The Pensacola journal., 1913-01-08

age and reclamation of this vast area
of rich and fertile land.
l believe one of the needs in con-
neetion with the project is the estab-
lishment Of one or two experimental
farms.
Within a short time we should en-
deavor to have the federal government
assume the maintenance and care of
certain of the drainage canals for
water transportation across the state.
State Convict System.
The time is ripe. in my opinion, for
a change in our plan of handling the
state convicts. With the great demand
for labor upon our roads and in road
building, we can utilize the convict
labor to an advantage upon the roads,
and 1 think that the necessary steps
should be taken providing upon the ex-
piration of the present convict lease,
on January /, 1914, for the withdrawal
Of the prisoners from the lease system
III such reasonable installments as
may be advisable to safeguard the
states finances in making the change
from the present plan Of hiring them
out to placing them on the roads.
Good Roads.
In my study of public problems for
the past ten years l have given more
or less thought to the subject of good
roads and the advisability of govern
mental activity along this line. From
my interest in this subject and it's
study, 1 am firmly convinced that
thorough system of good roads in each
county in Florida will add more TO
the material advancement of our varied
resources, to the upbuilding of our
state, to property enhancement and to
the comfort and convenience of our
rural citizens and to the people gener-
ally of the state than any other one
step that can be taken.
Labor Commissioner.
One of the greatest factors in our
states growth and Development is the
laboring interests. I believe it would
be Of benefit to the state to have a
labor commissioner to compile labor
statistics to aid in the enforcement
of the child labor law and to other
wise promote the labor interests.
Railroad Commission.
The railroad commission has proven
OF value to the state and should be
clothed with such further power as is
required to make more efficient it's
good service and reasonable passenger.
freight and express rates.
Corporation Laws.
Our laws governing che formation
| of corporations for profit are too lax
and should be amended so as to give
better protection to the public against
those who take advantage of the
weakness of the law to carry on wild
cat schemes
Check Land Frauds.
Every county in Florida has a large
| quantity of rich, fertile land, and there
| is no reason why there should be any
| land frauds in our state To check
the few who are disposed to defraud
and deceive land purchasers, | think
we should have a law providing for
all literature relative to lands to be
| sold under the colonization or kindred
plans. to be first approved by the de-
| partment Of agriculture-the' expense
| incident to this requirement to be paid
/ by the party selling the land.
| Authorize Cities to Change Charters
Much of the time Of each session of
| the legislature is consumed in the con-
s:deration of city charter measures
To relieve the legislature of this work,
and in order that the people OF the
| towns and cities may have authority
| to make their own charters and alter
same, a constitutional amendment re-
| moving this authority from the legis-
| lature and vesting it in the towns and
| cities should be submitted.
Initiative, Referendum and Recall.
| 1t is my opinion that a constitu-
t,onal amendment granting to the peo-
pie the right by petition to initiate
legislation and the right by petition to
vote upon laws enacted by the Iegis-
Iature, when desired and expressed by
a reasonable percentage of the queli-
| fed voters. should be submitted. An
ether and separate constitutional
amendment giving the electors the
right, upon demand of a reasonable
percentage of the qualified voters, TO
vote upon the recall of public officers
should be submitted
Publicity in Public Business.
! ! favor the fullest publicity in the
administration of the public business
TIE people are entitled to know what
| their officers are doing. A law. is