The Palatka news and advertiser., 1903-04-17
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP.

"bIh EOtuuJbI NyIlll Has DttH appoint
ed chairman Of the new senate stand
Ing committee on drainage and re-
clamation of lands. Senators Car
son, Whidden, Dmick and Sans are
the other members of this commit
tee.
Governor Jennings message was q
long one but careful perusal of it
leads inevitably to the conclusion
that it is an able state paper, filled
with sensible recommendations
Several bills have been introduced
for rodistricting of the judicial cir
cults. All Of them contemplate a
change in the district of which Put
nam county forms part. One bill
provides for five counties in this dis
trict, viz: Clay, Alachua, Bradford,
Putnam and Levy. The others con-
template but four counties in the
district, viz: Putnam, Alachua,
Bradford and Levy. In any event
it would mean a new Judge for Put
nam county and new district attor-
ney. This judicial circuit is entirely
too large as at present constituted.
Mr.. Wall of Putnam introduced a
resolution last week to prohibit
SlIOhlllS III bllt tSlSldJlN6 IhlI uuT-
ing sessions and for half hour be-
fore each session. Mr.. Gilchrist
offered an amendment to prohibit the
chewing of tobacco and gum. Mr..
Rivers thought it would be just as
well to pass resolution requiring
member to wash their faces and
comb their hair before each session,
and moved to lay the resolution on
the table. Mr.. Wall said that most
any hog will wash it's face, but they
do not smoke. He did not say
whether his breed of face-washing
hogs chewcd tobacco or not. He said
that it was the custom of the House
to pass such resolution at the be-
ginning of each session and he hoped
that there was a sufficient number of
gentlemen on the floor to pass it.
His hope was realized; the resolu-
tion was adopted.
A large number of bills have been
introduced pertaining to causes for
divorce between husband and wife.
Fifteen were introduced in the
House in one afternoon last week.
Senate bill No Is, entitled an act
to repeal chapter 1872 of the Laws OF
Florida, entitled IAN act making in
durable insanity a ground for divorce
of husband and wife and regulating
proceeding in such cases." approved
April 25th, 1901, was reported adj
versely by Judge Raney, chairman
of the Judiciary committee.
Senator McWilIiams of st. Johns
county has introduced bill provid-
ing for the purchase of site and the
building and furnishing of COVER
nor's mansion, and appropriating
$4,000 for the purpose.
The Real Stuff. Senator Brown
has introduced bill to incorporate
the Most Worshipful Union Grand
Lodge Of the Most Ancient and Hon.
Orable Fraternity of Free and Ac-
cepted MasOns, COlOred, of Florida.
Senator Wilson has introduced
bill providing for free text books and
authorizing the levy of special tax
in each county for that purpose.
The bill validating the recent Pa
latka bond issue was introduced in
the senate on the Sth by Senator
Grill.
1t has been stated that the dispen-
sary liquor law has not been downed
and that it will bob up again in the
present session. There need be no
alarm on this point. The dispen-
sary is Il dead duck in Florida. Leg
islators who formerly favored it
have seen the hand writing on the
Wall
Representative Webb of st. Johns
county, who is doctor of medicine,
has introduced a bill of Knockout
drops for mental and christian
science. The bill is mistake-the
natural mistake of doctor. 1t is
not within the province of the state
to say by what method the people
shall become separated from their
cash in the pursuit of health. Chris
tian and mental science may have
their origin in pseudOpathy, may be
practiced as flakes" pure and sim
pie, but so long as any considerable
portion of the people are made to
think they are getting their moneys
worth, they should be let alone.
And then these people are not the
only fakirs on earth. How many
regular practitioners are there who
do not, in their daily practice, adopt
II fake system of treatment, depend
ing upon "mental" therapeutics to
do the real work?
The legislature has been asked to
change the name of the Agricultural
college at Lake City to the "Univer-
sity of Florida" My, but don't that
sound big. Better call it the Lake
City Academy for time and until
college professors can be substituted
for country school teachers. The
school isn't even tenth class col
lege, let alone university.
Mr.. Wells of Levy has introduced
bill in the house which provides
thaC the tax assessor IN each county
shall assess a capitation tax of 81
upon every male resident between
q end 30 years, and real and person.
al property can be sold for failure to
paw said tax. If the person has no
property he can be compelled to
work on the roads three days of
eight hours each in each year. In
counties where road work is let out
by contract the defaulters shall
work the roads and sixty days shall
be allowed the contractor. 1t is
provided also that in case of failure
to work the roads the person shall
be liable to fine or imprisonment.
Che governor apu cabinet, the
members Of the supreme court, rail
road commissioners, both branches
of the legislature aud attaches, and
the mayor and council of Tallahas-
see will take an excursion train for
Pensacola to-day, returning on Sun
day All go to visit the feet of
United Statef warships in Pensacola
harbor. There are 10 ships. The
governor was requested by joint
resolution to communicate with the
secretary of the navy and ask him
to hold the fleet together until the