The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-03-05
GASOLINE INSPECTION.

March 2, 1920.
Dear Mr.. Editor:
In your issue OF TIE goth of February.
L notice what has the appearance of
! a Tallahassee Special and headed,
Gasoline Inspection Fund Audited"
The object of this article was not so
much to tell about the auditing of the
gasoline inspection fund. as that the
commissioner of agriculture had not
transferred the balance on hand on
January LIST to the treasury. This ar
ticle appeared in the various papers
/ by the time the auditors report was
placed in my hands. The statement
that the commissioner of agriculture
had not transmitted to the state treas
ury the balance in this fund, imme-
diately upon the first day of January.
is so worded that is it suggestive of
an improper motive on the part of the
commissioner of Agriculture in not
transferring these funds.
| If all of your readers were familiar
with the operation of statutes, such
as the gasoline inspection law, where
it is provided that the law shall pro-
vide means for its operation, it would
! be unnecessary to pay any attention
1 to this article wherein il refers to a
failure or the part of the commission
ance of money in the fund on the first
of January. 1t specifically appears in
said article that such balance is on
deposit in the banks at Tallahassee.
But in order to make it clear why the
balance in this fund was not trans
ferred from the banks to the state
treasury. it is necessary to mention
certain features of the law.
/. The law provides for three oil in
fspectors two clerks in the commits
sioner of agriculture's office, and one
assistant state chemist, to assist in
carrying out the provisions OF this
Eact.
2. In order to carry out the provi-
sions of this law it is necessary to
have the proper offices and equip
ment; to furnish certain equipment to
the inspectors in the field, and to equip
and furnish proper chemical apparatus
for the Chemist.
8. This law carries no appropriation
from the state treasury to pay the
salaries or any other expense neces-
sary to the proper administration of
the law, but requires the proceeds de-
rived from its enforcement thereof to
defray all expenses. When this law
was put into operation, September 2,
1919, it was necessary that the COM
missioner of agriculture have funds
advanced with which to begin opera
tons.
4. The law having been in force only
four months, to January 1st. and there
never having been a similar law in
force in this state, therefore. no pre-
lcedent is afforded to estimate what the
proceeds for each month iH.average
for the year. And, while I believe
the receipts for each month will be
more than sufficient to defray current
monthly expenses, but I did not feel
that it was the part of wisdom to COM
lpletely deplete the oil division fund by
transferring the entire balance on the
first day of January into the state
treasury, to be placed to the credit OF
the state road fund, which fund a,
that time, had sufficient moneys on
hand or in sight to meet all obliga-
tons.
4 5. There is nothing. to prevent the
the state treasurer from transferring q
portion of these funds to the state
safe limits. The funds as they are
collected will be deposited with the
state treasurer monthly.
In conclusion, L want to say that nc
state has a gasoline inspection law
little expense at the law that 1 have
just put into force, and I desirv tc
say further, that the state is getting
good gasoline that comes fully up te
the government standard.
w. A. McRAE,
Commissioner of Agriculture.