Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-30
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
FLORTDA's NEW LAWS.
Eligibility to Suffrage Made Dependen
on Several Wise Provisions

Eligibility to Suffrage Made Dependent
on Several Wise Provisions
TALLAHASSEE, July 29.-The conven-
tiou decided to pay attaches their eX-
penses and mileage and then devote the
remainder pro rata among the members.
Messrs. Blount, BrOome, Parsons, Rogers
and Randall were appointed a spec ial
committee to devise ways and means Of
raising funds to pay the expenses of the
convention.
Both sessions to-day were devoted to
Article XIV, on suffrage and eligibility,
The payment OF "a poll tax was made a
prerequisite for voting. No person betting
upon the result of an election shall
be permitted to vote. No person who
buys or sells a vote shall be allowed the
right of suffrage. No person who j.
guilty of bride shall have the right OF
suffrage. No person who is guilty of
bribery or fraud while candidate for
office shall be eligible to any Office in this
State.
Section I, requiring ballots TO be num-
bered. was voted down by a vote Of IS to
30. All electors must be registered before
voting.
Eulogies on Grant are being delivered
tonight.
SUFFRAGE ELIGIBILITY.
Article XIV, on suffrage and eligibility,
says that every male person ~ years Of
age and upwards who is a citizen OF the
United States, and has declared his in-
tention of becoming a citizen, and who
has resided in the State one year and
county six months, and has paid the capt
tatiOn tax for the year in which the elee-
ton is held. shall be entitled To vote.
The usual exceptions Of telons and per-
sons under guardianship, or persons Of
unsOuud mind aud lInatics, are made.
RECEIPTS NECESSARY.
The presentation of the receipt for the
payment Of poll tax is made necessary TO
entite person to vote.
fbis is exciting n great deal Of COM
ment, both favorable and untavorable
throughout the State.
AS this capitation tax is 10 be applied
exclusively to school purposes, this pro-
vision win probably add greatly TO the
school fund. Besides this advantage, IL
will probably make persons feel more
pride in their State.
As the convention draws 10 n close II is
subjected 20 some criticism. A smaller
number, it is thought, would have done
the work better and In less time.
DIVERSITY oFINTEREsrs.
In State as large as this where the IN
terests of various sections are 80 different,
IL is difficult TO frame an organic law 20
suit all sections and All classes Of people.
The work of the convention has ntces-
sarly been slow, but 10 has in most cases
been pretty thoroughly done. There was
great desire 10 cut down the number o.
Offices, but the State ~ increasing ~ rap
idly In population and wealth that re.
duction was not thought advisable. How.
ever, thu offices OF Lieutenant Governor
and Adiu;ant General were abolished.
THE GREATEST CHANGE.
The greatest change In the constitution
is the mode of selecting county officers
Under the old constitution the Governor
appointed all Of those officers except con.
stables. Under the new constitution all
viii be elected by the people save County
Commissioners AZ a protection 10 those
counties winch have large negro maiOri-
tres the County Commissioners are d. be
appointed by the Governor. We're they