Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-04-05
TALLAHASSEE TOPICS.
THE LOCAL OPTION LAW IN
THE COURTS.

"hAuule EIOrlua Spring Fair-CoOl
Weather Lingering-WOman's Noble
Work.
TALLAHASSEE, April 3.-Your readers
are probably familiar with the main points
in the so-called local option law passed
by the last Legislature. 1t was quite a
stride in the way of reform, and its advo-
Gates are jubilant. For months previous
to its passage, the temperance advocates
were untIring in their efforts so to mould
public sentiment that, when the Legisla-
ture met, it would be compelled, in defer
ence to public opinion, to pass some severe
restrictive law that would tend to miti-
gate the evils of intemperance. The pull
pit thundered its anathemas against the
baleful traffic, while various religious de-
nominations would, in solemn conclaVe.
pass resolutions denunciatOry thereof.
AS result of this agitation, its advocates
succeeded, after a hard fight, in passing
the above law. But was it constitutional?
If n OF, then it becomes imperative and
void. This is now being tested. A party
in Jacksonville applied for a license to
sell spirituOus liquors, and was letused be-
cause he had not complied with the require
ments OF the statute, and now an applica-
ton has been made to our Supreme Court,
now in session, for a mandamus against
the Collector requiring him to issue
license or show cause, etc. The question
was argued on Saturday last on the return
of the writ, and the opinion will be rem
dered on next Saturday. Should the court
decide that the law is unconstitutional.
then the question will come up before the
people as distinct political issue in the
canvass of 1884, and in this respect Flori-
da will only be initiating many of her sis
ter States. The Committee on TemDer-
ance at the last Legislature would have
reported an option law similar to that in
Georgia, but on account of the provision
Ofour constitution that all laws should be
uniform in their operation, they were
compelled to report the bill that has be-
come the present law. If decided to be
operative in its effects it can but result
in good. Already papers are being extern
siyely circulated throughout the State
pledging the subscribers thereto ''not to
sign, endorse or favor any petition or ap-
plication to the County Commissioners
for permit to obtain a license to sell in
toXicating liquors, wines or beer, as a
beverage" And as the fight has COM
menced, the sovereign people will at last
decide upon it.
Some ten days ago a double murder was
committed about eight miles from here.
on the Chaires plantation. A negro woman
and her child were found by the husband
and father, the woman being riddled
with buckshOt discharged at short range
and the child with its throat cut. The
horrible affair was involved in mystery.
and the jury of inquest rendered a verdict
accordingly. subsequently the husband
OF the murdered woman made affidavit
that one Scruggs, a white man, was
the perpetrator of this crime. He
was arrested, and now for more than
week, day after day, the matter is being
investigated. Scruggs has the reputation
of being quiet, inOffensive citizen. mar
rled into one of the most respected fami-
lies III the county, and his friends scout
the idea of his being guilty of any such
diabolical crime. AS witnesses are plenti-
ful in community where many of the
cOlored element abound, their name in
this instance is legion, and hence the great
length OF time consumed, both the prose-
cution and the defense having each a
score of witnesses. To-day Hon. w. 2.
Byrd, before whom the affidavit was made,
and the counsel for prisoner and prosecu-
ton, nave gone up to view the scene of the
murder. AS the evidence is entirely cir
cumstantial, it is probable that a week
yet will elapse before the investigation is
completed.
Northern visitors continue to arrive
among us daily. More would come but
Il. u.
~ w. X. X. They have but one sleeper on
the route between here and Jacksonville,
and this is full every night. The com
pany, though, is nObly striving to put
their road in first class condition. Fifty
miles of steel rails have been purchased
for this end of their road, and are reported
to be on the way here. New
coaches have been purchased, old ones
repainted and thoroughly repaired, and it
is hoped that by next winter there will be
no lack of ample tirst-class accOmmOda-
tiOn between here and Jacksonville. Our
mails, too, come regularly, but whether
this is due to the fact Of their coming via
Dupont and Live Oak, or better time is
made via the Waycross Short Line, [ know
not. They come in promptly and on time.
and that suffices.
Tallahassee now having three good
hotels, a projected railroad from here to
ThOmasville, on which work will soon be
commenced, the next step in the way of
improvement will be a public library.
SpasmOdic efforts have been made from
time to time to have one. Donations
would be made, lectures delivered. the
people become interested, but after time
interest in it would cease. One cause of
this was that there was no suitable hall in
the place for public library. This want
will soon be supplied. Our energetic and
public spirited citizen, Ex-Governor ID. S.
Walker, has recently contracted for the
erection of a fine brick two-story edifice
at the southeast corner of Monroe and
Mccarthy streets. The first floor will be
used as offices and the upper floor as a
library hall. Donations will soon flow in
and the ladies, ever active in good works.
will doubtless contribute substantially by
their influence in obtaining subscriptions
for leading periodicals and for the nucleus
of handsome library. Our young people
will then have a pleasant place OfresOrt in
the long winter evenings, while interest
ing and instructive volumes will serve to
while away the tedium of the dull sum-
mer. Strangers, too, will find an attrac-
tive place where they cannot only look
over the latest papers, but beguile the mo-
notOny of rainy day with some interest
ing book. No live town should be with
out this public convenience, and this Tai
lahassee is destined at no distant dav to
have.
1t is still doubtful whether the Middle
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical AS
sociatiOn will hold their spring fair this
year. The unprOpitiOus weather in Janu-
airy prevented the fair from being a sue
cess, and the expenses exceeded their
revenue For this reason there has been
a hesitancy on the part Of the directory as
to the propriety and eXpediency of hold
ing another so soon. The FIOTididR has
suggested that there be a floral display
some time this month in Gallie's Hall.
instead of fair at the grounds. Rnf
40 yet nu dUtIUn mas been taken. Certain
it is that no other section of the
State would make such a magnificent
display as our own Middle Florida
at this time. A Tallahassee flower gar
den is now ga thing of beauty and a iov
to its owners. Our Northern visitors as
they go along our shaded streets and look
upon the magnificent floral scene in some
of our gardens are perfectly charmed.
And while in many sections a handsome
bouquet commands fair price. here the
visitor is often surprised at receiving it
for the asking. So much attention
has been paid by our ladies to Horticulture,
that our city is deservedly called
the Garden City. Notably among those
whose well kept flower gardens attracted
the attention of the stranger are Mrs
Judge Douglass and Mrs. W. r. Wilson.
These ladies have spared neither pains
nor expense, and the large variety of their
potted and other plants, the bright and
almost dazzling cOlOrs of natures choi-
cest gifts, as seen in their gardens, ex-
cite the admiration of every visitor.
The cold weather is not over yet, and
though fires are comfortable, vet there
has been no frost. Truckers inform me
that the crop Will be rather backward
this spring, and some fear that it will not
yield as well as last years. Green peas
and strawberries have been in the market
for month past, but l have heard of no
shipment, which seems to be confined
principally to Irish potatoes and cabbages.
Already barrels are being purchased for
the shipping of these two products. and
such is the demand that cOOpers would
do good business here. Such is the de-
mand made upon merchants for empty
barrels that theY will not be able to fI1r.