|
NEWS CONFERENCE
GOVERNOR FARRIS BRYANT
TALLAHASSEE
NOVEMBBR 13. 196
NEWSMER PARTICIPATING: Ray sterr, ABC RADIO; Budd Millichemp, ABC
RADIO; Doug Starr, ASSOCIATED PRESS; Bob Sandler ASSOCIATED PRESS;
Allen Morris, CRAOKBR POLITICS; i1 Beckett, FLORIDA DEVELOPMENT
COMMISSION; Everett Hilliard. FLORIDA TIMES UNIOH: Bob Sherrill,
MIAMI WOT. PBTRRRBURO TIRES SERVICE; Robert :1. Delaney. ORLANDO
SENTINEL: Barbara Frye, UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL; Jamee Gilleapy.
UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL: Frank P er, WCTV: Don Dughi. wcrv:
John Hayes, HDOA, HTVU; George Thurs on, RJXT.
GOVERNOR: Good morning.
SEVERAL: Good morning, Governor
GILLESPY: Have you received the resignation of Mr. Pinkerton,
Governor?
GOVERNOR: I've read it in the newspaper. I am a little bit behind
on my current mail. I don't know whether it has actually come in
or not. However, I had known that Jack was going to resign. As
you recall, he was hospitalized sometime ago.
OILLBSPY: Have you made any plans for replacing him?
GOVERNOR: No, I have not.
HAYES: Governor, are you going to look into the loss of accreditation
of the Duvel county schools?
GOVERNOR: Well. I have the interest in it that every citizen or
Florida naturally does. Actually, there is very little that can be
done immediately, it anything, by this office. Apparently the
cause is lack of funds over a long period or time. It will have to
be remedied and short of the Legislature, I don't see any emergency
help that can be granted to them. As I understand the mechanics
of the matter, the millage having been determined for the year,
their assessments having been approved, I assume. by the Board of
Squaliaation, it will not be possible to raise additional funds until
about November or 1966 under normal procedures. It certainly will he
that the next Legislature will want to consider emergency procedures
if that seems to he the proper limit.
D. STARR: Do you anticipate calling a Special Session for this?
GOVERNOR: No. No such suggestion has been made, and I have not
given it any thought. If it is of sufficient seriousness, and if
we were sure that this would remedy the situation, and if it was the
wish of the people of Duval County or their authorized representatives
I would give consideration to it.
2
TRURSTON: Have you received any suggestions from Duval County that
you remove the Tax Assessor from office?
GOVERBOR: I don't believe so. We get complaints from time to time
about everybody, and I'm sure there is a letter in there somewhere
saying something to that street. but I don't haVO any...
TEURSTON: have you considered that possibility?
GOVERNOR: no, but I have thought generally about the power of the
Governor relative to the removal or Assessors and recall instances
in the past when this has been attempted and failed. Basically the
school problem there must be met by the people. I don't think for
me or anyone to come in from the outside and impose a decision upon
them will solve the basic problem.
ERIE: Do you think a saggial Session would solve it?
GOVEENOB: I really haven't had a chance to review what could be done.
The only thing that I could think of offhand would be to give them
some exceptional authority to impose or to raise funds at an earlier
date than would normally be possible.
PHYS: Local funds?
GOVERNOR: Correct.
WILLIARD: Governor, as a soon to be resident or Duval County, what
would you recommend?
GOVERNOR: Well, when I am a resident or Duval County I will certainly
look at the matter and reach a private citizens decision on it, but
at this time I haven't.
FRYB: Have you talked to Mayor Burns about this?
GOVERNOR: No I have not.
FRYE: He hasn't suggested a Special Session?
OOVERROR: No, I haven't really talked to anyone about it except you
here this morning.
HAYES: Well, do you feel that this loss of accreditation will taint
the entire Florida educational school system?
GOVERNOR: would it do what?
RAYES: Would it taint it?
GOVERNOR: Well, it certainly won't help it. but I shouldn't think
it would have any significant effect upon the schools in other
counties.
WILLIARD: My Junior high school grapevine informs me that your
youngest daughter anticipates attending a private school. If that
3
hadn't been planned would you make such plans?
GOVERNOR: Hell. it is planned.
R. STARR: Since we are on the subject or Special Sessions, Governor,
can you conceive anyway at all that you may feel between now and the
end or your term that you would ask the Legislature to come back here
in Special Session on ggggggrtionnent?
GOVERNOR: Yes.
R. STARR: What is that situation?
GOVERNOh: Well there are several possibilities. First of all, if
the leaders of the Legislature desired it. it the Governor-elect
desired it, if I thought that the establishment of legislatiVe
committees for the study or this problem so that the 1965 session
would have nature consideration of alternatives to be placed before
it would be helpful, or it the Courts were to take action indicating
that failure to hold a Special Session would be detrimental to the
long range interest of Florida.
a. STARR: Do you go along with the plan that is being espoused in
Duval County to get then back here in January, hold elections, and
than have a brand new Legislature by April?
GOVERHCR: That's the first l've heard about it. I didn't know about
that.
says: Well is there a possibility say that it you were to call a
Special Session on the Duval County matter that you would also ask
them to do something on reapportionment to the extent maybe at...
GOVERNOR: Yes. Now one suggestion that has been made by a number
or legislators -- I say a number, four or five o- is that we do call
a one day session and on the premise that the Legislature will
establish committees of each house which will begin devising
proposals for consideration at the regular session. At the regular
session, as you are aware, they are busy with many things and
controversies would...
EHDRSTON: Isn't it possible for the presiding officers to appoint
such committees without a Special Session?
GOVERHOR: Who is a presiding officer?
11mm: Oh, that's right.
D. STARR: Would this be special committees different from the
standing committees that would normally study these problems?
u
GOVERNOR: I would think these would be special committees because in
the house there are no committees now. The House is not a continuing
body, for instance, so it would be special committees for this
purpose o- in the thinking or those that hays suggested it, whose
names have best be left stated by then.
PHYS: I was wondering who had suggested this idea of the one day
session.
GOVERNOR: The only one that I would be authorized, I think, to comment
on would be Senator Spottswood of Monroe County.
D. STARR: How does this strike you, Governor. Would you.go along
with this?
GOVERNOR: I would certainly be willing to do this it it was the
consensus of the leadership that it would be useful. Here again.
especially since I won't be in a position to do much about it next
year, it would be foolish for me to thrust my views on anybody.
D. STARR: Although we actually have no leaders because we have had
no elections in the House or Senate I think it is pretty out and dried
that the Speaker and President are chosen. Now these two people
brought this up?
GOVERNOR: No. neither one of them.
DELANEY: Governor, Mr. Rowell said that right after the election that
he would he opposed to any action until after the regular session
was completed. Do you think the court is likely to go along with
this much delay?
GOVERNOR: I really don't know. I have no...
DELANEY: Do you agree with the thinking that they could not
accomplish anything prior to or during a regular session?
GOVERNOR: Hell, could not is an awfully decisive phrase.
DELANEY: Well not likely to.
GOVERNOR: Well I don't think that they would be likely to do anything
that would cause them to run for election again between now and upril.
HILLIARD: Governor. what could a Special Session do for the Duvsl
County Schools?
GOVERNOR: Other than to find the method to enable them to raise
additional monies at an earlier data than would otherwise be possible?
WILLIARD: Wouldn't that effect the whole state system -- anything
they did for...
GOVERNOR: no. I said for Duval County to raise money. It would
5
depend upon how you drafted the law whether it affected the whole
state.
PEPPER: Would it be necessary, Governor, for the Legislative
Delegation from Duval County to instigate that request?
GOVERNOR: Certainly.
PEPPER: Would that be the only way?
GOVERNOR: Certainly. Before it was considered by me or anybody else
because, again, this is a local problem in which the State has but
the agency to be of assistance if they desire.
UILLIARD: What ways would there be to raise funds? Other than
taxation.
GOVERNOR: Other than taxation?
WILLIARD: By the regular point of mill taxation.
GOVERNOR: I really don't know. I haven't studied the problem with
that in mind, and won't.
BRIE: Can you limit this Special Session to one day?
GOVERNOR: No. I cannot. It would have to be done by agreement if
it were done that way.
ERIE: Would you call it without a prior agreement that they would
go hone in one day if that was the idea?
GOVEENCR: I wouldn't like to make a flat statement to that effect,
but the probabilities are that it would be the consensus before a
session was called.
D. STARR: Could we change the subJeet slightly here? Have you
appointed a successor to Mr. Bruton?
GOVERNOR: Ho I have not.
DELANEY: What about the appointments to the Board of Regents,
Governor, when are you likely to make those?
GOVERNOR: Governor Burns will be here on Monday, and I want to get
his views before I make any appointments. I will make them
probably fairly shortly.
DELANEV: After next week?
GOVERNOR: I would hope to do so sometine next week.
FYE: Is that why he is coming?
GOVERNOR: No. I could make them today, but I haven't really given
the consideration to the various membership that it ought to receiVB
because I was waiting to get his views before I did so. Just so
there will be no nieunderetanding....No ma'am that's not why he is
coming, but we will have a little while together to discuss a number
6
of matters that are pending that will facilitate an orderly
transmission. So there will be no misunderstanding about the
conferences that we will have in this regard, I expect to be Governor
until January 5. However, in the exercise of the power or governor-
ship. I eXpect to continue to solicit and receive advice from
authorities in a position to give valuable advice. I think he,
particularly among Floridians, is in that position, and I will welcome
his suggestions and consider them with the many other that I will
receive.
DBLANEY: Governor, are you also going to consult with the members
or the Board of Education before making your appointments?
GOVERNOR: Probably when I have boiled it down to Just about who I
have in mind I will discuss with than as individuals whether or not
they would meet their approval. I believe the law calls for them
to be submitted to the Board of Education for their approval, so I
would not discuss it with them until I had Just about reached that
standpoint. I would not, certainly, want to submit anybody to the
Board or Education who might be embarrassed by rejection. I don't
antftipato that there will be any problem.
732FSEON: Governor, do you think it is possible that you will name
all or most or the members or the present Board of Control
automatically?
GOVERNOR: I think it's possible.
8. STARR: Governor, where-do you stand now or where does the group
stand on this special census of Florida that is underway. Is this
coming along... Is there something in the works? We keep hearing
rumblings that there is a special Florida census being polled.
GOVERNOR: It's the first I've heard or that.
ies Barbers were you asking a question a moment ago?
FRYE: It was answered:
OOVEEHCR: I wanted to express the regret I know all or you feel and
the sadness of the death of the Cincinnati Reds Ranager.§ggg
Butchinson, in Bradentcn yesterday. or course, we are glad he made
Florida his home and grieve at the loss or this Floridian. In the
field of athletics, or course, while there is this moment of sadness,
there is the elation that we all feel that Floridians did so well
in the Tokyo Olympic A couple of weeks ago we did present to
Robert L. Hayes a certificate of appreciation for his-tine track
' 7
performances uhioh won him two gold medals, and we will preaent
similar certificates to four other young men who participated in the
Olympics. They will be or this nature and presented to: John T.
Fennel, John N. Nelson, Louis V. Vittuoci. and James a. Schommaker.
This doean't inoIUde the chap that I kept referring to you about,
Don Scholander, becauae I can't really claim him as a Floridian
although I did mention the fact that his mother was raised in Ooala.
DRLAnEY: Governor. I'd like to ask one more question if I may on that
Duval County thing. One or the TV stations in.Jaoksonville did say
that the primary responsibility for this impending disaocreditation,
it that's what it is, could be laid at the door or the County Tax
Assessor. Do you agree with this?
GOVERNOR: I haven't studied the problem with sufficient thoroughness
to be able to pinpoint the blame. I would think, however, that that
premise it it has any validity, is too narrow and that by and large
people set from government what they want -- Democracy. excuse me.
8. STARR: Governor, do you have any plans to do anything about
.3121; along with any other members or the State Pardon Board between
non and the time that you...
GOVERNOR: I believe he is coming up before the December Pardon Board
meeting.
8. STWRR: Do you have any comment on all or the people who have
backed a clemency appeal for him?
GOVERNOR: No. It's a free country.
SANDLER: Have you heard a report from Michael O'Neal, Chairman or the
World's Fair Liailon Committee of the Counoil or 100 that he made
yesterday in Booa Eaton?
GOVERNOR: No, I haven't.
SANDLER: Well, he eaid that the Florida Pavilion, after you said
a tow weeks ago that it went so well, he said that it ie a good
example or politics and poor taste and he would like to see some
improvement on it. Do you have any comment?
OOVEROR: well, this is the first I've heard it but I would any
tirat of all that it could atand improvement. I don't know much
that can't. An to the politics inv01Ved, I would be delighted for
him to particularize because it it hsc been.in there I haven't seen
it. I want to expreaa tremendous gratitude to the authority members
who-never rendered an expense account and who gave unlimited time to th
'8
State of Florida in order to promote that operation. I think they
deserve a lot or credit. or course, it can be improved, and I hope
it will be.
F812: Who is Mr. O'Neel?
GOVERNOR: I imagine he is referring to Hike O'Neal who in one or the
officere or General Tire and Rubber. 13 that the pereon about whom
you speak?
3ANDLBR: I don't know if he in connected with General Tire and
Rubber, I do know that he is Chairman or the World's Fair Liaison
Committee or the Council of 100.
GOVERNOR: If it is the Mike O'Neal of whom you speak, he is certainly
a fine citizen and a men of good Judgment. In this particular
inctence, I happen to disagree with him.
Are there other questions?
Thank you.
PAGE 1
--.i--.e. ..t .. .-:: ----' i.-.s
PAGE 2
-----:: -.: --------
PAGE 4
.-.i. --.-----. -1 -.-----.-.. 1 -: ----:. -... .1 ----
PAGE 5
----. -; :. ---.... .--.-.. .| .-..-1. .. --.! -: -..:: = -.---i .-: : .: ., , -..-n. : i.. .-: .: --': .. -.i : ---:! --"I |-''U-. 9
PAGE 7
-.: -! --.---.---i.. ... -:. -: : 1 --. ----.-.3. ...--. : .| -----: -.-----. ....1 .. : .i
PAGE 8
--... :.. -..i.
|
