The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-03-10
Travelling Men and Railroad EN-
ployes' Right to Vote When
Absent from Home.

Absent from nome.
MANY travelling men and also =
considerable number of railroad en-
ploycs, and others. who are qualified
voters OF this State, are often de-
prived of the privilege Of voting on
account of their absence from the
county in which they are registered
upon the date of the primary Or elec-
tiOn, such absence being due to the
fact that their employment requires
them to he away from home great
deal of the time. That they may be
allowed to vote when absent from
their home county, recommend the
enactment of a law providing that a
travelling man or railroad empl0ye,
Or other voter who is required to be
absent from his home. upon persent-
ing his registration certificate, his
poll tax receipts, and satisfying the
election officers as to his identity,
and that he has not voted In his
home county or any other county or
precinct and will not be able to do
SO, shall be allowed to vote for Ma
tiOnal and State officers at the place
where he may be; and. that his vote
shall be restricted to such oflcers,
the law should provide that he shall
be furnished with only that portion
of the ticket covering national and
State officers. Such law to provide
suitable penalties for any effort to
vote or for voting at more than one
place."
Legislative Committees Should In.
spect State Institutions Prior to
Session Of the Legislature.
Heretofore it has been the pol
icy of the Legislature to designate
committees composed of consider
able number of the House and the
Senate to visit the institutions for
higher education. the hospital for
the insane, the school for the deaf
and the blind. the convict camps.
the State reform school and the
drainage operations during the ses-
| sion of the Legislature, and report
| thereon while the body is in session.
This plan for having these institu
tions inspected by committees from
the Legislature takes a considerable
number of the members away from
the daily sessions: and also, on ac-
count of the desire of the members
of the committees to return to the
regular legislative work. gives but
limited time for making the inspec-
tions.
1T is my opinion that some plan
should be devised whereby these
committees could be designated prior
&c the cOnvening of the Legislature,
so that they may make their visits
and inspections prior to the session
and be ready to submit their reports
when the Legislature meets
City franchises are often very
valuable, and for the protection Of
| the interests of the towns and cities,
| would suggest the passage of law
requiring that when an application
for franchise is presented to a city
or town council. the said council. IL
il is desired To consider the applica-
tiOn, shall give public notice through
the press of the application for at
least three weeks before acting upon
it. in order that others may also
make application. and that the citi-
zens may be advised. The law should
further provide for referendum
vote upon all grants of a franchise
when requested lay a certain num-
Der of voters
The privileges given to cor
poration by the State are valuable
to the incorporators. and give them
rishts and exemptions from liabil-
ities that individuals do not enjoy.
II is for the purpose of exercising