The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-04-20
CONSTITUTIONAL
REFERENDUM IS
BEFORE HOUSE
BY HERBERT FELkELo

Tallahassee. April 1s.--One OF the
most important measures introduced at
this session is the proposed constitu-
tional amendments introduced by Mr..
Mckenzie in the house yesterday. 1t
makes radical changes in the method
Of the removal of officials charged
with malfeasance and misfeasance in
Office. introducing the referendum in
certain cases. The resolution follows
in full:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGIS-
LATURE OF THE STATE OF FLOR
IDA:
That the following amendment Of
section Is, article ", of the constitu-
ton of the state of Florida. be. and
the same is hereby agreed to. and shall
be submitted to the electors of the
state at the general election to be held
on the first Tuesday after the first
Monday in November, A. ID. 1920. for
ratification or rejection. namely. that
the said section shall be so amended
as to read as follows:
Section Is. All officers that shall
have been appointed or elected. and
that are not liable to impeachment.
may be suspended from Office by the
governor for malfeasance. of misfeas-
ance. or neglect of duty in Office, for
the commission of any felony or for
drunkenness or incompetency, and the
cause of suspension shall be commune
Gated to the officer suspended. II the
officer so suspended be a state officer,
the governor shall also communicate
the fact Of such suspension together
with the reasons therefor. to the sem
ate at it's next session. and the gov
ernor. by, and with the consent of the
senate, may remove any such state Of
f1cer. not liable to impeachment, for
any cause above mentioned. EvesSy sus-
pension of a state officer shall con-
tinue until the adjournment Of the next
session of the senate unless the OFF,
Ger suspended shall upon the recon-
of the governor. be remov-
ed; but the governor may reinstate the
officer SO suspended upon satisfactory
evidence that the charge or charges
against him are untrue. II the senate
shall refuse to remove. or fail to take
action before its adjournment, the Of
ficer suspended shall resume the du-
ties Of the Office. If the officer SO
suspended be a county officer, and IL
his suspension becomes effective less
than ninety days before the convening
of any regular or special session of the
senate, then all provisions of this Sec
ton in reference to the suspension of
state officers shall be applicable I'm that
case also. But if any county officer
be so suspended ninety days or more
before the convening of any regular
or special session of the senate. then
the governor shall simultaneously With
the making of such suspension. issue
his proclamation calling an election I'm
the county affected thereby. at which
election the suspension OF such ofIicer
shall be submitted to the electors for
their ratification or disapproval. Such
election to be held thirty five days from
the date Of such proclamation, and
the expenses thereof to be paid out OF
the general revenue OF the county.
The county canyassing board shall,
within ten days after the holding of
such election, certify the result thereof
to the governor. II q majority of the
electors OF the county vote to sustain
snch suspension. the governor shall
make an order removing the suspend
ed oficer; but il a majority of the
said electors vote to disapprove such
suspension,