The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-07
BL0XHAM AND THEN BRYAN
Continued from Second Page.

with total annual production valued a
81, 2O9,725. These figures are taken from a
report of recent investigation by the
United States fish commission, which gives
the nine leading items as follows: Sponge,
1865 lN; rnullet Qresh and salted), $2S4, 773;
snappers, $l55,S46; oysters, S61, 723; pompa-
no, S37 1893: turtles, $2S,503; trout $27 10;
mullet roe, S25 1851; Spanish mackerel, $21,-
ass
The report Of the commission asserts
that If the supply of mullet-the most i'm
portant of the states fishery products-iS
to be maintained, it will be necessary to
enforce a close season covering it's prin-
cipal spawning period. The report also
recommends stringent legislation against
the destruction of turtle eggs, and a mini
| mum limit of weight for turtles that are
taken, as this valuable product is being
rapidly eXterminated.
The commission also recommends the
adoption of methods of artificial sponge
culture, and five inches as the minimum
| size of sponges which may be lawfully TAX
| en-.
Efforts should be made to secure gov
eminent Matching and experiment station
/ on our Gulf and Atlantic coasts, and an
| appropriation made by the state for fish
commissioner to look specially after the
| fish interest of the state
Under authority of our constitution the
legislature, in 1887, provided that there
| shall be organized in this state a body of
| state militia composed of volunteer com
panies, known as the Florida State
Troops. The actual enrolment shows the
number to be 102 men,
Owing to our extended sea coast, it may
| be well to consider if Florida should not
follow the example of other states SINH
| iarly situated, in organizing a naval mill
| tia in order to have trained men to man
| coast and harbor defense vessels in an
emergency Beyond that, there seems to
| be no necessity for an increase in our
military organization. My convictions are
| that we will have the highest efficiency
by the states fully providing for the
troops we have, rather than by an in
| creased number with less ability to pro-
vide for them the requisites of deserving
| soldiers.
Three important national conventions
have assembled in our state during the
first two months of the present year.
On the 14th of January last the Mer-
| chants National Bank of Ocala suspend
| ed, and the treasurer informed me that he
| had about $4,000 of tax certificate money
in said bank, and that there had been no
! time since July, 1896, that he could have
| withdrawn the same.
The following note from the treasurer is
| self-explanatory, and it is hoped the leg
islature will at once act upon the same and
| appoint a special committee with ample
ploy experts, etc, in order that a full and
thorough investigation may be had:
Treasury Department, State of Florida,
| Treasurer's Office, Tallahassee, March a.
1S97.-Hon W. d. Bloxham, Governor
Dear Sir-I most respectfully request you
to ask the legislature to carefully inves-
tigate the accounts of this office, and es-
pecially the circumstance of the loss of
public moneys by the failure of the Mer-
chants National Bank of Ocala. Yours
truly, c. B. Collins, State Treasurer
General incorporation laws have been
provided by the state for the convenience
| of the citizen and the relief of the law
| making power. If there are any defects
in said laws, or their general scope is nor
sufficiently enlarged, then let the omis-
sions be cured by legislative enactment.
Why have general Incorporation laws
if public legislation is to be delayed by
continuous special applications for char
ters?
Why have a general banking law, if the
law-making power is to be constantly ap-
pealed to for special and private acts?
To repeat: if the general laws are not
sufficient then make the necessary
changes, and let the time of the legisla-
ture be given TO public business. If that
time is claimed for private interests, tn IN
let such interests contribute to the ex-
pense.
eral, controller and treasurer each re-
ceive a salary of $1,000 while the secre-
tary of state. superintendent of public m
struction and commissioner Of agriculture
each receive $3.50.
1t is difficult TO see the wisdom of this
distinction. and l respectfully recommend
that the salaries of the secretary of state
superintendent Of public instruction and
commissioner of agriculture be placed at
5000 EACH with the proviso that all fees
of every character legally coming to said
officials be paid into the treasury each
month, and a report of the amount prop
erly attested. be filed with the controller
Several years ago. a bill was introduced
in the House for the purpose of securing
appropriate committees to visit the public
institutions of the state before the meet
ing of the legislature. Such legislation
would be wise.
Committees now leave the two houses
during the session for such investigation.
The members are thus taken from their
legitimate duties their examination are
frequently hasty, and their reports gener-
ally received too late to secure deserved
consideration and the remedial legislation
which they suggest.
The upper portion of F'lorda's great riv-
err the st. Johns, has become so infested
with the water hyacinths that not only
are the large logging and fishing interests
seriously impaired, but navigation is
threa tened.
A bill making it a criminal offense for
any person 10 transport the plant or it's
seed, 10 any of the waters Of the state will
doubtless receive your attention.
Florida is vitality interested In the pro-
lection OF her fruit interests, and what
ever legislative assistance can be given in
the direction OF securing immunity from
insect and fungous pests, should be en-
acted. Many Of the states have already
taken steps in that direction with the
most satisfactory results.
The necessity of legislation develops
when one or two persons In a neighbor-
hood. as am informed has been the case
refuse to destroy infested shrubbery. or
TO use remedies to destroy insect pests
upon their citrus trees. and thereby allow
their trees or shrubbery or both. TO be-
come the means OF again propagating a
pest detrimental 70 all.
Legislation is required In such cases, 20
protect real fruit growers against the IN
difference OF careless neiRhbors.
In the same law, and through the same
agency provision could be made to secure
adequate protection against the careless
apiarist, and save the honey producers