The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-30
STILL FIGHTING CALL.
GOV. FLEMING PETITIONED NOT TO
ISSUE A COMMIS SION.

The Runaway Senators Vote Down q
Motion to Approve the Journal of
the Days on Wnich They Were Alb
sent-An Investigation Of the Senate
| President Demanded
| TALLAHASSEE, FLA, May 20. - The
House has indefinitely postponed the bill to
change the congressional districts.
The return of the "babes OF the wood" to
their seats in the Senate this morning added
another complication to the senatorial mud
die. On a motion to approve the journal Of
that body for May %, q aud %. the three
days on which seventeen senator's were alb
sent, the vote was: Yeas Is, nays 16. This
action, it is claimed, abrogates every act of
the minority during the absence Of the
babes" including their participation in
the joint session on May %, when Senator
Call was declared elected.
AN INVESTIGATION DEMANDED.
Senator King to-day introduced the fol-
lowing resolution:
WHEREAS. In the Florida Standard. a news
paper publ she'd in the city of Jacksonville, of
tue date or May e, 1891, appears an editorial
which states that Hon. J. 3. Brown president
Of the Senate, on the night of May 20. 1891, in
the presence Of several gentlemen, made use of
the following language; Il an. partisan, as
was shown by my appointment OF the commit
tees. have advised the Call caucus to oppose
every measure introduced by the ants, no mat
ter how good it is, and from this time on we
will fight it out on this line;" and,
WHEREAS, The art Gle quoted contains very
grave charge against the president of the SEN
ate, and one which seriously reflects upon the
dignity and integrity of the members of this
body, therefore be it
ReSotved, By the Senate, that committee OF
f1ve senators be appoin ted by the president to
investigate said charges. and that they be
authorized TO send for persons and papers.
The resolution was adopted.
A PETITION AGAINST CALL.
A petition has been presented to Gov.
Fleming, praying that no certificate of cleo
ton as senator shall be issued to Senator
Call. This petition, it is understood, sets
forth these facts: That, under the consti-
tuition of the United States and the laws
made in pursuance thereof providing for
the election Of a senator by the legislature,
that the organized Senate and the organized
House constitute the legislature; that SEN
ator Call has not received a majority vote
of the organized legislature, and, conse-
quently, there has been no election of a SEN
ator.
THE REPORT ON INFRINGEMENT.
The House committee on retrenchment
have prepared an elaborate report, in which
they recite the burdens of state and county
taxation bearing SO heavily upon the people,
and the extravaganza appropriations which
yearly increase the gap between the states
income aud its expenditures. In the
making up of this report Chairman Bitch
had the earnest cooperation of Manatee's
able young representative, Mr.. r. T.
Young, and Mr.. Turnbull of Leon, who is
the advocate of all reform measures.
Among the dations OF the COM
mittee are the following: Transfer the cost Of
II
insisting that local supervision of the c. st
and fee bills will tend to lessen this rapidly
growing source Of expense. That each
county be allowed to place TO the credit of
its general revenue fund it's own poll tax,
all fines and forreitures and costs arriving
therefrom. In their opinion these will suf-
fee to meet the cost of criminal prosecu-
sions. These changes, they say, will at
least be step in the direction OF justice aud
economy. They suggest that the act estab-
fishing the bureau Of agriculture be
amended so as to reduce cost of same.
They insist that a tax of a quarter Of mill
will be ample for the state board of health;
that the number of county boards be re-
duced; that the fees of county officers be
adjusted to conform to the financial condi-
tion Of the people; that salaries of all clerks
10 the various departments of the state
government be reduced at least Is per
cent. that no appropriations be made for
East and West Florida seminaries; that the
jurisdiction Of justices of the peace be ex-
tended to give them Jurisdiction of misde-
meanors; that county criminal courts of
record be deprived Of exclusive original
jurisdiction; that the road law be amended,
etc. that the constitutional provision es-
tablishing normal scools be abrogated; that
the Office Of adjutant general be abolished,
and that the constitution be amended in sew
eral particulars in the interest of re-
trenchment and reform. They also invite
attention to a comparison of appropriations
for the years 1878 and 1889, submitted with
report.