The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-08
ATTORNEY GENERAL
RECOMMENDS LAWS
Most Important Is the Reapportion-
ment of Legislative Representation.
(By John C., Tricel

! TALLAHASSEE, April I'm ac-
cordance with the constitution, Attor-
iney General Rivers H. Buford has rec
/ commended to the legislature laws
which he thinks should be passed. Per-
haps the most important of his recon-
mendations is that there should be a
reapportionment of the legislative rep
resentation according to the terms of
the constitution. In recent letter to
Senator Tom Campbell of West Palm
Beach, Mr.. Buford urged that there
should be reapportionment and he
has prepared a bill for Mr.. Campbell
which the latter will introduce soon,
in which will provide a reapportion-
ment II it should be passed. Perhaps
the most striking feature of the bill
will be the giving of three representa-
tives each to the four counties of Es-
Gambia, Duval, Hillsborough and Dade.
One recommendation is that asso-
Citations of persons for business pur-
poses under what are known as dec
larations of trust" shall be required to
procure permits from the state and
submit to the same charter fees as are
required of those forming corporations.
In order to prevent too easy divorce,
which Mr.. Buford points out is a great
menace to moral standards, he would
have all testimony in divorce cases
taken before the circuit Judge, written
out and made part OF the permanent
court record. He would also eliminate
some of the present statutory grounds
for divorce.
SO many acquisitions for extradition
of criminals in this state are asked for
that it is becoming a burden and it is
recommended that there should be
fee for warrants of extradition to help
pay the expense to whic hthis state
is put.
AS punishment for perjured testi-
mony, he would provide a penalty of
five years in state prison or a fine of
not to exceed $4,000.
The Torrens land title registration
system or something akin to it is
urged by Mr.. Buford.
He would provide that the consent
of one parent instead of both should
be sufficient in cases where minors
wish to marry.
The word male" should be eliminat-
ed for reasons that are self-evident
from that statutes in regard to pay
ment of poll tax.
IN order TO make more efficient the
assessment of property for taxation
and to insure that all property shall
pay its just share of the taxes, he
recommends the passage of an act
requiring bond trustees to deliver TO
the county tax assessor the names of
all the persons within the county own
ing taxable bonds. He would require
every person to swear to the value of
his property at so per cent of it's real
cash value. Persons swearing falsely
should be punished by imprisonment
of not to exceed five years or fine of
$4,000. Persons who do not make re-
turns shall be assessed at the full cash
value of their property. Wilfull failure
by the tax assessor to assess shall be
grounds for removal.
In addition to the recommendation
from the attorney general there are
several from the circuit court judges
whose duty it is to make such sugges-
tions when asked by the attorney gen.
eral Mr.. Buford will prepare bills to
carry several of the recommendations
he makes into practice and they will
be offered by various members.