The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-05
THE JOCKEY CLUB BILL.
The Method by which II Was Indeh-
nfteIy Postponed.

Tallahassee. Fla. May 4.-Florida has
recently been felicitaung herself upon the
fact that she had in the personnel Of the
House Of Representative a veritable
farmers" legislature. II may be that
she has. and il may also be true that the
situation is one not altogether without
drawbacks. The agricultural mind may
be and undoubtedly is. as solid as the
earth. 10 whose phenomena IL habituaily
directs itself. but IL cannot De charged
with the wholesome leVity OF the man
of-the-World. or with any Just apprec
ton Of the value OF LhlnAs ID se-sl tti
These profound reflections are lnsplEeu
by the very peculiar manner IN Which the
House yesterday used up and tore 10 lid
bons Senate bill No. IS. known TO such
fame as exists in the lobby as the
Juckey Club bill. This measure has al
ready been referred TO IN these columns
as one OF paramount Importance dnd
one whose enactment would soon make
Jacksonville a winter resort second TO
none in this casinO-dotted globe The Dill
was one that would have turned from
California the attention OF horsemNl in
search of winter resort-that would nave
drawn from the Riviera thousands OF
winter tourists-of idlers ianeurs.
This bill, which soon proved 10 be
pitiful abortion, passed the Senate with
out the loss OF a feather, ana yesterday
came IN in the House as a special order.
when its troubles began. The measure
was on its second reading, and DIT. Dancy
of Duval, seeing at an early stage OF the
game from what quarter the WIND bIeW,
soon made motion TO postpone us con-
sideratiOn for a week. This was the OPP
pOrtunity for which the alert ana sar-
catic Ballard Of Manatee was looking,
and he accordingly arose in his remote
corner, and in that dry and relentless
manner of his proceeded TO skin the OIL
alive. 1t would not be easy TO cNaSgerate
the bitterness with which Dr. Bauard,
who. while no orator. has at his COM
mand an ineXh6ustible vein OF IRONY de-
nounced the bill and It's provisions and
of Osceola, who is, by the way, a heaNy
man with heavy and convincing deliv-
cry. also paid his respects TO the bill
in long speech, in which
the morals of our youth were referred TO
in a highly affecting manner. The upshot
of the entire matter is that the bill has
been indefinitely postponed and that the
lobby is engaged in analyzing the nature
OF the cyclone that hit it.
In spite of all this / believe that the
measure will, in one way or another. even
tualiy pass the House. The bin originally
introduced here is still eNtant, and il mas
been so modified as to cut the thirty year
exemption clause from future legislation
down TO ten, and to cOntine the selling
of POOLS TO Duval county. Everything,
however has been so amended IN TINS
House bill as to render II the toughest OF
morsels for its hackers to swallow.
The sensation of the day was, however,
Afforded by DR. Gaskins in his treatment
of Sullivan's bill for the regulation OF pri-
mary elections. 1t is not necessary to
dwell at length upon the merits of the
measure itself, with its far-reaching and
sweeping provisions. II is only necessary
to say that it gave the gentleman from
Bradford an opportunity to offer an
amendment providing that the basis of
representation in the next state and con-
gressional conventions shall be that en-
ployed in the election OF the legislature.
This was bold break at the pretensions
of such counties of Jefferson which with
a democratic voting strength compare
lively small, go into the state conven-
tions with a representation far in excess
of that enjoyed by such populous counties
as Duval and Hillsborough. The amend
ment, like the bill, was lost, but the coca
sion has by no means been improved in
vain, and nobody need be surprised 10 see
in Florida a speedy and radical change
in election methods. DR.. Gaskins was
singularly frank in declaring that a contin-
uation of existing methods meant the es-
of a new party, and the de-
struction of the present democratic or
ganization; and Mr.. Sullivan openly de-
scribed that party one that would fail
10 pieces with the elimination Of the negro
vote. Taken altogether. the primary cleo
ton question has proved the most inter-
esting yet raised; and before the legisla-
ture adjourns some marked change in
existing methods is probable