The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1936-11-06
OUR IMMEDIATE PROBLEMS


America face to face with unprecedented
conditions. This is normally two party
government; we in the Southern States
where one party is predominant realize
that healthy opposition would often
force a more discriminating nomination
of candidates for office No thoughtful
Democrat will rejoice over the apparent
humiliation of the opposition We have
done well under our system of:checks and
balances; still we are in need of action
and reaction. Conditions will produce
these as the need for them develops" At
any rate, at the moment, weaare not
"hOuse divided against itselfai" Almost
unanimously, the country approved of the
Roosevelt policies; and almost to a man,
we share the responsibility for the course
we have decided to take
Locally, in those matters which con-
Germ every Monroe County citizen per-
sOnally, we have every cause for thanks
giving. The outcome of the election as
sures us that the projects of highway
sewerage, water, Identification, and other
matters will be carried to completion.
Our citizens have expressed i'm no un-
certain tones, their determination to expel
the slot machine from Monroe County,
Most emphatically have they spoken
in favor of the Social Security Act and its
provisions for the aged, the blind and the
needy child.
They have shown their disapproval of
a dual government for Monroe County,
with all of its wasteful Implications of of
fices and office-holders by their approval
of the act which gives us an opportunity to
bring our governmental organization up
to date
This needed reform has been ad-
vocated for years by The Citizen.
1t is no motive of self-interest that has
prompted The Citizen to work for this
consolidation in past years and to urge
that it be brought about, now that people
have declared it desirable and by their
votes have made it possible. The Citizen
stands to lose more money, by the reduc-
ton in official printing, than does any Of
fetal stand to lose by the abolition of his
office.
But both The Citizen and the official
have stake in the welfare of the COM
munity which, in the long run, means a
gain and not a loss by the abolition of the
expense of excess offices interfering with,
and duplicating each others work.
We have taken the two first steps to-
ward the consolidation of city and county.
The sister counties of the State have
recognized our need and given their ap-
proval to our efforts to better oYr condi-
tons.
There yet remain other steps before
this needed readjustment can be effec-
tive.
In definite way, yet to be decided
upon, the desires of the citizens of city
and county must be formulated. The
manner in which this shall be done is
measure of our fitness for self-govern-
ment.
We suggest an open forum, series
of round table meetings., at which there
shall be the fullest possible opportunity
for an expression of opinion. 80
When this shall have been done,
representative commission should be APP
pointed to draw up an expression of our
collective wills.
That instrument must then be submit
ted to the Legislature and be returned to
us with such amendments as may be
deemed necessary
And, after its ratification by the vote
of the electorate of the County of Monroe
and the City of Key West, it will be the
established form of government in SUBJ
stitution of that which we now have.
While it is true that the Legislature
will not meet for meHths to come, the
thoughts of every citizen, fndI every
organization should begin at once teiGen-
ter upon the nature of - consolidated