The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-03-25
(Orlando Reporter-Star.)

(0rlando Reporter-Star.)
The meeting to consider the tax on
citrus fruits, the details of which are
! given in a story following, written
earlier in the day, broke up this at
ternoon in something very akin to
roughhouse.
e. w. Davis and G. B. Robinson
threw a monkey wrench into the ma
chinery in lengthy speeches, arguing
against the proposed bill which is to
be submitted to the legislature
through the fatherhood of the Citrus
J Exchange
These speeches eliminated in mo-
ton by Joseph A. Trombetta, of this
city, president of the Fruitman's
Club "That it be the sense of this
meeting that it express itself as op-
posed to the proposed law Imposing
} tax of two cents box on citrus
fruit, or tax in any other amount.
That threw the assemblage into a
. hurly-burly, out of which grew sub
stitute motion by John F. Taylor.
, from Largo, who proposed that the
nurseries be taxed along with the
growers and shippers
That motion is still before the
meeting.
DR.. J. Fl. Ross, president Of the
Citrus Exchange, who had been elect
! ed chairman of the meeting, and who
came to town to hold the meeting to
elicit sentiment on the moo topic
, lost his head at this juncture and
threatening the assemblage with his
cane, declared that he would adjourn
the meeting forthwith.
4 Then he said, shaking his caue the
meanwhile: II warn you that this
bill is going before the legislature
} and it is going to pass, and we are
going to know who votes for 1t
Mr.. Davis sprang to his feet ant
. asked Dr.. Ross if he didn't think hi
! was riding rather rough shod ove'
the assemblage, considering that hi
J was about to adjourn a meeting be-
fore which a motion was being con
sidered.
"Who are your Numbered thu
: president of the Citrus Exchange, il
a high rage. Whom do you repre-
sent?"
J II represent e. w. Davis saif
I the attorney, "a citizen and an orang'
= grower Of Florida
- And whom do you represent" h
shot at Mr. Robinson.
Il represent C. B. Robinson" salt
| the lawyer. while / have no ex
tensive citrus holdings, am a tax
| payer of Florida, and l speak here il
the interest of number of grower
who cannot be present
| II Just at this juncture, when Mr.
| Davis said something to the effec
| that it didn't look as though the goo
Doctor had come to Orlando so muc
| for consultation as for propagand
!. II purposes, or words to that effect, an
| lust as DR.. Ross was about to ad
| iourn the meeting, Mr. Davis Gale
| for the election of chairman.
The motion was seconded, and tn
- name of e. H. Walker was place
in nomination. When the vote wa
taken, and the Orlando packer wa
! declared elected DR.. Ross, his car
. subdued, but with flaring cheeks an
bursting with wrath stalked from Il
room followed by number OF thos
who came to support the Ineasul
-- with him.
49,
%l The subject was thrown into Il
Il open at a meeting at the San Ju;
Z Hotel here today to tax the shipp
4 Of citrus fruit two cents box to pr
! tect the citrus industry OF the stat
Il The movement is being fathered
{ the Citrus Exchange, and the plan
outlined is to place the fund collect
I at the disposition of the Plant Boa
! of the State for administration
+ DR.. J. H. Ross, president of
/ Florida Citrus Exchange, opened
ID meeting with an address outlining
-. subject. in the course of which
stated that bill has been prepar
by those backing the measure to
submitted to the incoming legislatu
This bill carries the provision for
two-cent tax, the process of its C
lection and distribution.
DR.. Ross called attention to
fact that after July 1st of this We
the Plant Board will be pennies
furthermore that the last Congr'
failed to pass the agricultural
providing funds for state aid for h
ticulturals purposes. And he sal
land it will be useless for those