The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-05
SOME DIFFICULT PROBLEMS.
THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE WILL
HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEM.

Supreme Court Relief Bill - 1t
Seems to BE SRtisfactory-The Mat
ter of Re-districtinE the state
Commanding AttentiOn-The Dis
pensary BAH VIII he Reported
= FavOrabIy-Other Legislation That
Is of General Importance.
Tallahassee, Fla, May 4-More than
half of the session of the Legislature has
passed and but little in the way OF prac-
tical legislation has been accomplished.
II is not that time has been thrown away
during the first five weeks of the session,
but a very unusually large number of
knotty and vexing problems are now pre-
scented for solution. 1t is commonly re-
marked at the capital that the personnel
of the present Legislature seems to be
marked by an appreciably higher average
of intelligence and ability than has here
tofore characterized the membership OF
any Florida Legislature. 1t is pre-emi-
nently hard-headed, business-like body.
and there has been singular absence OF
oratorical fireworks and time-klling fool
ishness at all stages of the proceedings.
As a body the legislators have been stu
dents of the needs OF the state in alb the
branches of her government, as well as
of the legislation needed by the several
lines of industry which have apphed lot
relief, to an extent which has caused real
surprise to old observers around the
state house.
What is thought will prove a satisfac-
tory solution of one of the most pressing
problems which has claimed the atten-
tion of the people in recent years was
found when the two houses this week
passed a bill which authorizes and dt-
reefs the three justices of the Supreme
Court to select three lawyers of ability
and standing, who shall constitute court
commission, TO assist the Supreme Court
TO catch up with its docket, and put an
end 10 the long delays in reaching final de-
cisions in cases appealed to that tribunal.
Ever since the last Democratic State
Convention held in Jacksonville in June,
1900, declared ''the present condition OF
the Supreme Court docket to be intolera-
BILE the long delays in getting decisions
amounting to practical denial of justice,
1t has been confidently believed that re-
lief from this condition would be fur
uished as one of the earlier acts OF this
Legislature. AS is well known, the
Florida Supreme Court has been from
four to five years behind with its Work
since the middle S0s-a legacy from car
pet-bag days-and the most strenuous Ell
forts or the present JuSllCSS aAN lAASiA
immediate predecessors to catch up nave
been unavailng, so rapidly has the vol
ume of litigation in Florida Increased
during the last two decades.
The creation of a court commission is
designed as "a temporary eXpenleht-lhe
best and really the only provision that
can be made at once towards securing re-
lief for appellate litigants. 1t Is the pur-
nose Of the Legislature at this session 10
for
4he electors for ratification or rejection
AZ the next general election, in NoVem-
her 1902 proposing an amendment TO the
state Constitution, which would increase
the number of regular Supreme Court
justices from three, as at present TO
either five or six. Several measures
looking to this end are now pending ana
a disposition is manifest on an SUES 70
edout the most satisfactory OF these AS
A. viii be at least two years before the
additional justices could assume their
auties II is believed that the commission
iust provided for will serve an eXceliehl
nurpose In cutting down the oppressiFe
accumulation of old cases now before the
oo,,rt-in a word, that the almost ioIsot-
zen blessing of prompt justice IS again ~
be enjoyed by Floridians AFTER c"upie
of years. ,,si nrius
,,o,rts Is also promised by the present
r,egfslature, and it is probable tnat one
or two more judicial circuits VIII pe auH-
"a to the present number-seVeh' Inc
rvorlx In several of the circuits is rapluy
growing too large for one judge 10 ois
nose Of and the reorganization Oh IIe
trial courts is by many regaroea as ai-
Tnoet as urgent a necessity as Supreme
Court relief. -,.,... 80
4ha state convicts is now an old story
nut bv no means a concluded one. Inns
ouestion has been allowed to be dormant
for almost two weeks now, but IN the
meantime practically every memper Oh
the LEGISLATURE has been diligently seen
ing all obtainable information upon tne
subject, and notice has been serVeu ~
both houses that early next week the
question will be called up for further
consideration and final action. It is q
striking fact that many of the best IN
formed men now here unhesitaungly eN-
press the belief that this Legislature Is
going to do nothing more DEFINITE OF
practical than talk about the CONVEX
problem; that after all the agitation that
will be aroused, the lease system Will be
continued. lust as at present, and the con-
troll and supervision Of the system Will be
left unchanged with the administrative
officers.
This view is based largely on the idea
that the complete reform of the state
convict system must necessarily be Of
slow growth, and that while some provis-
son may now be made looking to the ulti-
mate adjustment of the lease system
that system will be continued for an
other period of four years from Jan. /
1902, for two leading reasons: First, the
state is now for the first time In Its
history offered a fair and adequate com
pensation for the hire of her convicts
and there is a strong sentiment that the
people should not be deprived of this mrs
opportunity to realize a considerable rev
enue from this source; and second
If the convicts are not leased again, the
state will be confronted on the first o.
next January, with the problem of having
800 convicts on her hands, with nothing
for them TO do, and no place TO confin'
them, for as stated II is considered to b'
impossible to find new work and new
quarters for this peculiar class of charges
in the limited period
On the other hand, the numerous op
ponentS OF the continuance of the leas'
system are calmly and confidently deter
mined to take the bull by the horns anC
make a change now. They urge as theil
chief argument the many positive de
merits of the lease system, as attested by
repeated Investigations during the pas
two years. The cruelties proven to have
been practiced IN convict camps by tn,
sub-leasees and the admitted necessity foi
changing the whole state convict system