The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-01-10


the upbuilding of our state, to prop
erty enhancement and to the comfort
and convenience of our rural citl-
zens and to the people generally OF
the state than any other one step
that can be taken.
Labor Commissioner.
One of he greatest factors in our
states growth and development is
the laboring interests. l believe it
would be of benefit to the state to
have labor commissioner to COM
pile labor statistics, to aid in the en-
forcement of the child labor law and
otherwise promote the labor inter-
ests.
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 work in requiring of COM
mon carriers good service and rea-
sonable passenger, freight and express
rates.
Corporation Laws.
Our laws governing the formation
of corporations for profit are too
lax and should be so amended 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, l think we should have
law providing for all literature rel
alive to lands to be sold under the
colonization or kindred plans to be
first approved by the department 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 consideration of local city char
ter measures. To relieve the legis-
lature 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 con-
stitutional amendment removing this
authority from the legislature and
vesting it in the towns and cities
should be submitted.
Initiative, Referendum and Recall.
1t is my opinion that constitu-
tional 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 leg
islature, when desired and expressed
by a reasonable percentage of the
! qualified voters, should be submitted.
Another and separate constitutional
amendment giving the electors the
right, upon demand of reasonable
percentage of the qualified voters, to
vote upon the recall of public Off
GERS, should be submitted.
Publicity in Public Business.
favor the fullest publicity in the
administration of the public bust
ness. The people are entitled to
know what their officers are doing. A
law is needed requiring that the bi.
ennial reports of the state officers
with complete and detailed informa-
ton, be printed and distributed
among the legislators, the press anC
the public at least thirty days prior
to the regular sessions Of the legis.
lature. This would place the infor.
nation contained in these reports ii
the hands of the legislators and the
public in time to be of service anC
benefit when the legislature con.
veneS.
Investment Of State School Fund.
Prior to the last three years tht
principal Of the safe school fund wa:
invested exclusively in state bonds
|
and one-half per cent. interest. Thi.
,, fund as it becomes available is nov
being invested in Florida county an(
city bonds bearing an average o.
about four end one-half per cent in
terest. / think we can get as mucE
as six or seven per cent. interest up
on this fund by investing it in coun
ty warrants when needed laws arr
enacted to make such investment!
safe, and thereby increase the state
l. income from his source materially.
Investment of Insurance Funds.
1t is the policy of insurance com
> panies to invest their surplus fund
= in interest bearing securities. Til
y being true, it is my opinion that. the!
should be required by law to inves
9 in Florida securities a REASONABLY
percentage CT their net surplus from
Florida earnings.
: Interest on Public Funds.
: At present, interest is required OF
state funds on deposit, the state re
: ceiving two per cent. on daily bal
= ances. The law should also requir
i banks to pay interest on deposits o
county funds. 1t should also provid
= for the state and counties receivin!
= bids from the banks of the state TO
d the deposit of the funds. This polio
: would in my opinion produce muc
c more interest on state funds and vii
result in the counties deriving an in
come of from fifty to seventy-fiv
e thousand dollars annually from
g source now producing no revenue.
It State Right of Appeal.
d Upon constitutional questions
e think the state should have the RICH