The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-30
FLoRIDA'S NEW ELECTION LAW
The LOWER HOUSE DEVOTEs MOST
OF THE DAY TO 1T.

Morning session. But Only Six of
Them AdOpted-The senate sails
Into the Bills n Though Bent on
Beating the RecOrd-A Number of
New Bills introduced.
Tallahassee. Fla. April 29.-The time Of
die House this morning was largely con-
sGmed in consideration Of committee sub
stitutes for bill No. 205 for new election
law. which was so literally amended that
fifteen amendments were offered 10 sec
tiOn l alone. OF these but six were adopt
ed and none of these were OF any special
importance. Mr.. Rees offered an amend
ment that a county board Of ins -Tuction
consisting Of three members. 10 be chos-
en- by each county school board. be elect
ed at each general election. unless chang
ed by law.
A number Of committee reports were re-
ceived and adopted.
At the afternoon session consideration
Of the election bill was resumed and the
programme Of Offering amendments 10
be voted down was religiOusly adhered TO.
DIT. Dancy made strong speech against
the bill in its present shape and described
the will of his people as for an honest
election law.
one Of the most important amendments
offered was that by Mr.. Gaskins 20 the
effect that supervisors OF elections be
made elective. This was adopted in the
morning only to be rejected in the az
ternoon The House adjourned at .
O'Clock with no material amendment TO
the election bill to meet tomorrow morn
ing.
In the Senate the record was broken by
the manner in which bills were disposed
of Among the new bills introduced were
Providing for a state board OF eclectic
medical examiners.
Authorizing the incorporation of agri-
szrH1 Al : md hort fnr rnla los
Amending the revised statutes relative
10 the deaf. blind and dumb.
Amending the act authorizing the COVER
nor and controller to deposit state monies.
To punish desertion Of wife and chill
dren.
After consideration Of bills on second read
ing the Senate passed the following bills
on third reading.
For the relief of teachers.
Authorizing the governor 70 convey GER
tain lands to the United States for light
house purposes.
A memorial asking improvement Of the
harbor of Key West and one for the inn
provement of ApalaChicola harbor, and
one to continue the grant to the Talla-
hassee and Georgia railroad.
A joint resolution relative to the balance
due Florida by the United States govern
ment was also adopted.
Mr.. McLerans bill prohibiting prize
fighting was ordered engrOssed.
Mr. Hartridge withdrew his bill provid-
ing for the admission OF attorneys to the
bar. which was 50 amended as to fail Of
its purpose.
The House committee on privileges and
elections evidently found in the Taylor
county election contests nut too hard to
crack; and its action Saturday in sub
hitting the case to the House without
action tustifies the belief that while II
was unable to find sufficient evidence to
warrant Mr.. Kelly's dismissal, IL was not
at all disposed to recommend the seating
of a populist. The House, however, made
short work Of the matter and the third
party man will hold his seat. He viii also
\ ~. oil 49, a.aar
perfectly competent TO take care OF him
self on the floor. The Senate last session,
in a similar case, made the mistake Of
declaring the seat vacant, with the result
that Washington county has this year
sent the nervy Weeks back again without
opposition. There is not much fairness in
politics. but what little there is seems to
be a paying investment.
1t is understood that the revenue bill
will soon be laid before the Senate, and
il Is on the cards that the express compa-
MES will endeavor to have reduced the
burden of taxation that has been placed
upon them in Florida. The occupation
al tax is one of the most unpopular ever
devised, and there is a growing feeling
here that physicians should never have
been subjected to IL. There are several
doctors of medicine in the present legis-
lature, and they win leave no stone un-
turned to relieve their profession Of an
exaction they believe unjust, in view OF
the fact that the average country physi-
clan does more work for nothing than any
other class of professional men.
State Superintendent of Education
Sheats is far from pleased at the defeat in
the House of the bill providing for teach
ers in summer schools, and says the
schools will be opened in spite of the leg
islature, even If those interested pay for
them themselves The opposition to the
bill was based partly upon prejudice
partly upon constitutional grounds; but
the clauses governing the expenditure of
county school funds are so drawn as 20
Justify the expenditure of money for al
most any purpose with faint educational
favor.
The railroad commission bill has been
made a special order for Tuesday, and the
new election law viii be taken up in the
House again tomorrow, when an inter
minable discussion may be expected. II
is difficult to see what good is expected
TO follow the introduction Of bills that
are not likely TO pass both houses. The
commission bill will of course, pass its
third reading, and it is understood that
at least one set speech will be fired after
1t as 1t goes on Its way to certain defeat
in the Senate.
One of the most important measures vet
introduced in the House was slipped in
Friday by Mr.. McCreary. II appeared in
the guise of a constitutional amendment
and probably few members realized its
Significance. The amendment is designed
10 give the railroad commission judicial
powers, and II will probably return from
the committee on constitutional amend
nents with an adverse report attached
The passage by the Senate Saturday Of
the bill authorizing the renting out OF con-
victS as laborerS at 25 cents day Is
likely TO give rise to conditions that will
produce trouble among the laboring
classes here, but nobody is likely TO find
any fault with the bill reducing the sal
ariy of states attorneys TO $1,000, and
turning the fees formerly enjoyed into The
fines and forfeiture fund
In spite of the criticisms levelled at his
new Jacksonville charter bill, Senator
Hartridge is making his mark here, and
may be relied upon to do good work OF
the conservative and lasting sort The
fact that Mr.. Hartridge is railroad law
yer has not in any wise been permitted
TO affect his course in the Senate. and
should he see fit to oppose some of the
queer plans devised for the embarrass-
nnent of corporate interests, his views are
likely to be shared by many of his col
leagues who realize that never before did
Florida stand in greater need Of the i'm
petus afforded by the organized activity
and unlimited capital of the great railway
corporations that have entered the state.