon the bill to repeal the act
relating TO the intermarriage of whites and
negroes, and that by the decisive vote of
fifty to seventeen. The same body also has
indefinitely postponed the bill directing the
Boards of Education of the East and West
Florida Seminaries to establish branch insti-
tutions for the use of cOlOred children. The
resources OF these schools are now SO small
that to divide the fund would greatly impair
their usefulness and endanger their very eX-
istence.
relating to landlords lien, for what and upon
what it exists, was defeated after considerable
debate by a small majority.
1t is to be hoped that the joint resolution
praying that the names of the sur
viving soldiers of the war of 1856
and of the Mexican war be placed
upon the pension rolls of the United States.
and that the soldiers of the war of 1S56-7-S be
given bounty land, will attract the attention
of the national authorities. These old vete-
rams certainly have claims, and deserve some
consideration.
The last amendment to the bill granting aid
to the Thomasville, Tallahassee and Gulf
Railroad was as follows; That should it be
found hereafter that any of the lands granted
nv Rf 70 hn sol uail ilV.ra
not belong to the State of Florida, the State
of Florida shall not be held liable to make
good to said railroad company any deficiency
in lands or damages arising therefrom, which
said railroad company shall sustain by reason
of the inability of the State to convey such
lands to said railroad company.
Migrants and tramps, by the provisions of
bill introduced for their benefit, will not be
permitted to wander about and molest the
good people of the State, but are liable to ar
rest and imprisonment This class have never
found much favor in this community,
The Green Cove and MeIrOse Railroad
Company have asked for an additional grant
of 5000 acres per mlle to be selected from any
even or odd numbered sections, lying any
where within twenty miles of their line of
road, that may not otherwise have been dis
posed of, and that the additional land so
granted shall vest in the company upon the
completion and ironing of every section of ten
miles.
Bills have been introduced for regulating
the public printing, and also the official print
ing of the several counties, The former con-
stitutes the Secretary of State, Comptroller
and Treasurer, Commissioners of Public
Printing, with powers to contract for and su-
perintend the same. They are required every
two years to advertise for proposals to do the
public printing, and it is to be awarded to the
person making the lowest bid. The proposals
are to be based upon large number of speci-
ficatiOns, stipulatiOns and Requirements, which
are set forth in the bill with great minuteness.
These include the quality Of paper. descrip
ton of type, style of binding, etc, etc
The party obtaining the contract is required
to give bond of two thousand dollars, with
good securities, for the faithful execution of
the work.
The bill relating to tRe county printing is
modified in some respects from that which
was defeated last week. 1t fixes the rates of
legal advertisements and official notices at
not exceeding nifty cents per square each in
sertiOn nOnpareiI type, and Furnishes the col
lusiOn of two or more publishers by a with
draWal of the contract.
The report of the East Florida Seminarv at
Gainesville makes creditable showing for
that institution. The catalogue gives the
names of l55 pHp,is during the last year, sixty
five of whom reside in other counties than
Alachua: Fifteen counties were represented.
In addition to the studies which range from
primary to Latin, Greek ana the higher
mathematics, there lS e CORPS of cadets under
the command or an officer in the regular
army, who mas been detached for that pur-
pose. The seminary IS doing q good work, is
well managed, has an efficient corps of teach
ers, and deserves the liberal support of the
community,
The feature of the day has been the debate
in the Assembly on the convention bill,
known as the "short cut method" and the
vote theron. Mr.. Mcclellan, of Jackson.
made an argument in favor of, ana Messrs
DOugherty (Speaker), of Volusla, and Mabrv
against the bill. 4heir efforts were highly
creditahle 10 THE speakers. As / predicted.
the measure was indefinitely postponed by
vote Of A 42 to 81, larger majority than was an
An analysis of the vote gives the follawine
results ana shows the diversity 9f 9pinian N.Y.
the subject. It win be seen fhsi aS 5So %
Eere we L lhe@mseFats. @ IndepeHdent 'herf snS
ep nandarti Ivtr'"teVeF republicans. Two indie
united with 20 Democrats in the
Negative. Two members were paired and
one was absent, making up the entire number
OF 16. What will be the next step in the pro-
gramme remains to be developed.
In the Senate, the bill removing the State
House from Tallahassee to Gainesville came
up for second reading, and stood the fire of
numerous amendments. Propositions for re-
mOval to Jacksonville, Ocala, Palatka, Eau
Gallie, CerrO GOrdO, Lake DeFuniak. Pensa-
cola, Madison and other points were made and
defeated, and the bill went to the Engrossing
Committee.
The bill establishing a Bureau of Agricul-
turc and Commission of Immigation was
amended and ordered engrossed.
Governor BlOXhams reception is to take
place tonight, and as the invitations have
been very general there will be a crush
weather - in nm nln