The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-07
FLoRIpA,s LEaTsLAruRr.


the Session just closed.
Tallahassee Ega., june eff Tsnahas-
soc is not in mourning. she ought 10 be.
The legislature comedy has not only
played itself ont, but the eprogue has
boon spoken and the last statesman has
departed.
The special train Of Saturday morning
pore away heavy contingent. others fol-
lowed yesterday, until now the exodus is
complete ana the streets are silent and
deserted.
Opinions may differ as to the value of
the worth accomplished by the body that
mas Just resolved itself into its component
parts, but, so far as its value to the town
Is concerned, there is little room for argu-
ment- Nevertheless, this has not been an
eNJraVagaut legislature in the
matter OF personal expenditure;
Ihe herce excitement of the Call contest
has been wanting. and a much larger pro-
portion Of the per diem and mileage eX-
tracted from the state treasury in the
name OF democracy has left town with
the members than was the case two years
ago.
As to the utility of the session, who
can speak with authority2 There can be
no such test as that supplied by results,
and not until two long years have passed
away, and the gavel once more awakes
the echoes Of the legislative halls, can
verdict he intelligently rendered
One thing, however, is certain-the
course OF the session has been such as to
play havoc with several promisingpoit
careers, and to throw upon certainpromi-
nent figures in state politics the strongest
of lights. But the strong tide that has
borne down some has brought others
safel y to shore, high in popular favor.
+ lrSt among these l am inclined to place
Fletcher of Duval, whO long known as a
successful and high-minded lawyer, has
shown himself endowed with remarkable
abilities as a legislator No man has
made more friends, none has more
richly deserved them his atti-
tude upon public questions has
always been conservative, and
the lucidity with which, when called
upon, he has explained what to the aver
age member appeared as among the mys-
tories of legislation, has done much to eX-
pcdite business. Mr. Fletcher NAV not
be seen here again, but it is safe to say
that he has before him the brightest of
futures, and that he will provo himself
worthy of any honors his party may be-
stow upon him.
If this session has made one thing
clearer than another it is the fact that
bAlC ltubl1C NtILuI0 WOulAl Bc ulutIl DtIbGI
served were the same plan pursued in the
lower as in the upper house, and a certain
proportion of the members permitted to
hold over. The first thirty days of the
session were practically wasted, being
consumed by the new members in a futile
attempt to work an untried field without
the requisite experience. The 81 600 a
day required to lubricate the legislative
machine is a sum too large to Justify any
OF .r,F 4 H.,
lieve that a session of thirty days will yet
be insisted upon.
The closing scenes last Friday night
were such as to give the occasion the air
of a love feast. The lion and the lamb
lay down together, the aggressive St.
Clara BRAINS, the irrepressible Gilchrist,
the urbane Johnston and the alert and
lively little Nicholson, all forgot their
differences of opinion and the session
closed with an era of good feeling
Well, they have left us and many of
them will not be seen herCdga1n. The
people are not likely to feel any great de-
gree of satisfaction with the work ac-
cOmplished, and | am convinced that the
failure to relieve the state of its present
unjust election law will prove especially
obnoxious to a very intelligent class of our
people -t
Over 200 bills have already been signed
Dy the governor ana Uufn6u over 10 the
secretary of state, many of which are
measures local in their nature.
Among the bills conceived in a larger
spirit and likely TO fill a larger field are
those making the possession of the United
States revenue license prima facie evil
dence of liquor selling, making it illegal
for railroads to collect full freight on
short consignments, providing for the
election of county boards of public in
struction, comforting on married women
the right to dispose of property when
their husbands shall be adiudged insane,
enabling owners of swamp lands TO drain
the same by permission of the county
commissioners, to prevent wrongful com
binatiOns against workingmen, providing
for taxation of bank stocks, defining the
duties. of common carriers, giving the
commissioners of any county having port
of entry power to call for the appointment
of local board of health, an
act compelling railway corporations to re-
turn ears received from connecting lines.
to aid a home for INDECENT confederate
soldiers and sailors established in Jack
sonville, requiring county commissioners
to inspect certain county offices, authOriz-
ing the city of Jacksonville to issue bonds,
to punish the establishment of lotteries,
and requiring railroad companies TO erect
cattle guards. Such, in brief, are among
the chief measures that have met with
the governors approval and which must
be numbered among the fruits of what
has proved to be session singularly bar
rem Ia results.