The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1915-05-28
SOLID REASONS AGAINST
THE CAMP AMENDMENTS

Mr. r. A. Burford, conceded to be
one of the best read lawyers in the
state, has sent the following letter,
Directing to the Camp amendments,
to Senator Terrell:
Ocala, Fla, May q, 1915.
Hon. Glen Terrell, Senate Chamber,
Tallahassee, Florida.
Dear Sir: have just read for the
first time the two special charter
acts relating to the city of Ocala, not
introduced at the instance of the
municipal authorities, and which
rushed through the House in sum-
mary manner, and without due consid-
Grafton.
/ call your attention especially to
sections three and four of the act re-
lating to the purchase of electric cur
rent, ETC., from which you will OBJ
serve that they strike at the root of
representative form of government,
and seek to substitute direct democ-
racy therefor. AS TO this particular
feature of the subject matter, it ties
the hands of the legislative depart
ment of the city government, invokes
and applies the doctrine of the in
itiative, heretofore strenuously ad-
vocated in the "wild and woolly west, I"
and incorporated as one of the lead
ing planks in political party now
practically dead.
If the doctrine of the initiative is
good thing, and should be forced
upon the city of Ocala, why not APP
ply it in its vigor and radicalism to
the state at large, and to all munich
palities within its limits?
Under the provisions of this pro-
posed act party desiring to furnish
current prepares his own application,
setting forth all of the terms, restric-
tions, limitations, conditions and
charges in accordance with his own
wishes and desires, containing as
many "jokers" as he may deem ex-
pedient in misleading voters or other
wise, without any consultation or adj
vice, or approval of the Legislative
body of the city.
On presentation of this proposal
with a petition signed by twenty pei
cent. Of the registered voters, the
council or other proper officers of the
city, are required to call and hold ar
election, and if the result of said
election is in favor of granting or &C
cepting the proposal, the same
operates as a contract and enforci-
BILE as such.
1t is no reflection upon the aver
age voter to say that he is not pos
sessed of sufficient technical knowl-
edge and skill to determine for him
self the legal effect or the advisa.
bility of any contract that may be
proposed under the provisions of this
law, nor is he in a position to know
the effect that such contract may have
upon the operation of the electric
plant already owned and operated by
the city of Ocala. A mere referendum
is not so Objectionable as the initia
tive, for, in the former case the leg
islative body acts, and the voter ap
proves or disapproves, while in case
of the initiative, the care, foresight
knowledge and experience of the leg
islative body is entirely ignored anC
disregarded.
Personally, think it would be very
unwise to force this radical de
parture upon the city of Ocala.
Furthermore, the applicant anC
twenty per cent of the registered
voters can force the entire cost o,
such election upon the city, and il
the event of failure, can require the
calling and holding of repeated cleo
tions thereafter relating to the same
subject matter, thereby causing thu
city to incur considerable cost at tht
mere behest of the minority element
Strife and local dissention would nee
essarily result under the doctrine o.
the initiative, and the progress anC
development of the city would doubt
less be seriously affected thereby.
The companion act relating to pub
lie franchises emanates of cours'
from the same source, as it has no
been asked for by the municipal au
thorities of the city. Whether so in
tended or not, any party who ma!
under the other act be able to get I;
contract to supply current in oppo
sition to municipal operation of it
own plant, could, after weakening
impairing or destroying the servic'
of the municipal plant, then appl!
for a general franchise to furnish
commercial current, and the city be
ing helpless by the decay or ruin o.
its own plant, could be compelled t.
grant the franchise upon such term!
as the applicant might demand.
The initiative feature also exists in
this companion act, if the act itsel1
should be ratified by a majority vote