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

fed copy thereof, should be spread
upon the journals Of each branch Of
the legislature. In other words the
legislative journals themselves should
be required to show affirmatively that
the required notice was given. IF at
firrnative evidence of the publication
of notice is required TO be spread
upon the journals, We win have q cure
for the dangerous practice now pre-
yailing.
State Prison Farm
/ believe that a state prison farm
is necessary, and we have at Raiford,
in Bradford county, an institution
which, if properly handled, can be
made to efficiently serve the purpose
of its creation. We have 1853 acres
of land and nearly 1000 acres Of
which are now under cultivation, the
remaining acreage being largely pas
turage and woodland. The mainte-
nance of such a farm, in my opinion,
is necessary in order that some place
may be provided for the cOnyicts,
and those aged and decrepit who are
not physically fit to perform hard
manual labor. This is the only rea-
son for the maintenance of such an
institution. The people Of Florida
very justly feel that the convicts who
are physically fit should perform
manual labor, and certainly no better
place for the performance Of such la
Dor can be provided than upon our
public roads. In the meantime, we
should require those not able to work
on the public roads, that they in a
large measure sustain themselves on
the state farm, without the financial
burden to the state which it has borne
in the past.
The institution at Raiford has
grown to such proportions that it re-
quires a large percentage Of -convicts
there to maintain the farm, resulting
in a burden upon the state finances,
which l believe should not continue.
Each year there is a large deficit in
the expenditures over the income de-
rived from the receipts of the farm.
The operation for each year of its ex-
istence show large defcit-that of
1920, approximately 100000. The
state cannot operate an institution Of
this character with the same economy
as an individual. In fact. the primary
purpose of the farm was not to launch
the state out into private enterprise
in competition with the citizens. Our
work there should be only incidental,
as a means of taking care of the pris-
oners who are not physically able to
perform manual labor upon the pub
lie roads. The operation is. upon too
large a scale and the more convicts
retained upon it, the more will be the
expense of the people Of the state in
maintaining it. This institution can
possibly be made self-sustaining, but
to do so | fell you should consider
very seriously the following recon-
mendations:
LIST. Reduce the number Of first
class convicts to be kept at the farm,
which is now by law at IS, keeping al
no time more than 10 or u or such
convicts at the farm.
End. Very carefully regrade the
number two convicts and place upon
the public roads a large percentage Of
this class.
3rd. Put into effect a rigid system
of economy on expenditures.
I hope the legislature will reduce
the number of number one convicts
as suggested. and will also give the
governor discretionary power in us
ing second class convicts under pro
per rules and regulations for worl;
upon the public roads.
By drawing in, rather than spread
ing out; by sticking to the original
idea in the creation of the farm
rather than placing the state in the
attitude of entering private industry;
and by practicing strict economy in
its operation, believe the farm can
be made self-sustaining
Public Roads
The creation Of the state road de
Ipartment by the legislature Of 1915
was necessary if the state would
utilize its share of the funds which
the national government has appTo-
priated for road construction. It's
creation was essential then: its con
Itinuance is necessary now. It has not
performed in the past as effectively
and efficiently as the people have de-
sired, and whether it will do so in the
future will depend largely upon the
personnel of the department and of
the policies which they adopt. As is
we'll known, the federal government
will pay fifty per cent of the cost of
any road which has been designated
as a federal aid project, and provided
that the construction is in keeping
with regulations prescribed by the
national government. No funds are
received whatever from the national
government except for work upon
federal aid projects, and then only as
the work progresses. The state of
Florida has not utilized the appro-
Ipriations of the national government
to any considerable extent. There is