The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-07-18
THE REVISED STATUTES.
harvest.

THE REVISED STATUTES
The commission appointed by the
governor to revise, simplify and
compile the statute laws of Florida
presented the result of their labors
to the recent legislature and during
the last days of the session their
work was adopted. After the COM
mission has corrected few clerical
errors the work will be given out
under contract to be printed. The
new compilation will 60 into effect
sixty days after the publication.
The legal editor of the East Coast
Advocate has prepared and published
a clear concise and learned review
of the revised statutes, from which,
for the information of the public, the
FLoR1DIAN quotes as follows:
An examination of the work shows that
the revisors have accomplished difficult
and laborious task in very creditable
manner. The arrangement of the revision
is logical, all the enactments relating to
any subject being collected under an ap-
propriate heading. There are FIVE grand
divisions, which are sub-diviGed into
titles, chapters, articles and sections, but
the sections are numbered consecutively
| from beginning to the end of the volume,
making about 800 sections, as the book
will finally appear. The arrangement is a
great improvement on that of McClellan's
Digest, and in their analysis of the general
subject the classification adopted by the
ablest law writer's has been pursued by the
| revisOrs.
Besides furnishing US with q more scien-
| tific arrangement of the laws, it has been
the aim of the work to omit all obsolete
statutes which numbered the former digest,
and to cOndense such statutes as were ex-
pressed with useless verbiage, giving US a
clear statement of the statute law in the
most succinct form. In this, the revisers
have been generally successful. We
are somewhat surprised. however,
to find in the revision, the chapter on
the Spanish Archives, which might have
been omitted, as obsolete. One would sup
pose, from reading its provisions, tina,
these Archives were in the custody of the
state. Keepers are to be appointed by the
Igovernor, who are TO furnish certified COP
les, translations, and other information
from these records. The Archives of the
province of East Florida are to be kept vi
St. Augustine, and Of West Florida, a,
Pensacola, etc., etc. Now, as a matter o.
fact, these records belong to the genera
government, and are in the custody of the
United States Surveyor General, ut ITALIA
hassee. They were moved from ST. Au-
gus,ine several years ago. The governor
has not appointed a keeper OF Archiv. 8
The state has no such Archives to keep
and the retention of this statute in the re-
, vision will only mislead and mysiify thos,
who may have 10 consult the Spanish Ar
chives, and send them on fruitless journey
to 81. Augustine and Pensacola.
One of the chief defects of the old d.
gest was, that while some of it was Law
much of it was not law, and we are sorr,
to note the same fault, even in a much
lesser degree, in the revised statutes.
. The liberty which was given the revis
ers to make such changes in the old stat
utes as they might think for the genera
} good, has been used freely. For instance
the county organizations are distinctl!
declared to be bodies corporate, actin
through the county commissioners. Thu
commissioners are to adopt seal, 10 at
test tn ir official acts, and may sue ant
be sued, in the name of the county. Thu
! powers of the board are extended, and i
is given supervision over the public roads
the Office of road commissioner beinl
abolished
The enlistment Of volunteer militia i
provided for, which may be called int
! immediate service by the county judge
sheriff or may"r, in ca-e Of riots, etc
Military companies organized under thi
law are constituted corporations, an
- may hold and dispose of property, etc.
The powers OF town cOrpOralions ar
e enlar ed, az that towns as well as cite
may issue 'nds IL raj Z money tor pnhli
Improvements. The amount to be raie
a however. Is limi'e ed 20 FIVE per cent. of In
p assessed valu atom If the place, whc
would be about $6 900 in the case of I'll u.
= Vile A property qualification is estat
q lished for voters at elt ctions to determin
whether bonds shall he issued, The approve
i Of twO-thirtls of the r. gistered voters OWL
n ing real estate in the town, and actual
voting, being required.
The county boards of health are als
!. created bodies 'rpOrxte, with q corporal
seal, and the power 10 cue and he sued
: They may procure injunctions from th
/. courts TO res rain violations OF their rule.
On their request the county Commissioners
u are TO levy Q spt cial one mill tax for the
q use fT sanitary purposes. This wOul
amount 10 about 81 1875 10 Brevard county
ri The county commissioners are to furnis
the county judge With standards Of weigh,
and measures. All merchants are TO brin
70 their weights and measures to the couu,
!, judge and have them compared with ,h
= standard every two years. Merchants Col
ing To comply with this are subject TO
fneO t 500, or imprisonment fur 90 dsv
The meat markets are to keep on exh
bition The hides and ears of all beey1
they offer for sale. The penalty Tor moi
- compliance 10 two years in states prison
~ or $500 fine.
h Jurors and witnesses are to get eli
,fIp per day and 10 cents mileage each VA
- This ID . reduction of 20 cents per dsy
ID the case Of Jurors.
ri The clerk Of court 10 required TO kee
besides the present deed, mortgage ax
~ mechanics Hens books, separate books