The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-05
EDWIN SP[NCER'S IDEAS
MariOn's Brilliant Young Representa-
tive Elect Gives His Opinions on
Needed Legislation
(DiXieD

In pursuance Of your request for my
views in regard to needed legislatio
take pleasure in outlining for yol
in a general way some of the things
which / conceive to be important to
the welfare and progress of our state
L favor a constitutional convention
for the purposs Of generally revising
our present constitution Our present
constitution, adopted over twenty
five years ago. seems to me 10 be in
many respects inadequate and obso-
lete. in view Of the progress of our
state and the country at large.
Changes therein that are most needed
are changes n the articles relating 10
the judiciary; to suffrage and eligibil-
ity: to taxation and finance: home
steads and exemptions: married wom-
ems property, and education. In ad-
ditiOn to this there are many new
sections and articles that the people
should have a right TO add to the con-
stitution If they so desire. Some of
the changes necessary in the judiciary
department are, briefly:
All Judges and the states attorney
should be elected by a direct vote of
the people; the power of the justices
VI the peace SnOulu De greatly re-
stricted and the office of county Judge
should be held only by al attorney-at-
law. The constitution says in the ar
ticle relating 10 census and appOr-
tiOnment that the House of Represen-
tatives shall be composed of not more
than sixty-eight members; there were
seventy members in the House in 1911.
1t declares that an apportionment of
A.,
House shall be made every ten years.
To illustrate the injustice of this,
Marion and Sumter counties have one
senator together with a total popula-
tion OF about 10000, while Lake coun-
ty, with a population of about 10000.
has one senator alone. Under the con-
stitutiOn, it will probably be neces-
sary to wait until 1917 before these
injustices can be remedied, and if the
legislature at that time should fail to
make the necessary appOrtionment it
would be necessary to wait another
ten years. Cities should be given alb
solute home rule. The homestead and
exemption article should be changed
at least to such an extent as would
allow a person to waive his conStitu-
tional exemptions if he so desires
should be placed upon an equal foot
ing before the law with married men
and their property. The article upon
suffrage and eligibility should be
changed so as to give suffrage as far
as possible to the white people Of the
state only. The articles relating to
taxation and finance and to education
should be greatly revised.
no 1irb of
detective bureau and change in the
method of the selection of jurors. The
evils resulting from the present jury
system lie largely in the method of
the selection of jurors. l favor a jury
commission for each county recon-
mended by the circuit judge and ap-
pointed by the governor whose duty it
will be to select the panels. 1 favor a
repeal of the law which gives to the
defendant the right to demand and
secure the panel of jurors in a case
of felony before his trial I favor the
abolition of the present fee system. l
favor a law which will effectively
abolish technicalitieS and which will
give to the supreme court the right to
adjudicate certain classes of appealed
civil cases where such can be done in
the adoption of the national cOnstitu-
direct election of United States sena-
extension of the supposed state de-
partment of agriculture so as to make
it a vital and useful department to
the agricultural interests of the state.
I favor the betterment of our public
10 Ia n
the present curriculum to the extent
of making the public schools institu-
tions which will equip the children for
practical citizenship. In at least one
high school in every county there
should be agricultural, manual train
ing. business and domestic science de-
partments. 1 favor a compulsory edu-
cational law. I favor the abolition of
the present convict lease system with
safety to the finances of the state and
the building of a state sytsem of hard
roads. I favor a law which will eff
fectively prevent the practice of medi-
cine by quacks: also an extremely
rigid enforcement of effective pure
food laws.
The question of the solution of in
equalities in our system of taxation IS
too large for a discussion here. The
probable solution, however. l believe
to he the complete separation OF the
state and courty system of taxation
In conclusion, l heartily oppose the
passage of countless local laws where
the end sought for can be as we'll OBJ
tanned by general laws. | oppose all
special legislation and favor the re-
peal OF those laws upon our statute
books that have become dead letters
Likewise do l oppose the enactment OF
numerous laws which at the time OF
their passage the members of the
legislature, as we'll as everyone else
know will not be enforced. He who
governs least governs best and the
fewer laws that are enacted by the
state. especially those regulating per
sonal conduct, the happier and the
more prosperous will be the citizens
OF that state. Too much law is worse
than too little law and I shall advo-
cate only those laws which I believe