The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-05-04
MATTERS OF MUCH IMPORTANCE
BEFORE OUR LEGISLATORS -.

Perhaps the most largely discussed
measure that came up for the consid-
GRAFTON of the house was the Epperson
bill making it unlawful for banks and
trust companies organized and doing
business under the laws of Florida to
make loans to their officers and di-
rectors or to lend more than 10 per
cent of their capital stocke directly or
indirectly. to any such officers.
After some discussion by different
members the bill was finally sent to
the engrossing committee without f.
nal action having been taken.
Bill No. 362 providing for free distri-
a special order for Monday afternoon.
Bill providing for a genera game
law was set for special order Nednes-
day at 10 o'clock.
A bill of very general interest and
importance which has passed the
house is RobsOns bill requiring all
county officials to give surety bonds.
Mr.. Robson heretofore has not been
conspicuous member, but has "stOod
pat whenever any measure that did
not conform to his ideas Of proper
legislation was before the house. In
the handling of his bill on the floor of
the house he revealed himself as
leader of no small ability and he sue
ceeded in passing his bill, which
means the securing of protection to
the tax payers of every county from
dishonest officials. Mr. Crosby, who
has recently been called upon to make
good a part of a shortage in his own
county in a case in which he was
bOndsman of a defaulting official, sup
ported the measure with a heartiness
that came from an understanding
from his own personl experience of
the necessity of such a law.
House bill No. 161, authorizing the
sale of the fish commission boats, the
Roamer and the Seafoam, has also
passed the house.
Jennings of Duvl introduced a bill
in the house regulating the formation
of corporations for state fairs. which
brought forth much discussion and ex-
plantation on the part Of Mr.. Jen-
nings and it was finally passed in
formally to enable representatives of
small counties to amend the bill to
inject conditions in such counties.
The senate has passed bill amend
ing the Davis package law" the eff
feet of which will be to close all ser.
vice clubs in wet counties.
Stockton's proposed constitutional
amendment providing for the separa-
ton of state and county taxes was
set for special order Wednesday.
The Bloxham county bill was past.
poned until next Thursday at o'clock.
Messrs. Anderson, Hampton and
Gerig of Ocala were among the re-
cent prominent visitors at the capitol.
Mr. Anderson. who was a caller at the
executive office, assured the governor
and Mr. Burke that his business at
the capitol was purely business and
not politics. 1t is understood that Mr..
Hampton is interested in measure
which will be introduced for the re-
lief of the bondsmen of the late John
NJ. Graham. and Mr.. Gerig, it is I'M
derstoOd, brought with him the new
charter bill for the city of Ocala,
which it is said proposes radical
changes in the city government, and
would inaugurate the city manager
plan recommended by Mayor Chace in
his first message to the council
After a long. determined fight, and
a debate in which many members be-
came involved, the bill appropriating
three hundred thousand dollars for
eradication of citrus canker passed
the house by a vote of As to -. The
same measure has been introduced in
the senate. and is held in the appro-
priation committee until may 4th, with
all other bills carrying appropriations.
AS an outcome of heated session
of the committee on county organiza-
ton, when the Volusia county delega-
tions. divisionists and anti-diyision-
lists. locked horis over the proposed
creation of Turnbull county, motion
was offered in the senate. seconded by
DR.. Hughlett, who is chairman of the
county organization committee of the
senate, which authorized the commit
rec to secure sufficient guns, ammuni-
ton and other weapons of defense to
protect the committee during subse-
quent hearings of county division
measures.
At the evening session of the house,
which was devoted to consideration
oR Iooal n- ~