The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-09-07

Quality. Grade and Maturity of Flor
ida Citrus Fruits and the Cause and
Effect Thereof; to Prescribe for Ex-
penditures from the Orange Adver-
tising Fund. the Grapefruit Advertis-
ing Fund and the Tangerine Adver-
Using Fund for Protecting the Flor
ida Citrus Industry in Obtaining and
Enjoying Just, Reasonable and 9th
erwise Lawful Transportation Rates
and Charges; and to conduct the
Study of Standards of Quality, Grade
and Maturity of Florida Citrus Fruits
and the Cause and Effect Thereof.
Be 1t Enacted by the Legislature of
the State of Florida:
Sec. 1. That the raising of citrus
fruits is one of the great industries
of the State of Florida and the pro-
duction of citrus fruits in Florida is
a highly commercial undertaking, with
almost the entire crop produced for
sale; that the problem of transporta-
ton and distribution is of paramount
Importance to the Florida citrus in
dustry and is associated with the
conducting of publicity. advertising
and sales promotion campaigns to in
crease the consumption of Florida
citrus fruits: that the citrus fruits
produced in Florida cannot be de-
livered to the. consumer without
transportation and the consumption
of Florida citrus fruits cannot be in
creased without just and reasonable
transportation rates and charges;
and that it is vital to the Florida
citrus industry and to the general
welfare of the State of Florida that
Just. reasonable and otherwise law
full transportation rates and charges
on Florida citrus fruits be obtained
and maintained.
Sec. 2. That the study of stand
ards of quality, grade and maturity
of Florida citrus fruits and the cause
and effect thereof is a vital neces-
sity affecting the advertising, pub
licity and sales promotion campaigns
to increase the consumption of Flor
ida citrus fruits and affecting the
distribution thereof; and that it is
vital to the Florida citrus industry
and to the general welfare of the
State of Florida that dependable in
formation regarding standards of
quality. grade and maturity of Flor
ida citrus fruits and the cause and
effect thereof be available for dis
semination as public information.
Sec. 3. 1t shall be the duty of the
Florida Citrus Commission to cause
to be investigated the transportation
problems affecting the Florida citrus
industry and the lawfulness of any
and all existing or proposed rates,
tees affecting any rate or charge
insofar as the same may affect the
Florida Citrus Industry, and to that
end may cause such proDer investi-
cations to be made by other agencies
established and existing for the pur-
pose of handling such questions.
That the Florida Citrus Commission
may authorize such other agency as
selected by it to compile the facts
concerning the transportation rates,
charges. rules. regulations or prac-
tees affecting the Florida citrus in
dustry. and when any such transpor-
tation rate. charge, rule. regulation
or practice is, in its opinion. excess
sive. unjust. unreasonable, discrim-
mating In nature or otherwise un-
lawful. may cause such agency to
file with the Interstate Commerce
Commission or other proper regula-
tory body. complaints, protests, Pc
titions or other pleadings and papers.
and to participate in any proceed
ings or hearing concerning the same
to the end that the Florida citrus
industry may be fully protected in
obtaining and enjoying just. reason
able and otherwise lawful transpor-
tation rates and charges. In the per-
formance of any such duties the
Florida Citrus Commission shall pay
such agency so selected by it such
reasonable compensation as the Com
mission may fix for defraying the
expenses of the agency in employ
ing counsel. rate experts, account
ants or other assistance in any such
investigation or participation in any
such proceeding or hearing.
Sec. A. The Florida Citrus Conn
mission may cause to be conducted
a study of citrus fruits and the
juices thereof with respect to the
quality and maturity of said fruit
and the juices thereof, including
an attempt to assemble data and
arrive at a proper standard of quail
lty. grade and maturity with ref
erence to its texture, stability and
general marketability, and SO far as
possible reduce such findings to spe-
clfic and readily understood chem
lcal. mathematical or descriptive
terms. The Florida Citrus Commits
sion may. from time to time, and at
least annually, require from any such
agency a report of it's activities,
investigations. studies. findings and
recommendations and any other in
formation concerning such study as
the Commission may request in the
performance of the duties under this
Section. The Florida Citrus Com
mission may designate the Agricul-
tural Experiment Station of the Uni
versity of Florida as it's proper ag-
ency. therefor and may pay the rea-
sonable sums expended by such Ag-
gricultural Experiment Station of the
University of Florida in the conduct
ing of such study; provided, however,
that there shall not be spent in any
year in excess of Six Thousand Dol
lars (S6 .OOO per year for the purpose
of this Section
Sec. 5. That there is hereby ap-
YnF-An si0 kA1 l..
ing the two years next ensuing af-
ter the effective date of this Act. for
defraying the expenses of the adj
ministration and enforcement of this
Act from the special funds known
as the Orange Advertising Fund, the
Grapefruit Advertising Fund and the
rangerine Advertising Fund, such
amounts as may be necessary, not to
exceed. however. in any one year,
expenditures in excess of five go
percent of such special funds col
lected in such year; provided, fur
Their. that in case any expenditure is
made as authorized herein, each of
said special funds as aforesaid shall
annually bear its pro rata share of
such expenditures in such proper
ton as the Commission may find
oranges. grapefruit and tangerines,
respectively. are affected by each
such expenditure, and in no event
shall the expenditure in any one year
concerning oranges, grapefruit or
tangerlnes be in excess, respectively,
OF five (5 percent of the amount
collected in such year in the Orange
Advertising Fund. the Grapefruit Ad-
vertising Fund and the Tangerine
Advertising Fund, respectively.
Sec. 8. That this Act shall be lib
orally construed and if any part or
portion thereof be declared invalid,
or the aDolication thereof to any
person, circumstance or thing il de-
clared invalid. the validity of all the
remainder of this Act and/or the ap-
plicability thereof to any other per-