The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-04-09
FL0RIDA'S VETERANS
MAY BE PENSI0NED.
Dill Providing for This Has Been
Introduced.

Dill Providing for This Has Been
Introduced.
Tallahassee, Fla, April S.-The Sem
ate held a short session to-day. The
President announced the assignment of
committees.
Aside from the Introduction of bills
and resolutions, little business was
transacted, the most important being
bill to provide for pensioning dis
abled Confederate soldiers and sailors
and widows of those who lost their
lives during the Civil War, and those
who have died since. The bill pro-
VideS the following amounts to be paid
annually. Loss of sight, 500; loss of
one eye, $25; loss of foot or leg, $50;
loss of one hand, $50; loss of 10th
hands, 800; both feet, 800; hand and
foot, $500.
Another important measure was the
introduction of a bill by Senator Wads-
worth of the Tenth, to repeal the law
making incurable insanity a ground
for divorce. This is the celebrated
Flagler divorce law, passed to enable
the millionaire railroad magnate to Sc
cure legal separation from his insane
wife.
Whidden of the Twenty-seventh also
introduced a bill for the protection of
game and prescribing the time when
hunters can kill certain birds and other
game. This is considered an important
measure, which will result in prevent
ing indiscriminate destruction of bird
and animal life in Florida. 1t will be
favorably reported by the Game Com
mittee.
The house was called to order at
10 o'clock this morning. A red hot
debate was called out by the intro
duction of a resolution by Gilchrist of
DeSoto, that a standing committee
Of not less than five nor more than
nine members be appointed to which
shall be referred all bills relating to
general legislation. Upon objection be-
ing made to the creation of such COM
mittee, General Gilchrist delivered a
five minutes address in explanation
of the object of his resolution. He
stated that the Judiciary Committee
had been greatly overburdened with
bills referred to it. Wall of Putnam
objected strongly to any committee be-
ing created to have charge of all laws
that might be enacted by that body
Upon being put to vote the resolution
was defeated.
Loftin of Escambia introduced a
resolution to increase the Judiciary
COMMITTEE from nine TO nfteen MEM
bers, said committee to be divided in
to two parts. The resolution was
adopted by vote of 50 to u.
A resolution was introduced by West
of Santa Rosa, providing for COM
mittee on Forestry, and another on
insurance, each to be composed of not
less than five nor more than nine mem
bers. The former committee will be a
most important one, as it will have
for its objects the enactment of laws
for the preservation of our forests.
The educational interests of Florida
are to be looked after at this session,
and resolutions were introduced pro-
viding for the appointment of commit
tees to visit the various colleges and
seminaries of the state, and ascertain
| their condition and needs.
The question of re-districting the
state and making eight judicial cir
cults instead of seven, will also be dis
posed of at the present session, and a
resolution was introduced that a Joint
committee on judicial circuits be ap-
pointed to consist of nine members, to
which shall be referred all matters
pertaining to redistricting of the state.
resulOtion to amend Section 8 of
Chapter II of the Constitution was re-
ferred to the committee on education,
as it is strictly an educational ques-
ton. A number of other resolutions
We're introduced. The Speaker will
announce his committees Tomorrow
after which time the Introduction and
discussion of bills will be taken up.
The House adjourned to O'Clock
Thursday.