The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-05
LAST DAY OF ALEGlSLATURE.
THE FLORIDA LAWMAKERS OFF
FOR THEIR HOMES.

EOh lHEIh HOMESs
Both Branches Devote Considerable
Time to shc Treasury Mntter-A
Number of Important Amendments
to the Appropriation BiII-Thc Sen
ate Resolution In Reference to
Cash Homestead ExmptiOn Killed.
An Amendment Increasing the sal
aries of Certain state Officers
Passed.
Tallahassee. Fla. June As these
words are written the minutes of the life
of the legislature of 1897 have dwinlled
away to but a few. and these the clock
are solemnly ticking away.
The members have been busy cleaning
their desks during the entire day, and
are now telling each other good-by, and
in their faces is more than wonted seri-
BUSINESS. for they know that they all
will never meet again as Florida legisla-
tors. Some Will be retired to private life
to pursue their old vocations, while 9TH
ers are destined TO shine yet brighter in
the states political armament.
An old story is this last day Of legis-
lative session. with the hustle from house
to house of members urging the passage
OF bills that move so dlscouragingly
slow, the skurrying Of the pages hither
and thitheY, the buzz of voices while the
reading clerk doles out with functionary
cadence the words of some uninteresting
bill, the repeated raps of the gavel to re-
store order that is being constantly vic.
lated. the hour or so of fun and badinage
during the waits on the overworked and
perspiring clerks, whose pens are flying
over the paper. Then the presentations,
the speech-making, the resolution Of
praise, the stroke of u. the last rap of
the gavel and the curtain falls and the
old story that is told hennially is closed.
According to the catechism the legis
lature of 1897 has done many things it
ought not to have done, and left undone
many things that 1t ought to have done,
but its sins of omission and commission
are not without a counterbalance of each.
The Senate spent most of it's time to-
day with the treasury question, after
which came an afternoon filled brimfu
with the appropriation bill, which was
amended and sent back to the House |
Among the important amendments were
appropriations of 81, 200 per annum for the
assistant state chemist, 81 900 each for the |
East and West Florida seminaries, and |
one cutting out IS 900 already allowed for |
the state troops.
The House. during the day, settled the |
treasury question, and passed upon many |
bills.
The Senate resolution proposing a con-
stitutional amendment to make cash |
instead of a homestead exemption was |
killed.
The Senate bill increasing the salaries |
of the commissioner of agriculture, super |
intendent of public instruction and sec |
rotary of state to 5000 per annum, was |
passed.
The Senate bill authorizing a 2-mill state |
tax for the payment of pensions was |
amended to read one-half mill and return |
ed TO the Senate. This one-half mill will |
raise between $4,000 and $4,000. The ? |
mill tax would have been an additional |
burden upon the state of a little less |
than 100000.
The committee substitute for Mr.. Ze- |
wadski's reapportionment bill was enact |
ed. This substitute is a re-enactment YER |
batim ct liberatum of the existing law, |
and thus Duval county, or any other |
county, will have no more representation |
than at present.
The proposal of Col Pope to change the |
capital to Jacksonville is one of about 400 /
corpses on the calendar.
the Senate resolution to change the con- |
stituton to require suspension from Of /
flee of any impeached officer passed the /
House.
At $50 o'clock the House took a recess,
during which time Mr.. Zewadski on be /
half of the members in an eloquent speech |
presented to Speaker Mays a beautiful |
gold-headed cane ana an ivory gold mount I
ed gavel as testimonials of their esteem of |
his many manly qualities and especially |
of his fair rulings. On the gavel were in |
scribed these words: Fairness, Firmness |
and Ability"
Mr.. Drane. on behalf of the attaches |
presented Mr.. Mays with a fine umbrella. |
Mr.. Mays responded feelingly and hand |
somely. He assured them all that their |
names and faces would always fill a pleas |
ant Mace in his npuorv