The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-04-20
FLORIDA'S NEED OF A
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
BY O

and lost at the polls, ten Of that num-
Der related to changes in the judicial
article. Those defeated amendments
sought to give the legislature a broad
er field In which to pass laws more
suited to a growing state, having a
desire for best servic eto its people
and to meet the changes in govern
mental conditions. 1t is not within
the scope Of an article of this nature
to enumerate the merits OF the ten
proposed amendments that were de-
feated. and were for the purpose OF
lettering our system and methods Of
enforcing the law. They were such
as fixing a higher qualification for GER
tain judicial officers-empowerin the
legislature to establish courts which
would have insured an early and
speedy trial of both civil and criminal
cases-another fixing the salary Of SUI
preme judges to an amount common
surate with the increased cost of Av-
ing and with the great increase in the
volume Of work. What was considered
a fair salary for a Judge in 1885 could
not be considered so now as the work
has more than doubled and the cost
Of living has practically doubled.
There are two reasons assigned why
a constitutional convention has not
fear on The part OF West and Middle
moved from Tallahassee. The last leg
isiature undoubtedly settled this ques-
ton for all time.
The other condition that has ope-
rated to postpone the calling of
constitutional convention is that a ma
jority of the legislature opposes q
change in the apportionment of rep
resentatives in the senate and the
house-in this way the smaller coun-
ties are in a measure controlling the
larger. Some counties, for instance,
with a population OF about $500 have
one senator and two representatives,
while such counties as Walton and
Holmes with a combined population of
29,917, have only the same representa-
ton in the legislature Hillsboro
county with 1894 populat ton. has the
same number of members as others
with 10000 or 5000.
Section 8 OF Article VII Of the Flor
Ida constitution provides that the leg
islature of 1887, and every ten years
thereafter shall re-appcrtion the rep
resentation In the senate and house Of
I representatives according to popula-
ton. This was not complied with
in 1897 and the legislature OF 1907
failed to do so. They seemed to have
decided that they were the sole inter-
prefers of their duties, though 1t does
do injustice to a great majority Of the
state. The initiative and referendum
would probably have been a panacea
for all such failures OF duty had 1t
been submitted. The preamble of the
Florida constitution reads: I'VE, the
people OF the state Of FNIlorida, CRATE
ful to Almighty God for our consti-
tutional liberties, in order to secure
Its blessing and to form a more perfect
insure domestic tranquil
Ity and guaranteeing equal,
civil and political rights to all, do
ordain and establish this constitution"
The capitol removal is no longer the
DOGGY man" to block the revision OF
the constitution. The -apportion-
ment problem should be solved some
way, as it is of far less Importance
to the people of the state than "equa.
Our present consti- |
luton has been patched and re- |
patched until it is getting to be puz- |
lie to our laymen, lawmakers and |
awyers.
A constitutional convention only can |
solve this problem. Our lawmakers |
should not be afraid to submit this |
question to the voters Of this state.