The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-05-14
THAT SPONGE BILL.
d the Editor of the FLoRrpIAN:

I am a young democrat, and as
such, l delight to see young men
honored by being elected to Office.
Therefore / wish it were so that I
could support the Hon. Jefferson B.
Browne in his candidacy for the
governorship. But l have distinct
recollection of a certain bill intro
duced in the legislature of 1891 by
Mr.. Browne, seeking to give himself
and chosen associates a monopoly of
the choicest sponge fisheries of the
state, and making it a misdemeanor,
punishable by fine, for any other
person to take even tiny bit of
sponge from those waters.
The title of that bill started off by
saying it was to encourage the
propagation of sponges; and it went
on in it's first section to say that it
woull add largely to the prosperity
of the state. Now what I want Mr..
Browne to explain is, Does he believe
in class legislation? Does he think
it would be right and just to give
certain men the exclusive privilege
of catching sponges in those waters,
thus shutting out entirely the many
poor but honest sponge fishermen
who make their living by catching
and gathering sponges from those
waters; and making it a INSIDE
meanor, punishable by heavy fine,
for even those who own the lands
abutting thereon to take a sponge
therefrom? In other words, is not
Hon. Jefferson B. Browne ashamed
of his attempt to rob the poor
spongers of the means Of a livelihood
that himself and associates might
grow rich through their monopoly of
all the sponges in those waters?
Will you kindly print the full text
of the bill and ask Mr.. Browne to
explain wherein it wonld add to the
prosperity OF the state-if he can.
YOU'VE DEMOCRAT.
The bill referred to in the fore
going communication was intro
duced IN the senate by Hon Jefferson
B. Browne on May 7, 1891. ltpassed
the senate May "a. When it reached
the house, however, it was ordered
printed-and that killed it.
The FLoR1D1AN will cheerfully
give Senator Browne space in its
columns, if he wishes it, to explain
how such a monopoly could possibly
add to the prosperity of any Of the
citizens of the state other than those
named in the bill and their employees.
The full text of the bill is AS
| follows:
SENATE BILL NO. III.
A BILL to be entitled an act tn encoul age
the propagation of sponges in the For,
| ida valers and grant certain rights and
privileges to Thomas A. Hine, jeremiah
! Fogarty, Ralph Monroe and Jefferson
Browne, and TO punish any persons tor
infringing Oh the same.
| Be it enacted by the Legislature Of tile
State of Florida SECTION l. Whereas,
The sponge industry in Florida ia one OF
i,s most valuable resources and It's encour-
agement will add largely 10 the prosperity
Of the State of Florida; anil.
Whereas. Thomas A. Hine, jeremiah
Fogariy, Ralph Monroe and Jefferson b.
Browne ARE experimenting in the propsgs-
ton of spOnges from cuttings planted 10
the waters Of the stale; and,
Where. ., l; is impossible To successfully
cultivate the sponges unless the beds Whe' e
the experiments are bring or shall be COZ
Quoted are prot, cted nv the state.
SEC. @ Thomas A. Hine, Jeremiah Fog
arty. Ralph Monroe and Jefferson B
Browne, their heirs, assigns, agents and
EMPLOYEES are granted the exclusive right
} for twenty years 10 catch, gather or take
sponges from The waters OF the state OF
Florida included within the following
. boundaries. to.wit: Commencing 1T the
southernmost point OF ElliOtts Key and
extending thence west 10 range line divid-
ing range 40 and Al east, thence north
along said range linz to the tow nship line
between townships "a and 55 south, thence
east along said township line 10 the east
coast of Key Biscayne, then south To a
point due east ofpl ce OF beginnii 6. thence
west 10 place OF beginning.
SIC. 3 That where any of the corners
of the above Described boundaries shAli be
in the water, it shall be- the duty of the
: said Thomas A. Hinr, jeremiah F'gariy,
Ralph Monroe and Jefferson B. Browne,
their agents or employees, 20 place and
keep therein buoy 10 murk said corner.
SEC. 4. That any persons other than
the said Thomas A. Hinr, JET emiah Fog
arty, Ralph Mo"roe and Jefferson B
Browne, their heirs. assigns, agents or EN-
plOyees, " ho shall CATCH, gather or take
any spouges from The waters within the
said boundaries described IN section 2 dur
, ing said term 81 twenty years, shalt tie
guilty Of mIsdemeanOr. and upon convic-
lion shall be fined not less than one huh
; dred dollars MIR more than one Thousand
dollars.
Corns. warts and Runions