The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-22


Chase Temple
Tampa, Fla. Oct. ), 1911.-Hon.
| 3. f.. McI.n, Commissioner of Agri.
culture, Tallahassee, Fla: AS citi-
zen. resident. taxpayer, property own.
er and voter in and OF the state of
Florida, hereby inform you that
one S. ]. Carlton Of Arcadia, DeSOtO
county, Florida, is daily violating the
immature fruit law in shipping and
Offering for shipment immature and
unripe citrus fruits at and from Ar
cadia in violation of said law, and
the pure food act, and | hereby de-
I. mand of you, as the sworn state Of
fetal whose duty under said act is to
see to the enforcement thereof,tO des
patch to Arcadia forthwith an inspec-
tor from your department having
proper authority to inspect, seize, con-
denim and dispose OF such immature
citrus fruits so offered in future for
shipment, contrary to laws of state
of Florida, with instructions to said
inspector to perform his duty under
said law, and ! request you to tele-
graph me, charges collect, on receipt
of this information, whether it is your
intention or not to comply with this
demand, so that in case Of your re-
fusal to perform your sworn duty,
proper steps may be taken as provid'
ed by law and custom in such cases.
(Signed)
civilian CHASE TEMPLE"
To this Mr.. McI.in replied:
Tallahassee, Fla, Oct. 5. 1911
Mr.. William c. Temple, Tampa, Fla:
Your telegram received. The imma.
ture citrus fruit law is general law.
This department has nothing to do
with its enforcement. The enforce
ment of this law is entirely in the
hands of the district attorney of that
judicial circuit. The pure food in.
spectors have no authority in these
cases. See my letter of July IA, last.
(Signed)
"B. f. McLIN, Com. Agri."
Mr.. Temple then sent this tele.
gram:
Tampa, Fla, Oct. 5, 19l1.-IIon. B.
+. McLin, Commissioner of Agricul.
ture. Tallahassee, Fla: My attorney,
with others consulted, disagree entire.
ly with your contention. Your let.
ter of July II was believed then and
now as insincere, disingenuous and
merely a subterfuge to avoid a trou.
blesome but imperative duty. Answer
frankly. Do you refuse to act on
my information in Arcadia matter ?
Next step already planned awaiting
your decision.
(Signed) wv. c. TEMPLE"
To this Mr.. McLin's reply was
Tallahassee, Fla, Oct. 6. l9l1.-Mr.
w. c. Temple. Tampa. Fla: Replying
to your two kilograms which are be.
fore me this morning. the second Of
which is improper and uncalled for
on your part. my position Ia unchang.
ed. See letter
(Signed)
b +. McLIN, Com Agri"
Our representative who visited the
commissioner of agriculture, in com.
pany with our attorney at Tallahassee.
made a strong appeal to the commits.
sioner of agriculture and the state
chemist. pointing out the opinion OF
the attorney general Of the state
above quoted, and the commissioner
Of agriculture finally agreed to send
an inspector to the packing house.
complained Of by Mr.. w. c. Temple.
\ On November !, the Florida Citrus
Exchange sent to Hon. B. E. McLin.
commissioner of agriculture. the fol.
lowing telegram:
Tampa, Fla, Nov. 1, 19ll.-Hon. B.
e. McI.in, Commissioner Of AgricuL
ture, Tallahassee, Fla: In accordance
with your conversation with Quinby,
We earnestly request you to instruct
Inspector Jordan to inspect fruit now
being shipped by S. J. Carlton from
his Arcadia packing house, as these
oranges are immature and unripe and
are being offered for shipment in VIC
lation Of the law, and have inspector
seize a sample box Of these oranges
and send to state chemist for exami
inat,on and If possible analysis for
citric acid and total sugar content.
Will you notify us when seizure is
made so We may inspect in Tallahas.
see.
FLORIDA CITRUS EXCHANGE
On November the Exchange re.
ceived the following reply from Hon
b. +. McLin
Tallahassee. Fla. Nov. 6, lsll.-
Florida Citrus Exchange. Tampa.
III, MAMMALIAN l.ari,