The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-11
TALLAHASSEE LEADERS TIED.
CHIPLEY AND STOCKTON EACH GET
33 VOTES.


nOunces That He VIII BE A Free
Lance in the BanOting Hereafter.
The Investigating Committee Re-
ports That Mr.. Stockton Does Not
owe the State SI5,OOO-Dr. Morgan
of Putnam In "a Tilt With the BAN
| kcr.
Tallahassee, Fla, May 1O.-The ballot
| taken in the joint ass &t1bly to-day showed
a marked decrease in the vote, owing to
! the large number of pairs, but otherwise
| there was little change. The ballot stood;
Chipley 80
stockton IS
Raney ...............,............ 10
| Hooker NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
ButOrQ OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
| Senator Palmer of Tampa ............... l
The latter's vote was cast by Mr.. Darby,
| who announced his intention of henceforth
acting as a free lance.
From present indications tomorrow will
see a battle royal in the joint session and
| in any event the end is now thought TO
be near. There is a persistent rumor to
the effect that MIR. Call will re-enter the
| race and Mr. Stockton be taken down.
The latter's friends, however, Indignantly
| deny this and claim that their man Is in
the race to stay to the end.
The report of the select committee APP
pointed to investigate Mr.. Stocktons con-
nection with the state treasurer's office
was read in the House this morning. and
after a long and spirited debate was unan-
| imously adopted The report practically
exonerates Mr.. Stockton from the charge
of owing the state $4,000. and maintains
that he simply holds that much collateral
whose proceeds. he is to turn over to the
state as fast as realized on, $1,000 of said
collateral having already been sold, and
at the disposal of the state.
The debate over this special committee
report was sharp, and Mr.. Stockton open
ly charged that the treasury investigd-
ton committee was not seeking the truth,
but was inspired by a desire to do him
a political injury. Later on he so modi-
fed his charge as TO include only three
fourths of the committee, and declared
himself personally responsible for his
words
Mr.. Stockton was called to account by
DR. Morgan of Putnam who referred 10
MIN as one under fire and therefore irri-
! table
Mr.. Stockton resented the imputation,
declaring that no man could put him un-
der fire, and that he had made his life a
| living example of his character.
Mr.. Morgan persisted in his imputation
of irritability, which he said had carried
Mr.. Stockton too far when he had inn
puted to the committee a spirit OF perse-
| cution.
Mr.. Whitner of the investigating COM
mittee had read a statement in defense
of the committee, in which he described
Z Oh, IYra TO Il
ence of opinion as to whether Mr.. Stock
ton or his bank owed the money, and the
| question is one of veracity between the
! banker and the state treasurer
This, Mr.. Stockton described, as adding
| insult to injury" in face of a letter from
| Treasurer Collins, which had been read,
and which sustained his view of the mat
ter.
! At the conclusion of the debate the re-
| port of the treasury investigation commit
tee was taken up and unanimously adopt
| ed.
! The Stockton investigating committee
| in the Senate will report in the morning.
Neither house accomplished much in the
way of legislation to-day. The Senate
struck a gas well in the shape of the Adj
ans bin for a consolidation of the state
educational institutions under the board
of regents, and the Reeves bill for the ap-
pointment of a special board of trustees
! LOT the SLdle normal OCnOOl at DeFunldk
was killed on its third reading by a tie
vote, but will be brought up in the morn
ing on a motion to reconsider.
The House spent nearly the entire after
noon in discussing the new game law,
which was on second reading.
1t was learned to-day from Adjt Gen.
| Houston, in connection with the state
encampment that the railroads will not,
as heretofore, carry militia free. but will
exact a rate of / cent a mile. This, which
is looked upon as one of the first results
of the railroad commission law, will ne
| cessitate a hurried legislative appropria-
ton, the encampment being set for May
49,
Opposition is developing to Senator Ad-
ans bill to consolidate all the state in
stitutions for higher education under the
management of a board Of regents The
claim Of the opponents of the measure is
that, located at different points in the
state, these institutions are doing a great
and a good work. Consolidated, and To-
Gated at any one point in the state, would
deprive at least so per cent. of the pupils,
who attend these institutions of the ben
efits of a higher education, for the sim
pie reason that they would not be able to
go from home to receive an education.
The enactment of a law combining the
state seminaries and colleges into one in
stitutlon would be the beginning Of the end
OF higher education in Florida under the
supervision of the state.
1t is thought that the scheme to loan
the state school fund, amounting to $780,
CO., out to the several counties in order TO
enable them to build and furnish better
class of school buildings has been aban-
doned At any rate, the session is more
than half gone, and no such bill has been
introduced in either house.
Since the investigation of the state treas
ury, and a reported shortage of over So
nm A. f.. af.-
Inns is the only man who ever succeeded
himself as state treasurer. The constitu-
ton of Florida makes the governor ineli-
gible 20 succeed himself, and it Is sug-
gested that the fundamental law be so
amended as to prohibit the state treasurer
from being his own successosr.
CAROLINA's PHOSPHATE ROYALTY.