The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-09
TALLAHASSEE TOPICS.
,.uMAKERs ENJOY H6R BALMY
AIR AND CLOUDLESS SKIES.

psau IntrOduced-Ee en- W no have
T,Auepce in Shaping Legislation.
various Points OF Interest Relative
81 Matters That VIII Receive Atten-
ton During the Session.
TALLAHASSEE. FLA, April 6.-There is
Int one Florida, and Florida has no other
.ovn like Tallahassee. tits a survivRl-not,
,,orbsns of the fttest, but Of the fairest-
survival of the coed old days when master
.nd H. an dwelt together in peace and plenty
ond prosperity, and lent to these old red
CLAW hills, these long and grassy suulit
shines the Arcadian simplicity Of another
and perhaps a etter day.
One thing, at least, is certain-the sleepy
cd town never shone forth fairer than to-
dsy beneath these oloudless skies, nor did
the forbidding lace OF practical politics ever
frd contrast more striking aud suggestive
than that afforded here Heat, turmoil aud
Snsr the clamor of conflicting contestants,
,ba netty aspirations of petty politicians
al his. set IN frame OF calm rusticity,
ueers an air of incongruity sufficiently
striking.
greater mob of political camp-followers
than have this year brought up the rear of
plscs has been too small, few too large; for
each there have been dozen aspirants and
disappointment, envy and chagrin may be
seen without microscope.
There is here an unwritten law that in
sures to men MANNED or wounded in the
confederate service certain minor positions
ahout the fringes of the legislature, The
fact is we'll known, and for the first few
DAYS of the session these streets wore the air
Of a oonfederat to reunion and every other
man had lost a leg OF an arm or hand.
Now they have lost hope-most of them.
The positions in question are all filed and
the proverbial cup Of disappointment has
by no means been left empty.
The story of the week Is soon told; it Ia
the story OF oil legislative bodies largely
composed of new men and, therefore. re-
ouiring time to learn something OF its
limitations and powers. The power of vast
ing time is, of course, one that is common
TO all legislatures and in which the tyro
finds it easy to excel; and, if facts are stub
born things, the average Florida statesman
must be the hardest of facts. This much
to say the least-wss indicated by the man
ner IN which the House yesterday killed
time by insisting in the case of every
bill upon a separate motion to read by title
only upon presentation. DIR. Gaskins, for
several terms speaker Of the lower branch,
raised his voice in vain against a course
which wastes time, money and patience He
is not an eloquent man; there was snmething
better than eloQuence in his assertion that
were this course followed the entire sixty
DAYS of the session would be consumed with
little or nothing to show for II. 1t will not
be followed, however; the people of the
state are following the course of tnis leg
stature with the interest which naturally
arises from combination SO
unhappy, as high taxes and low prices hard
times and easy failures 1t Is not the fault
Of the party, but q cute discrimination in
these little mattersis not yet common props
erty.
TIE most notable bills of the week have
been those introduced in the Senate by
Williamson OF Citrus aud Nicholson of
Madison in the House. The latter came up
smiling, bland aud alert, with two, the
former was armed with one. They came
by different. roads, but all were bound in
the same direction and had in view the re-
establishment of a railroad commission. This
step may be considered inevitable and the
only doubt that attaches to the subject is as
to the manner in which the commissioners
are to be selected. A few eminent local
statesmen believe that the responsibility is
QUE which oaly the shoulders of the leRisla-
ture are broad enough to bear. Men more
conservative and less influenced with IRA
tiOnal prejudice are convinced that the ap-
pOIubiuk uOWEA may AlOSb hbA6lI no 1913 Al
the hands OF the governor.
Another notable point Is that already
scored by Senator JEFF B. Browne-one Of
the rising men Of the state and a firm be-
lever in the justice and feasibility of ad =
justing to local conditions the Australian
ballot system. Mr.. Browne has given this
question much attention and feels himself
in position to take advanced ground on the
subject. By a resolution already introduced
in no ha haa nrnUida6 for "a M
committee to consider the question and re-
port a bill embodying the principles Of a
system already widely adopted in this coun-
try He is fully impressed with the neoeS-
sity for a reformation of our present cleo
ton laws and will spare no pains to
purify the ballot and meet the legitimate
demands Of an Intelligent democracy. One
thing is certain, Senator Browne will
bring to bear upon this question, not only
the result of long and earnest investigation,
but a weight and influence enjoyed by few
OF those who are determined that Florida
shall have fair elections and spotless pos
lltical record.
IT IS AN OPEN SECRET
that the irrepressible and ingenious
leader of a certain clique in local politics
brought all his destinations to bear upon
Senator Browne to induce him to enter the
race for the presidency of the Senate and
resume the gavel be last session welded
with so much discretion. The senator, how
ever. was proof against the certainty of
success, and his adviser has. by this time,
probably somewhat enlarged his mental
horizon.
The representatives of the clique inquisi-
ton have retired from the scene OF action.
Their absence Is but temporary and the
opening Of the House bill No. contest is
certain to rouse the warriors OF both camps
from their s!umbers.
Prominent among the Jacksonville braves
is John n. c. Stockton. Who does not
know him! Who does not admire his pluck,
his persistence, his activity, and, best OF all,
his devotion to those who are devoted TO
hunt And there are lots of them, too.
Another man who made his mark here In
laying off straight rows" in the political
field is Dr. w. L. Danoy of Jacksonville.
lie is a practical political farmer OF the
true Jeffersonian stripe-and the stripes all
run straight up and down and are dyed in
the wool. He sows nothing but tested dem
cratic seed, and when harvest time comes
The DOCTORS share Of the crop will be big
one
From all over the state congratulations
are pouring Ia for President Reynolds and
Speaker Johnston, both of whom are rap
Idly rising to the situation and are certain 70
make good presiding officers Capt.
johnston is, by the way, some-
thing of Georgian himself
Clay county man, in fact, and one,
moreover, whose voice has on more than
one occasion been raised to some purpose IN