The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-08
COMPROMISE NOW TALKED OF.
NOT LIKELY THAT CAPITAL WILL
GO TO JACKSONVILLE.

IIorida's sOIOns Are Getting Their
Calendars ia shape.
Tallahassee. Fla, May THE first half
or t-e ueriod fixed 10y the Florida con-
stirngon for the legislature TO remain in
session. expired with adjournment last
Thursday afternoon. During the four
weeks which remain. members viii devote
their attention less to the framing and in
PRODUCTION OF new bills. ana much more
10 securing the consideration and final dis
position of their bills now on the calen-
dar
In looking over the calendars Of the two
houses one is struck by TWO facts regard
ing the reports Of committees on the va
rious measures The first is The large
number of adverse reports, which in prae-
ticalIy every case is the obituary notice
of the measure. and clearly indicates that
the committees are determined to sup
press experimental legislation, and the
other is the unusual eXertion which has
characterized the work of the commit
tees in preparing substitutes and amend
ments for bills coming TO them containing
a basis of good and yet more or less de-
fective in phraseology or needful provis-
ions This perfectng Of crude but desira-
BILE measures. has eutailed great labor
upon the committees, which deserves rec
ognition and credit
The week Just ended has been busy
one True, not very many measures have
been sent to the Governor, but the weed
ing out process has been working with
notable and excellent results in reducing
a.. Gin a faIa ff1Y n
of all the bills introduced have been
withdrawn, and not small number have
been indefinitely postponed. Numerous To-
cal and relief bills have passed one house
or the other. as have a few of general
application.
VIII Hardly Move 1t.
Ten days ago there was much talk In
the legislative halls of putting through
q measure with a great hurrah to move
the state capital from Tallahassee to
Jacksonville. A joint resolution for this
purpose was introduced by Frank Clark
of Jacksonville, and referred to the COM
mittee on constitutional amendments, of
which Clark Is chairman. Since its ref
erence, never a word has been heard of it
officially, and the prospects are that the
proposal has seen its Invest days.
This is an old, old fight, almost as old
as the state itself Tallahassee was Sc
lected as the seat of government of Florida
in 1922 the year after the territory was
acquired from Spain. In 1S45 Florida was
admitted into the union as a state. and
three years later East Florida began its
efforts to secure the removal of the capt.
tai
For twenty years, from 1860 to 1880 condi-
tons were so troubled and unsettled that
the agitation slept, but during the past two
decades the question has been mooted with
increasing vigor and seriousness. The
more conservative and influential mem
bers, however, seem agreed that the time
has not yet arrived when a change of the
seat of government would be advantage
Gus 20 the people of Florida
May BE Compromise.
Il is not improbable that some compro-
mise viii be effected upon this matter 1t
need surprise no one if the Supreme Court
and the Railroad Commission are trans
ferred TO Jacksonville. The present capt.
tol building in Tallahassee is too small
Tor the needs Of all the departments. and
additional room is imperatively needed
a large portion of the litigation coming
before the Supreme Court comes from
Jacksonville or is handled by Jackson
Viile attorneys, and there has long been
cry from these lawyers against the ex-
pense OF having to travel 100 miles and
lose several days in order to properly
present a case
Jacksonville is also the railroad center
OF the state and she has some valid rea-
sons to offer why the headquarters of the
Hallroad Commission should be located
there. 1t is not at all certain that these
Two important departments will be remov-
ed from Tallahassee, but the Jackson
VILE people are represented here by very
strong delegations, both of legislators and
lobbyists
Some of the Fighters.
The skirmishing of the past week To
get bills into favorable positions on the
calendar and TO get them passed from
second reading has developed some strong
legislative fights. Prominent among these
is Hon. John w. Watson representative
from Osceoia county, who has Just push
ed through the crucial stage a cattle
OH emoodying the views of the state
stockmens convention, recently held at
klssimmee. Mr. Watson is rather a
young man, but bids fair to become one
OF the leaders of South Florida at an
early day.
Another excellent man is Capt. F. A
Hendry of Lee, another southern nenin-
suiar county. Besides being the particu.
I lar friend of the Seminole Indians Cam
Hendry enjoys the confidence and admira
ton of all his associates upon all mai.
N'A-'NeslsAOAA
part. man of sound and ripened iude,
ment' his influence in the House is ex-
tensive.
Judge ]. F. C. Griggs of Apalaohico,a
is native of Georgia, who is taking ]
prominent part in shaping the course nj
legislation. He is cousin of Congress.
man Griggs of Georgia and extremely non.
ular in Middle Florida.
Constitutional Convention.
The question of holding another consti.
tutional convention is being discussed b,
legislators. Friday the House commits
on constitutional amendments reportef
favorably joint resolution introduced b1
Gen. DaVant of fernando 10 submit ia,
matter of holding constitutional con
Vention 60 the people. The present con.
sutution was framed and adopted in 1855
ana since that time numerous amend
ments have been adopted and food ri
proposed amendments have been intro
duced IN each legislature. The question.
OF suffrage restriction and of popular
election of such officers of state attorneys
County Commissioners and circuit iudeo
have been agitated for several wears an