ture concerning their attitude. Many replies favored the idea, but more conservative members doubted if constitutional authority existed for such action. The Governor refused to act upon the suggestion made by the News that the legislature be convened in extraordinary session, which brought the wrath of that newspaper down upon his official head. The News charged the Governor with incapacity and duplicity and made other unparliamentary comments. In his reply to the charge made by Red Cross and the News, Governor Martin charged that his statements had been misrepresented; that he had not intended to convey the impression that the destruction was less than actually existed, and he alleged that the unwarranted construction placed upon his utterances itself had been responsible for retarding the collection of funds. Criticism of the Governor for refusing to call a special session of the legislature was ill advised, as will appear upon reading Section 10, of Article 9, of the Constitution of Florida as follows:
"The credit of the State shall not be pledged or loaned to any individual, company, corporation or association; nor shall the State become a joint owner or stockholder in any company, association or corporation. The legislature shall not authorize any county, city, borough, township or incorporated district to become a stockholder in any company, association or corporation, or to obtain or appropriate money for, or to loan its credit to, any corporation, association, or individual."
And Section 6, of Article 9:
"The legislature shall have power to provide for issuing State bonds only for the purpose of repelling invasion or suppressing insurrection, or for the purpose of redeeming or refunding bonds already issued, at a lower rate of interest."
Mayor Romfh sought advice from the Dade County Bar Association, and was cited to the sections quoted by W. I. Evans, president of the Association, who said:
"If the legislature could be of assistance to the injured portion of the State a special session would be undoubtedly warranted, but before asking the Governor to call such special session the nature of the relief desired should be determined and the extent of the power of the legislature to grant that relief should be established. I know it to be true
