The Savannah morning news., 1903-02-13
GOV. JENNINGS CABINET.
Important Changes Have Taken
Place at Florida Capital.

Tallahassee, Fla, Feb. 12.-There has
been a regular upheaval in Gov. Jen-
ning's cabinet-one that showed how
little the political guessers really knew.
Ever since the November election, when
Attorney General w. =. Lamar was
chosen, by an Overwhelming ma jority,
to represent the new Third district in
the halls of Congress, there has been
much speculation as to who his success
sor would be. General opinion gave it
to Hon. w. II. Ellis the silver-tongued
orator of Quincy, with others given oc-
casional mention.
The matter was practically settled
yesterday when Gen. Lamar sent in
his resignation, to take effect on March
l. This was followed by the resigna
tions of State Treasurer ]. b. Whit
field and State Auditor w. V. Knott.
to take effect at the same time. The
surprise occasioned by the acts of these
gentlemen had not been given an OPP
portunity to subside, when the Gov
ernor announced another one.
This was the announcement of the
appointment of Mr.. Whitfield to be At
torney General; w. V. Knott to be
State Treasurer and w. H Ellis to be
State Auditor. Mr.. Lamar has been At
torney General the past fourteen years.
and is deservedly one of the most pop
ular men in the state. 1t was Mr. La
mar who instituted, and won, the now
celebrated suit against the Florida,
Central and Peninsular Railroad,
whereby the state was awarded $685. 900
in back taxes.
Mr., Whitfield has been State Treasur-
er for several years. He is one of the
brightest lawyers in Florida, and it Is
said that his resignation, and accept
ing the appointment as Attorney Cen
eral, is only the prelude to the forma-
ton of partnership in the practice Of
law with Hon. John w. Henderson.
The Attorney Generalship (Which posi-
ton he will only occupy. until the next
general election), being simply a STEP
ping stone to give his firm a prestige
it might not otherwise enjoy.
Mr. Knott has the reputation of be-
ing one of the best-posted men in the
state, and is pre-eminently fitted for
the position of State Treasurer Mr..
Ellis is the leading member of the
Gadsden county bar. He is an orator
of wide reputation, an able man, and
will fill Mr.. Knott's place in an ad-
mirable manner.
Hon. j. c. Grambling of Miami was
to-day appointed by the Governor to
be justice of the peace of District No.
10 of Dade county. The only othe
executive appointment was that of
George A. Bahal of Jacksonville to be
notary public for the state at large.
The Indian River Fiber Company
was to-day granted a charter by the
Governor The headquarters of this
concern is to manufacture extracts,
tanning material and palmetto fiber,
and to buy and sell real estate. The
capital stock is $25 600 with F C.
Nicholson, G. M. Phillips, w. r. Wells
and j. r. Nicholson as incorporators.
The famous Hillsboro county bond
matter occupied the attention of the
Supreme Court yesterday. This was a
suit, instituted for the purpose of
breaking an injunction granted bv
Judge Wall of Tampa against the sale
of the 100000 county road bonds, Sc
cured by Congressman S. NJ. Spark
man and Judge w. A. Carter as attor-
neys for Chas. Wright and w. B. Hen
derson.
The question upon which Judge Wall
granted the injunction was the fact
that, the bonds were payable in gold.
The case was argued on it's merits and
submitted to the court. A decision
will be handed down within the next
week. The attorneys representing
Hillsborough county were: Judge
Barron Phillips, Judge F. NJ. Simon
ton. Hon. John p Wall, Peter O.
Knight and Senator Thomas Palmer