The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-30
YOUNG MEN AT THE HELM.
THEY ARE THE WORKERS IN THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE.

Arc known for Their Experience
Measures-SpecuIati Respecting
Railroad and Pension Legislation.
Other Matters of Interest.
Tallahassee, Fla, April 29.-Young men
control the Florida Legislature this year.
The president of the Senate, Hon. Frank
Adams will have to jog along through
three more decades before he reaches the
allotted three score and ten. and Hon.
Robert MoNamee, speaker of the House,
is only about half way to that goal The
leading members of the Senate, in point
of work done and influence exercised, have
reasonable expectations of many more
years of usefulness. Senators Fred Myers
of Tallahassee, Tom Palmer of Tampa,
Hunt Harris of Key West L. J. Reeves
of DeFuniak, Ed O'Brien of Pensacola
and Charles Rogers OF Jacksonville, are
all regarded as belonging to the younger
democracy, and there are not enough gray
hairs on their six heads TO make one no
noticeably gray-headed man. Yet when
the history of the session is written, these
men, hardly yet reached their prime, will
figure very prominently and creditably.
Over in the House the predominance of
young men is particularly noticeable.
Frank Clark Of Jacksonville, who is real
~ entitled to the much-abused appella-
ton, "silver-tongued orator" is making
tremendous success. II seems to make
little difference to Clark whether COM
mittees report his favorite bills favorably
or adversely; he manages, by his elo-
quence and pleasing arguments, to push
them through Nobody but Clark dream
ed that his famous anti-cigarette bill or
his stringent bill against the publication
of libelous articles or anonymous COM
munications would get further than Sec
ond reading, but Clark got squarely be-
hind them and pushed them through the
House practically unchanged by amend
ments.
Mr.. Walter Palmer of Orlando is anoth-
er youngster who is making a splendid
reputation and taking a leading part in
shaping Florida history. Palmer has
plenty of brains, a commanding presence.
is ready and easy talker, a very hard
student, and absolutely honest Such a
man Is necessarily a power, and as chair
man of the House committee on railroads.
Palmer has important responsibilities in
settling the vexing problem as to the ex-
tent of the control which the Railroad
Commission shall exercise over the trans
portation companies of the state. 1t will
De recalled that a constitutional amend
| ment was adopted by the people at the
last general election authorizing the leg
islature 10 grant judicial powers to the
commission. This has been regarded as a
very delicate question, requiring wise
counsel and careful delberation. Palmer
has just introduced a bill in the House.
which, it is hoped, will offer a satisfac-
tory solution of the matter.
Mr.. w. X. Zewadski Of Ocala, is another
young lawyer, who is making his mark.
Indeed, Mr.. Zewadski has made his mark.
lie was in the House of 1897, and one of
It's most useful members This year he is
putting into practice the experience then
gained, and there is no man on the floor
who is doing more good in the way of Sc
curing the elimination of unwise or oh
jectonable features from all measures CON
sidered.
1t Is not to be understood however, that
the older men, the tried and experienced
readers of the last two or three decades
have no voice in the deliberations of this
legislature. In the first place, it has been
many years since the recommendations OF
any Governor have received the earnest
/ COilSiNSAdtlOu WHICH mas Deen accorded to
the suggestions made by Gov. Bloxham in
his message and in private consultation.
Bfoxham has been Democratic leader in
Florida for thirty years, and is to-day the
| most popular man in the state.
In the Senate, Col Tom Peter Chaires
and ex-Treasurer E. S. Grill are older
leaders, whose advice and opinions are
constantly sought. Looking over the floor
Of the House, one notices really brilliant
gafaxy of old Democratic war horses.
Foremost among them is the man-though
he is certainly not yet an old man-who,
working val.antly with Bloxham, bore the
| brunt of the burden in redeeming Florida
| from carpet-bagism. George P. Raney was
/ elected attorney general in 1876, and after
serving eight years most usefuliy in that
office, he served te:i years on the supreme
bench. the latter half of his term as chief
| justice In 1894 he resigned from the bench
to practice his profession. Last fall he
was persuaded by his fellow-citizens OF
/ Tallahassee to go to the House, and Flor
/ ida is to be congratulated that he con-
/ sented. Some wondered how he hoped to
add TO his saurels in the lower House. Per