The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-19
LAWMAKINC IN FLORIDA.
The Editors Favor The Worlds Fair
Appropriation.

A Telegram From the Chicago Ex-
cursionists Read in Both Houses.
3 The Majority Report in the Weeks
Martin Contest Adopted-The SEN
ate Puts a Time Limit Of Fifteen
Minutes on Speeches.
Tallahassee. Fla. May IS. The Florida
editors have evidently found the condi-
ton of affairs in our state building at the
worlds fair anything but satisfactory
judging from the following telegram.
which was to-day read in both houses Of
the legislature.
The Florida Press Association. 100 strong,
now visiting the Columbian exposition in
Chicago. learns with pleasure tnat the SEN
ate has passed @ bin appropriating $4,000 10
display Florida products. We commend
your action. Push the work
G. b. FENDLETON. President.
This telegram was ordered spread upon
the journal. fact which led to some OPP
position iii the House, il being by some
thought that such action might influence
the course of that body, which has vet to
act on Senator Marks timely bin. Its
prospects are generally regarded as
doubtful
On motion of Mr.. NcKinne. and in view
of the enormous accumulation of bust
ness, the fifteen minute rule for aspiring
orators was adopted, after which the
Senate settled down to business. Several
new bills were introduced, including one
amending section CPS of the revised
statues relative to county sites, and an
other providing for the appointment of
deputy sheriffs.
Mr.. Calhoun called up the Senate
memorial, urging an appropriation for
deepening the St. Johns river between
Palatka and Jacksonville, which was
duly adopted.
Under the head of third reading the
following bills were put on their final
passage: The Barlow charter bill; one
permitting accused persons to deposit
cash in lieu of personal security.
The report of the committee on the
Weeks-Martin contest then came up as
the special order of the day. Senator
Browne as chairman of the committee
moved the adoption of the majority report
declaring the seat vacant, while Mr..
Borden on behalf of Mr. Weeks moved
TO amend by substituting the
minority report giving him the seat. A
long debate followed, which was partiCi-
pated in by Messrs. Weeks, Borden,
Browne. Perrinott and McKinne, the lat
ter making an especially strong argument
against the minority report and those who
advocated it. The majority report, with
certain minor amendments relative to the
pay of the contestant, was finally adopted,
only two senators, MeSsrs. Borden and
Williams, voting against it; whereupOn
Mr.. Weeks, in few dignifed words,
took his leave of the Senate.
IN THE HOUSE.
The House held two sessions to-day.
During the morning the bill for the relief
of the estate of D.. II. Elliot was passed
and the following new bills were intro
dUced:
For the protection of food fishes in the
fresh waters of the state.
Authorizing county commissioners to
lay on public roads.
Fixing the liability for death damages
arising from the negligence of corpora
tiOns.
Requiring the defeated party in appeal
cases to pay the costs before a new trial
can be granted.
To prevent the collection of debts con
tracted by the sale of spirituous liquors.
Amending the revised statues relative
to the fees of county treasurers.
A joint resolution was introduced re-
qUesting the Secretary of the Interior not
TO cause the Fort Jupiter military reser- .
walton to be sold, and to secure the pas
sage of an act opening the same to home
stead entry.
a JOINT resolution was also put in by
Mr.. Matthews in relation to the public
domain and proposing reclamation of such
lands as may have been obtained through
fraud
An interesting report was received from
the committee to which was referred E.
B. Bailey's proposition to lease the state
cOnvicts for ten years, he in return to set
apart 1900 acres of land in jefferson
county on which is to be erected a mod
ern penitentiary, all of which at the ex-
piration of the lease is to become the
property of the state The report was
accompanied by bill covering the points
involved, the passage of which is recon-
mended.
The special order of the day, the bill
providing for the distribution of the in
terstate school fund and the / mill tax
among the counties according to their
actual school attendance, was passed with
an amendment by Mr. Fletcher calculated
to render the meaning of the act clearer.
The afternoon session was devoted
largely to routine work.
At the Leon hotel tonight a brilliant
reception given by Mrs. Gov. Mitchell to
ladies only is in progress.