The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-01
COLLINS BEFORE The COURT.
THURSDAY FINED As THE TINE
FOR FILING HIS ANSWER.

He Asks TO BE Given 30 Days in
Which to Prepare His Defense.
MIR. Hartridge Raised the Point
That the Legislature Would Not
BE i'm Session Then-The Bills Abnl-
ishing the Escambia County BoHrd
of Health. Providing For Primary
Elections For United states Sena-
tors and Establishing a Juvenile
RefOrmntory Passed.
Tallahassee, Fla. May Sl.-The Senate
this morning again resolved itself into
high court of Impeachment with Chief Jus
lice Taylor in the chair and State Treasur-
er Collins was only presented at the bar
by Sergeant-at-Arms Grantham TO answer
TO the summons issued against him last
week The House Impeachment committee
occupied seats placed for them in the mar
row gangway of the Senate chamber; and
MIR. Collins. alone and unattended by eth
er friend or counsel. sat in the rear row OF
seats.
On motion of Senator Hariridge the
reading of the articles Of Impeachment
which was set forth in the journal, was
dispensed with by order Of the president
The sergeant-at-arms made return of the
summons served against the delinquent
treasurer.
Mr.. Collins. on being formally called to
the bar of the Senate, arose his spare
form and thin face rising above the as
sembled throng and said: The respond
ent is present. and I am very glad 10 be
allowed to appear before this Senate, and
gu
that I simply ask you to give me reasona-
BILE time in which to prepare my defense.
and I shall be on hand obedient to any
order of this body
The chief justice then said: Does the
respondent suggest any time in which he
may be allowed to answer
MIR. Collins replied: Il think thirty days
will be as much as l will need. probably
not so much. Any time the senate may
fix will suit me-"
MIR. Zewadsk on behalf of the House
Impeachment committee, raised the point
that the managers might possibly desire a
short time to make replication to the re-
spondents plea. and said that the COM
mittee would like to make such replication
before June 4.
Mr.. Hartridge then brought up a point
as to whether the thirty days delay was
TO be for joining issue, or for proceeding
to the trial of the accused.
After considerable discussion OF techni-
cal points Mr.. Collins declared that he
was in ignorance as to what form OF
pleadings would be required, that he had
no opportunity TO employ counsel and
that he desired the time mentioned in
which to prepare his pleadinss.
Mr. Hartridge drew attention to the
fact that the pleadings should be made
while both houses were in session, and
h al lou
House would have adjourned and could
not file its replication.
Mr.. Reeves suggested that a plea of
mot guilty" be put in issue TO every plea
that might be raised, and after long de
bate, Mr.. Palmer of the Fourteenth dis
trict offered an amendment to the rules
covering the point raised by Mr.. Reeves
which was adopted, and Il o'clock Thurs
day morning was fixed as the time when
the respondent should file his answer TO
the charges, after which the court ad-
journed.
So far as the legislature is concerned
this has been John Stockton's day.
Tine bill abolshing the Escambia county
board of health, passed both houses in
spite Of Mr.. Chipley's opposition. This
county board has been run at enormous
expense, averaging, 1t is said, at least
$4,000 a year; and its abolition will make
the state board of health practically self
sustaining.
The bill providing for primary elections
also passed both houses to-day with DR.
Bhtch's amendment applying the same
principle 20 candidates for the United
States Senate. The passage of this meas
ure means an entire revolution in the pol
itics Of the state. and is regarded as a
decided victory for the Stockton element.
Mr.. Popes bill providing for the estab-
lishment of a juvenile reformantory, was
also passed in the House under Mr.. Stock
tons management, Mr.. Pope being abb
sent.
The bill appropriates $500 for adequate
buildings, $500 for site, and 5000 per
annum for the maintenance of the insti-
tuition, which has long been demanded by
public sentiment in the state