The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-04-28
LEGISLATIVE DOINGS.
Key West Extension 6ilI-Baskjn VS..
6rown-Sociai FunctionS-AppFo-
pristion Bills Galore
Special to the Ocala Banner.

TALLAHASSEE, APRIL, 25.-The
long and excessive quietness that has
prevailed the past three weeks of
the legislative session is about to be
disturbed and from now OH there
Will be something doing
| A number of the most prominent
| men in railroad circles are in the city
| III anticipation of the fight for and
| against the passage for what is
known as the Key West railroad bill
which provides for the extension of
a railroad from the mainland to the
Island City. While tn, bill does not
SO specify it is of course known that
| the road, if built, Will be a cOntinu-
] alton of the Florida East Coast rail-
| way from Miami, and, as has been
F, Henry VI. Fiagler is the only man in
| the world who would undertake the
| gigantic task. While it is believed
| that the bill will pass the senate, its
fate is very doubtful in the house
As a matter of fact the senate is also
close. On the vote on the amend
| ments offered, which it is claimed
| would have nullified the bill; these
amendments were only defeated by
| vote of Is to Is. The advocates of
the measure will make a most heroic
effort for its success.
At last the troubled waters of the
higher educational seas bid fair to be
Gained by the soothing oil of dip
lomacy. 1t is understood a compro-
mise has been affected whereby the
board of fifteen trustees to be ap-
pointed will embrace at least two
now serving on the board of trustees
of each of the educational institu-
tions affected. The bill was the
special order in the senate for yes
terday, but was again postponed and
made the special order for next Tues
day morning. Representatives of all
the colleges are here and all at work
5hard work at that.
The representatives of Marion
county in the house keep up their
good work. All the bills introduced
by Messrs. Sistrunk and hartmann
have either passed the house, or on
the calendar with favorable commit
tee report, and are sure of passage.
Their fate, however, when they reach
the senate is not so sure. partly.
though by no means altogether, from
the fact that until the Brown-Baskin
contest is settled, little work can be
done for the Goth senatorial district.
The conclusion of the argument i'm
this case yesterday afternoon leaves
the case now entirely in the hands of
the senate committee on privileges
and elections. Just when their re-
port will be made cannot here be |
fOrcaSted any more than can the sub !
stance of that report. 1t may be to- |
day, tomorrow, or, next week. If it |
is decided to have all the testimony |
printed and submitted to the senate |
with the committee report, this will |
of course require time. Some idea of !
the extent of the testimony may be !
gathered from the fact that only late |
yesterday afternoon did the steno-
grapher complete the work of trans
cribing her notes.
Hon. H. w. Long, chairman of the
board of county commissioners OF
Marion county, and president of the
county commissioners and good roads
association of Florida, arrived in Tai
lahassee yesterday and will remain to
attend the good roads meeting this
week. Mr. Long has many warm
friends, both in the city, and among
the members of the legislature. some
of whom were his colleagues in wears
gone by. He is always here the
center of an interested group.
So far the lobby has not put in any
very distinguished presence. An ex-
ception might be made of some en-
ployes i'll the capitol building, one of
in addition to drawing his pay,
from the state, does some more