The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-04-05

4
ernment officers are superior men bur
because the people see back of them
constitutional Office not subject to
change or perhaps abolition by the
lcaprice of public opinion.
There has been tendency in the
Ipast to create too many Offices and
positions. 1t has resulted in the du-
plication of work, in lessened effcien-
cy, and the needless expenditure of
money. We have more travelling IN
spectors than necessary, and some de-
partments of the state can well be
combined with others. There is much
work for YOU TO do at this session,
along this line. if you would give to
the people that economical admins
tration of affairs to which they are
entitled | suggest the appointment
of committee with membership from
each the Senate and the House. who
shall very thoroughly examine into
the matters suggested. Let the ex-
animation be exhaustive, and not
superficial or perfunctory This also
should be done and report made dur
ing the early days of the session.
| will be pleased to assist the COM
mittee with all information obtainable
and with such suggestions as may
seem proper. We need less legisla-
ton and more cooperation. There
should not be a single Office created
or continued for political purposes in
the state of Florida. Politics and bus
mess do not mix to the benefit of the
state. Every Unnecessary position, or
even those necessary, where the du-
ties can be performed by some other,
should be abolished.
Fish and Game Department
The game and fresh water fish con-
stitutes one of the states most val
liable assets. They should be pre-
served for the use of the people of the
state, and for those in other parts of
the country who are attracted to Flor
ida by them, who are willing to pay a
proper license for the sport. There
must be intelligent conservation,
which can be had only through reas-
enable regulations governing the use
and enjoyment of this, one of the
most important natural resources of
the state. l am clearly of the opinion
that we cannot depend upon the pres
ent laws or the method of enforce
ment to properly protect our fish and
game. ! recommend the passage of a
measure which will provide reason
able revenue and which will place the
administration of the law under a
game commissioner. / suggest that
this game commissioner should be
identical, one and the same, as the
shell-fish commissioner, who is now
charged with the administration of
our oyster and salt water fish laws.
The fish and game are natural re-
sources belonging to all the people of
the state and certainly substantial
revenues should accrue to the state
through the use and enjoyment of
this resource.
Local Bills
Before the legislature has any
right to pass any bills, local in nature,
it is required by the constitution that
notice of the introduction of the
measure should be published in the
county affected by such bill, for sixty
days before its introduction. This
plain provision of the constitution is
quite often ignored. If the journals
of the legislature fail to show the
publication of such notice, our courts,
in the absence of an affirmative show
ing, indulge the presumption that
such notice was given as required.
The effect of this construction of the
law has been that each session of the
Legislature is flooded with local bills,
and practically no consideration can
be given them by the Legislature. As
is well known, they are passed as a
matter of course, sponsored and un-
derstood only by the members of the
Legislature of the county affected by
them. This practice has grown to
such an extent that it has become a
real menace Not only does it require
a great deal of time of the legisla-
ture, but oftimes legislation not local
in nature is hurried through the
session without that due consideration
which the questions involved Justly
deserve. Apart from the above sug-
gestions, the people of each commu-
nifty are entitled to be advised IN ad-
vance of the nature of the local bill
which will be introduced in the legis-
Ilature. There is no way for prac-
tical handling of this question except
Through an amendment to the consti-
tuition. If the governor should veto
the local bill, because it might appear
from outside sources that the notice
had not been given, it would be easy
for the membership, nearly all Of
whom have local bills in which they
are interested, to pass the measure
lover the governors veto. Besides, II
the courts indulge in the presumption
that the required notice was publish
ed. is not the governor within his
rights in doing the same thing?
recommend an amendment to the
iconstitution requiring the publication
of notice of all local measures before
the introduction, of at least thirty
DAYS. It would seem that thirty days,