Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-02-15
TALLAHASSEE TOPICS.
NEARING THE CLOSE OF THE
SESSION.

constitutional Reform-Aid for Public
schools - Jacksonville Extension =
florida's COnvfcts-NO Slack of the
Flood of Bills - The state Fair at
Jacksonville.
TALLAHASSEE, Feb Il.-Another effort was
made in the Senate yesterday to rescind the
resolution adopted day or two since to attend
the State Fair next Thursday But for the
fact that the invitation had been accepted
and that the officers of the Central and West
ern Railroad had made arrangements for
special train for the occasion, the Senate
would have retraced their steps. There is
plenty of work for the Legislature and for the
committees. and it is quite doubtful if either
house will be able to overtake its business
during the session. Then, too, some are timid
as to the voice of public opinion, and want to
set themselves right on the record with their
constituents. There are future members of
Congress, Governors, and perhaps United
states Senators, in the present Legislature,
and it behOOves these ambitious gentlemen to
walk circumspectly.
Matters have been pretty well arranged now
Tor bringing the subject of a constitutional
convention to the people by the ''lOng-cut'
method, and all the necessary steps and re-
quirements have been adopted.
Inc nrst resolution acknowledges the ne
eesslty OF convention in the following
language:
The people Of the State of Florida. repre-
sented an Senate and assembly, do Fes0I6e as
JOtEo1os: That this Legislature agrees to and
the necessity for a revision of the entire con-
stitution of the State of Florida, contemplated
by joint resolution of the last Legislature,
entitled concurrent resolution relating to
call OF convention, and duly published as
required by section 2, article II, of said con-
stitution.
While the second provides for putting the
m n in 0nff 4, = 81
following effect:
Joint resolution recommending the electors
OF the next general election to vote for or
against convention:
WHEREAS, The Legislature OF 1881 did de-
termlne, by vote of a majority of all the
members elected to each of the houses thereof,
entire constitution of the State, did enter such
determination upon their respective journals,
with the yeas and nays thereon, and did refer
the same to the next Legislature then next to
be chosen; and whereas. the Legislature
next chosen as aforesaid, it being the Leglsa-
ture of 1888, and now IN session, does agree to
such revision by majority of all the members
elected to each house thereof; and whereas
section 2, of article IL of the constitution,
makes ii the duty of the present Legislature.
in pursuance of the aforesaid premises, to
recommend to the electors of the next election
Tor members OF the Legislature to vote for or
against a convention; therefore,
Resot0ed 6y the people Of the State Of Florida,
represented tn Senate and assembly, That the
the Legislature are hereby recommended to
vote for or against convention.
Resotged FURTHER, That the Secretary of State
Is hereby directed to incorporate, with the
notice of general election to be held in 1884, a
notice of the recommendation herein made,
with proper instructions to the mode of COM
pliance with said Recommendations.
In addition to the action above given, a
committee has been appointed to prepare
amendments to be subjected to popular vote
at the next general election. So there is every
no W hn ff,tffa nal aha
that are demanded will ere long be adopted
or rejected.
A resolution has passed the Senate urging
the Senators and members from Florida at
Washington to use their utmost efforts to pro-
cure grant of all the United States lands in
this State for educational purposes. The pre-
ambe recites the fact that there is large per-
centage ofllllterate persons in Florida.recently
released from bondage, and that the stability
of republican governments depends largely
upon the diffusion of general intelligence.
Most of the public lands in this State have
been already disposed of, and the best selec-
tiOns are now in the hands of private owners.
The remainder is of indifferent quality, and
their donation for such worthy object would
very slightly decrease the national revenues,
while 1t would very greatly aid in enlarging
the benefits of free schools.
The County Commissioners for Duval county
and the Town Councils of La Villa and Fair
field have forwarded strong petitions warmly
opposing the extension of the limits of
Jacksonville. These papers declare that such
those concerned, and that there are no good
reasons for such a course, either in a sanitary
point of view or from any existing public
necessity.
On the other hand petitions with numerous
signatures of highly respectable taxpayers
have been presented, urging the passage of
the measure.
The amendment adopted last week permit
ting annexation by twO-thirds vote of the
registered voters residing in the suburbs
sought to be annexed will be taken up for re-
consideration tomorrow. A sharp debate is
expected, but it is thought the amendment
will be adopted. If so, it will be fatal to the
bill, as it is known that large majority of
the citizens of the outlying suburbs are hostile
to the proposition. A large element of the
population within the city are also anxious
that the bill should be defeated.
The Florida Annual Conference of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, has ap-
pointed Rev. j. Atkins to visit the Legislature
and to use his utmost efforts to effect the pas
sage of the local option law, or such other
measures as in their judgment will be most
efectual in putting down the destructive evil
of intemperance. The above church is fOrm-
dable in numbers and powerful in influence,
and stands boldly committed to continue firm
in the cause that they have eXpoused. They
are continually gaining in strength, also, and
it is quite evident that ere long a determined
and continuous assault will be made upon the
strOnghOlds of King Alcohol.
No fires have been made in the legislative
halls for the past week, and the weather has
been frequently oppressive. Many fruit trees
are in bloom, and it is believed that spring
has fairly opened. Gentlemen from the SOUTH
ern counties tell me that they have corn al
ready knee high, and that their orange trees
are in full flower. Here the moczing birds are
singing joyously, and the earth is fast laying
down her carpet of verdure.
This is splendid agricultural region, and
hope to see the day, that cannot be far dis
tant, when neat cottages will crown the crests
of all these pretty hills and when all these
neglected fields will be smiling with luxuriant
harvests. The people are awakening to new
ideas and fresh aspirations, and but a few
years can elapse before this fertile and at
tractive section will feel her pulses throbbing
with the impetus of enterprise and the impulR
given by active industry.
TALLAHASSEE, Feb. 13.-Quite a shower of
bills designed to promote the purity of cleo
tlOns have been incubated in the Assembly.
One providing that hereafter, at any cleo
tion held by the people of this State, it shall
be the duty of the inspectors to number the
ballot received by them so as to correspond
with the name of the person on the clerk'slist,
and that the ballot so voted and numbered be
placed in the ballot box with the certified re-
turns after the canvass and forwarded to the
Clerk of the Circuit Court. 1t is hoped that
such measure will have the effect of prevent
ing fraud.
Another is intended to prevent convicts
from voting in counties other than those in
which they have been convicted, and contains
the following provisions. 1t makes it the
duty OF every Justice OF the Peace and County
Judge to make semi-annual reports to the
County Clerk of all convictions for larceny
during the preceding six months These re-
ports are to contain the names of such per-
sons, with brief descriptive list, upon suit
able blanks.
Within twenty days after each half wear
the Clerk shall make his report to the Secre-
tary Of State Of all the convictions in the Cir
cunt, County and Justices Courts for bribery.
perjury, larceny, infamous crime, or felony.
A file SHAH also be Kept in his office.
III is made the duty Of the Secretary of |
State, within thirty days Of the time fixed by
law for examining the registration lists in |
each county, to furnish the County Commits |
sloners printed reports containing full alb |
stracts Of the Clerks reports from the differ
ent counties since the last examination of |
the lists, and the Commissioners shall purge |
the registration of such names when identity |
is established.
A fine, not exceeding five hundred dollars.
can be imposed upon all officers for falling to |
discharge such duty, and any inspector who !
shall knowingly allow person to vote at any
election who has been convicted of any of the /
crimes above mentioned, or who shall allow |
any other disqualified person to vote, shall be
punished by line not less than a thousand
dollars.
SHch a measure as this would prevent MANY
convicts from voting. There are hundreds Of
negroes especially, who wander from place To !
place, who have been convicted of criminal
onences VINO would scarcely venture to poll |
their votes if they knew that not only their
names, but description of their persons. were
ylng before the inspectors. They W6uid |
scarcely be bold enough to face music of this
character. The bill rs good one and ven |
lure the prediction that it will encounter the |
opposition of majority of the Repubiicans,
Still another bill imp0see q penalty nof ex
;eeding one hundred dollars, or imprisonment
or not more than three months, uron any neT
ion, not duly qualified elector, who sball
'eglster, or nave his name entered on the reg
stration list. II the right of a person to regis
er y doubted by the. clerk or other offcer
charged with the work. or II anv 0uaIified
voter challenges hia right IL ahall ka - J.rt~