The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-11
SENATORIAL FIGHT.
AT TALLAHASSEE
Is GROWING WARM.

Beln& IL NOW
Getting in His WOrk-Judgeship
contests Will Be Important-Sen-
ate Has Passed Many Bills to Third
Reading-WOrk of the House.
Tallahassee, Fla, April 10.-The second
r-sek of the legislative session opened to-
5av with almost every member of both
houses present.
The committees have been unusually
rrompt in getting to work, and the read
ing of reports and recommendations from
them consumed good part of the morn
ing.
The Senate led off briskly, and numerous
hills were passed TO their third reading, a
fsa+ almost Unprecedented so early in the
session. The resolutions providing for
committees to visit various state lnstitu-
Mons went over to await the report of a
sneeial committee to submit a more eco
nomical plan for this work, without inn
pairing its efficiency.
The committee on agriculture reported
fayorably on memorial for a duty on i'm
ported long staple cotton.
An adverse report was made on the pro-
posed constitutional amendment providing
for the popular cleo ton of circuit judges.
The resolution was lalo on the tdoie' suD-
tect to call
i The proposed constitutional amendment
for The popular election of county commits
sioners was reported favorably:
resolution for a constitutional amend
rnent for the election of state attorneys by
tbe people, was introduced by Senator Nc
Caskill of Santa Rosa.
The following bills passed to the third
reading:
To prohibit the placing of water hya
cinths in navigable streams under heavy
The bill amending the election law by
abolishing one polling place.
The bill to reduce the interest on tax
certificates after two years from Is to s
per cent.
In the House, an invitation was received
from the Colored State Teachers Associa-
ton, which meets here three days begin
ming tomorrow for members to attend
their meetings.
To Increase the Legislature.
The most important resolutions introduc-
ed were:
Proposing a constitutional amendment to
increase the number of members of both
houses of the legislature, giving each
county a senator, and reapportioning the
representatives for the popular election Of
state attorneys, and for a committee to
investigate the condition of Pensacola
quarantine station.
Thirty-two new bills were introduced
the most important being: To authorize
cities and towns to levy taxes for school
purposes; to define the purposes and man
ner for issuing county bonds; authorizing
county commissioners to receive bids for
feeding prisoners providing for working
-f..fe r,u1nf 10 dot inc ~
lection of bail bonds and to arerst tres
passers without warrant.
In discussing a resolution to send COM
mittee to investigate convict camps it was
minated that great scandal would be
unearthed in the management of the
camps. One member asserted that If the
legislature did not furnish a remedy quick
ly the people Of the counties where camps
are located would resort to mob law and
exterminate the lessees who are charged
with gross cruelties.
Nothing new has been developed yet in
connection with the United States senator
ship contest.
Judgeship Contests.
The senatorial fight is not the only polit-
ical one disturbing Floridians. There are
seven circuit judges to appointed for
confirmation by the Senate.
Already there are contests on for the
judgeship held for so many years by Hon.
John F. White of Live Oak, in the Third
circuit; and for a successor to Judge Bar
on Philips of Tampa, in the Sixth circuit.
In June the terms of three state attor-
neys will expire, those of Hon. John H.
McKinne of the First circuit, Hon. Sgd L.
Carter Of the Fourth, and Hon. j. B. Wall
Of the Sixth. The only fight yet on for
these offices is in the First circuit. Gov.
BloXham has given no intimation as to
no will for of hnEa
tons.
Mr. Davant of fernando on Saturday
introduced in the House a bill to provide
Tor the settlement of a judgment in favor
OF the state against Hon w. S. Jennings,
one OF the sureties on the official bond of
ex-State Treasurer C. B. Collins. Mr.
Jennings has offered to pay his pro rata of
The defacation, and the bill empowers the
attorney general to settle with Mr.. Jen-
nngs on that basis.
4 Senator PascO's Mistake.
The organization of the House of Repre-
sentauves early in the week was regarded
as test of strength by the two leading
candidates for the United States senator
snip, and ID furnishes an interesting story
OF shrewd political management on the
part OF the Taiaferro forces, and of sur
prlsing blunders by the friends of Senator
Pasco. For several weeks before the leg
4 'N'Ni0 COilNeteu II ndu Deeu announced
mat Maj Healy of Volusia county was
the Taiiaferro candidate for the speaker
snip, and the Pasco people seemed to be
supporting Mr. Zewadski Of Marion.
Last Sunday night a Taliaferro caucus
was held and II was agreed that Mr.. Rob
ert McNamee of Lake, brilliant young
lawyer and staunch friend of Mr.. ITALIA
Ierro, who had never antagonized any
member of the House, was the strongest
man In the Talia ferro camp to run for
speaker. A beautiful scheme was then de-
y'sed and carried out II was known that
senator Pasco's adherents had decided on
Coi Nat Walker for chairman of the
House caucus, and Nat Walker is a man
VINO never let's go when a promise is made
MIN Il was clear that the Pasco people
must stand by their promise to Walker,
or there would be trouble from him. The
Iaiiaferro managers. therefore, decided TO
name one of the al lest of Mr.. Pascos sup