The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-15
THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE.
some of the Most Important Meas
ures before That nody.

ures before That nody.
Tallahassee Fla, April u.--somewhat
70 the surprise Of those Interested in the
project, the Jockey Club bill was nearly
stranded in the House Friday, being bad
" broken up by the amendments with
which it was loaded down in the interest
of what some people suppose to be moral
ity. The bill was laid on the table satur-
day. but win probably be brought forward
later in the session IN a somewhat mOdi-
fed form, by which time It Is TO be hoped
that the fears Of those who see the bogy
Of prize fighting In every enterprise sup
ported by sporting men. win be allayed
The passage Of this bin and the construc-
tion Of the race course proposed means a
good deal for Duval country, and Is one
OF the few subjects In which that hot-bed
or tacuonal politics was ever known TO be
united A bill over which there is likely to
be lively fight was introduced in the
House Saturday morning by Healey OF
Nolusia county. II prohibits "scalpers"
from dealing In railroad tickets, and il Il
becomes a law, will prove a death blow to
the peculiar and profitable speculation now
carried on In transportation. Should the
phi De deteated, those who arc supporting
! declare their Intention OF Introducing
INTO the general revenue bill a clause im-
posing tax on the "scaipcr" that will be
practically prohihitory The railroad men
hte, OF course, IN favor Of she measure
and from present indications the ticket
brokers win have to 20.
senator Marks has introduced a bill
70 appropriate $4,000 for state exhibit al
tne coming Cotton States exposition pro-
vlded an equal sum be put up by a long list
OF railroads named. 1t was Mr.. Marks
VINO Two years ago fought 80 per-
ssLlstenltiiy sLg s,liiy 1or similar appropriation for
the Chieago worlds fair. and his prospects
OF success are considerably less now than
Iheh. Ihe teeling OF the plain people OF
the state is against such a use Of the public
iunds at q ilme when the orange Industry
Is laborlng under the most serious depres-
sion IL has ever known
one or the most important bills yet
brought before the house Is that introduce
ed by Mr.. Bates Of Gadsen, providing for
the repeal Of the law creating the offiee
OF STATE chemist; and the craze for eoono-
my Is now such here that no one need be
at all surprised to see the idea acted upon
ana one OF tho most important safeguards
yet devised Tor the protection OF the Farmer
Qono away with. The present state chem
lst Mr.. Rawls, has shown himself to be a
faithful and energetic ofnciaI, and his
friends VIII have the intelligence Of the
state With them in their efforts to protect
Healey's railroad commission bill proves
70 be radical one in some respects. II
PROVIDES among other novelties for the
election by the people OF three commits
sloners who are to receive a salary Of
Sz.5oO each. The provieionH OF the bill are
such that were Il 70 be enacted The life
OF the average railroad man would be al
hard one IN Florida. but its passage IS
more than improbable although the cor
porations do not seem to be making any
very aggressive fight against II. Another
idea that will probably be exploded before
the end Of the session is that the present
eleStion law is 70 pc swept away root
and branch. IL Is true that there Is
demand IN some sections OF the state for
It's repeal, but good judges OF current
events here do not expect to see the eight
box feature given up, and any proposition
to do so Is certain to meet with strong
opposition from these counties IN which
the black vote predominates;
The first bill to pass the Senate was
one OF the most important yet introduced,
and provided that the state treasurer shall
pay each county one-tenth OF 1 per cent.
Of its assessed valuation to defray the
costs OF criminal prosecutions The state
was recently relieved from tho payment
OF these costs by constitutional amend
ment, and the legislation in question was
rendered necessary by the fact that the
supreme court has decided that the
amendment went into force at the time
or its ratification by the people at the last
state election, at WHICH time no provision
had been made by the counties to meet
the emergency.
The financial question continues to be
uppermost in the minds Of reflective men
here and the defeat of Senator Darbv.e
tax bill has made room for other meas
ures, less sweeping, but probably more
practical Among them may be men,
toned Senator Chipleys bill providing
for the postponement Of the collection Of
taxes 20 the first Monday In October,
which will give the people OF the peninsu,
la time to look about them. The report
Of the committee on finance and taxation
on the Darby bill was a valuable docu-
ment and contained much information
relative to the state and it's industrlee
Most people will be surprised TO learn
that the fruit crop of the state prior 10
the freeze was only 20 per cent OF its
entire production, and that the calamity
Of which the orange growers complain SO
bitterly Is after all confined 10 a certin
section of the state and restricted in its
scope.
DR.. Gaslkins, one of the most valuable
called to his home IN Bradford county by
illness In his family.
The resumption OF the Broward case
Tuesday will probably bring up a large
contingent Of the active politicians OF Du-
val county anxious to see the question
definitely decided In some way.