Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-01-22
TALLAHASSEE.
A Bill for the Farmers-It Protects
Them Against Fraud-Agriculturea and
Immigration Hand in Hand-What the
Bill PrOvides-Analysis of Its Contents
Legislative PrOceedings-A DeIuge.

Ihem Against Eraud-Agriculture and
Immigration Hand in Hand-What the
Bill PrOvides-AnaIysis of Its Contents
Legislative PrOceedings-A DeIuge.
TALLAHASSEE Jan. ia bill of very great
Importance to the people of Florida has been
presented in the Senate. 1t is entitled ''An
act 10 establish Bureau and Commissioner of
Agriculture and immigration, and to repeal
an act To establish a Bureau of immigration
for the State of Florida, and to promote the
rapid settlement of State lands, approved
March 9TH. 1879"
1t provides for the appointment Of Com
missioner Of Agriculture and Immigration,
and constitutes the Governor and Cabinet, to-
gether with the Commissioner, Bureau of
Agriculture and immigration, of which the
Governor shall be ex-OfliciO President
The salary of the Commissioner shall be the
same as that of Il member of the Cabinet, and
he Is allowed to appoint his own clerk, whose
pay shall be fixed by the bureau.
IL Is made the duty of the commission to or
ganize as speedily as possible, an agricultural
and emigration society in each county,
whose secretary shall report to and receive
from the Commissioner monthly reports of all
matters relating to agriculture, immigration.
transportation; and tits also required that he
shall obtain all necessary information of the
climate. soil, productions and resources of
each county.
Pamphlets and documents containing such
information are to be prepared. published
and distributed by this officer. setting forth
facts and statistics of interest to intending
immigrants, and throwing all the light pOssi-
BILE upon the advantages and resources of
Florida.
The Governor is authorized to nominate the
Commissioner. who shall be confirmed by the
senate. and in case he should die or resign,
the Governor Is to appoint his successor 30
discharge tine duties until the next session of
the legislature.
1t is required Of the Commissioner to brand
on all fertilizers offered for sale, upon the
chemicals entering into the composition of
such. the manufacturers guaranteed analv-
sis, showing the percentage of the valuable in
gradients therein. These are to embrace the
following: The amount of soluble, pre-
cipitated, available and insOluble phOsphOric
acid, ammonia, potash, organic matter, bone
phosphate, etc.
Persons Offering such fertilizers or chemi-
Gals for sale without such an analysis at
tached are TO be punished by fine or impTisOn-
ment.
The analysis attached to such articles is a
guarantee OF It's purity. and shall be binding
on the sellers, and can be pleaded in any suit
or action TO show failure OF consideration.
The bill requires the Commissioner to forbid
the sale of any acid phosphate or dissolved
bone containing less than 10 cent. of avail
able phOsphOric acid and any ammOniated su-
perphOSphate that contains less than 5 per
cent. Of available phOsphOrc acid and per
can be admitted as evidence in any court that
involves the merits of such articles.
The bureau Is to appoint competent
chemist. who shall analyze all such articles,
and make any other analyses required by the
Commissioner He Is to take an oath for the
faithful performance of his duty.
Fifteen hundred dollars are allowed for his
salary. out of which sum he is to pay for the
rent Of laboratory and for the apparatus and
cost Of chemicals.
The Commissioner is to appoint not more
than six inspectors at points deemed neces-
sary, who are TO be paid for the services rem
'dered, the highest salary not to exceed $1,000.
These inspectors are TO be bonded in the sum
Of $1,000.
II is made their duty to take samples of fer
tiliZers and chemicals offered for sale. TO fur
nish tags for each and every package, to make
all necessary reports. and to pay over to the
Comptroller on the first of each month all
sums collected the previous month. All fees
are TO be paid before inspection, the fees not
to be less than fifty cents nor more than a
dollar per ton.
The salaries of the chemist and inspectors
are to be paid monthly, on the Commissioners
certificates, and these officials hold these Off
ces during the term Of the Commissioner un-
less removed according to law.
It Is declared a misdemeanOr to refuse to
permit an analysis to be made, and is punished
by fine or imprisonment, or both.
The members of the bureau receive no addi-
tional pay for their services.
The Commissioner is to make quarterly
renOrt of what he does TO the bureau, and on
the first Monday of January an annual re-
port Of the dOings and results of his Office for
the information of the Legislature when in
session.
The act of March :, 1879, establishing a Bu-
reau of immigration is repealed.
1t seems a small salary (Sl.500) to pay the
chemist, especially when he is expected to pay
for the rent and fitting up of a laboratory out
of this amount. The state should provide the
building and all the furniture and apparatus
needed.
The sale Of commercial fertilizers is rapidly
on the increase in Florida. and such a law is
necessary TO protect the farmers against fraud
and imposition.
Business of an ordinary routine character
occupied both houses this morning. Several
bills were presented and referred.
In the senate the official printing bill. passed
a few days since, came up for reconsideration,
and was lost on a tie vote, fifteen 10 fifteen,
the President casting the deciding vote in the
negative.
The weather is simply disgusting in the
extreme. and has ruined the prospects of the
Middle Florida Fair, 1t has rained almost
necessarily for three days and nights, and mud
and water are everywhere.
The convention bill has not yet been reached
in the Assembly.
A bill removing the capital from Tallahas-
see to Gainesville has been introduced in the
Senate. There is but little prospect of its
passage W. II. B.