The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-07
BROWNE CHAIRMAN OF
RAILROAD COMMISSION.
Organization of the New Body Has
Been Expected.

organization of the New Body Has
Been Expected.
Tallahassee, Fla, Jan. 6.-The Rail-
road Commission met this morning and
organized for business. AS the new
members were elected on platforms
supposed to be antagonistic to the rail-
road, it is expected that very drastic
policy will be pursued.
The meeting was called to order by
Chairman John L. Morgan, who stated
that the members were called together
for the purpose of reorganization. Mr..
r. Hudson Burr nominated Mr.. Nor
gan for chairman. The nomination was
seconded by Hon. Jefferson B. Browne
Mr.. Morgan thanked the gentlemen for
the honor conferred, but refused to ac-
cept. He then nominated Mr.. Browne
for the position, and that gentleman
was unanimously elected.
There were fifteen or twenty appli-
cations for the position of secretary
backed by strong endorsements. On
motion of Mr.. r. Hudson Burr, sec
onded by Mr.. Browne, the present sec
rotary, Mr.. Royal c. Dunn, was unani-
mously chosen for the term of two
years. This was a neat compliment
to Mr.. Dunn, and shows that he has
given entire satisfaction.
Jefferson b. Browne the new chair
man, is one of the best known poll
ticians in Florida, and has filled many
positions of trust in the state. Born in
Key West in 1857, he received his edu-
cation in the Brooksville Academy of
Maryland, and the Kenmore Univer-
sity of Virginia, graduating in law
from the State University of Iowa, in
the class of 1880. He practiced law
one year in Pensacola, but has since
resided in Key West. In his home
city Mr.. Browne was city attorney
from 1880 to 1885; postmaster, 1886 to
1890; was state senator from 1891 to
1895; president of the Senate, 1891 to
1898; collector of customs for Key
West from 1893 to 1897; delegate to the
National Democratic Convention in
1888. In 1891 he was elected Mayor of
Key West, but declined to serve.
John L. Morgan, who was elected
chairman on the resignation of Hon.
Henry e. Day, was born in Applins
county, Georgia, in 1841, receiving his
education in the common schools of
Clinch and Pierce counties. He was a
gallant Confederate soldier and was
severely wounded in a slHrmish in
Florida He engaged in merchandising
in Georgia, and later was a successful
railroad contractor. Mr.. Morgan came
to Florida in 1876, as section master
of the Savannah, Florida and Western,
and has since identified himself with
the interests of the state. He was
elected to the state Legislature in 1917
and 1897. In 1888 he was elected a
member of the Railroad Commission.
Mr.. Burr was born in Washington,
d. c., in 1866, and was educated under
a private tutor and in the common
schools of Florida. He came
to Florida in 1876, and en-
gagged in fruit growing, truck
farming and merchandising at Little
river He was employed in the United
States Treasury Department during
Cleveland's first administration, and
was elected to the state Legislature
in 1901. In the last session he intro
duced bill which passed the House,
but was killed in the Senate, fixing a
three-cent passenger rate in Florida.
Mr.. Royal c. Dunn was born in
Beaufort, S. C., in 1875, coming to Flor
ida in 1895. He was graduated from the
Lake City Agricultural College in 1896,
and moved to Madison where he taught
for three years. He was then admitted
to the bar and practiced law until ap-
pointed to his present position in Octo-
Der, 1901. Mr.. Dunn is editor of the
Madison Recorder.