tions. 1907. Remainder of former ap hereby appropriated for the support and maintenance of the University of the State of Florida, the Florida Female College, the Institute for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb, and the Colored Normal School, required to be supported and maintained by Chapter 5384 of the Laws of Florida, approved June 5, 1905, and for the enlargement, erection, construction, repair and maintenance of buildings and other structures, the laying out, fixing and maintenance of grounds and all other matters in connection with said Institutions, and each and every of them, as shall be deemed necessary or required by the State Board of Education or Board of Control, or both, or either of them, as provided in said act, which sum shall be placed to the credit of the State Board of Education in the hands of the State Treasurer as follows: University of the State of Florida, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars; the Florida Female College, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars; Colored Normal School, twenty thousand dollars; and the Institute for the Blind, Deaf and Dumb, eighty thousand dollars; balance of said five hundred and seventy thousand seven hundred and eleven dollars and forty-three cents to be expended by the Board of Control as the several institutions may require to be determined by the Board of Control. Sec. 2. That the sum of twelve thousand nine hundred and ninety-five dollars and forty-three cents ($12,995.43), now in the State Treasury and being part of unused former legislative appropriations made for said Institutions propriations. abolished by said act, shall constitute a part of the aggregate amount hereby appropriated, and which said sum of twelve thousand nine hundred and ninety-five dollars ($12,995.43) and forty-three cents shall be at once placed to the credit of the State Board of Education, to be used and disposed of by the Board of Control, or so much of said amount as may be necessary, in the payment of the indebtedness of the old abolished Institutions, and in payment of the official expenses of the Board of Control and any current expenses of said Board, and of the current expenses of the said Institutions of Higher Education above named. Sec. 3. That out of the appropriation hereby made, the State Board of Education shall set apart the interest deficit required to be paid under Section 31 of Chapter 5384, Laws of Florida, approved June 5, 1905, and the act of Congress of July 2, 1862. Section 4. That this act shall take effect immediately upon its passage and approval by the Governor, or upon its becoming a law without his approval. Approved May 30. 1907. CHAPTER 5603-(NO. 8). AN ACT to Regulate the Making of Contracts and the Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: incurring; eral revenue Section 1. That no board, department, officer, commis- Obligations sion or committee or other person or persons charged the expendiunder the provisions of any act of the Legislature with ture of genthe expenditure of any money payable out of the general funds. revenue fund shall make any contract or incur any obligation for the payment of any sum out of the Treasury of the State of Florida, except for the salaries of public officers and other current expenses of the State except expenses of operation of schools, without first ascertaining from the Board of Commissioners of State Institu tions that the funds necessary to meet such payments will be available when the same shall become due and payable and constitute a charge against the State. Sec. 2. Appropriations made for school purposes when funds under any act of the Legislature shall be payable out of available. the first funds available under the provisions of this act, after payment of the salaries of public officers, and other current expenses as hereinbefore provided, and the moneys for such appropriations shall be available as fast as they come in without waiting for the whole amount of any such appropriation to be received into the Treasury. Sec. 3. This act shall take effect immediately on becoming a law. Approved June 4, 1907. 6-G. L. 1907. Appropriations. Manner of payments. Power of CHAPTER 5604—(No. 9). AN ACT to Provide for the Furnishing of the Governor's Mansion and the Improvement of the Grounds Thereof, and Such Other Improvements and Extensions as May Be Necessary or Advisable, and Making an Appropriation for the Same. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. That the sum of fifteen ($15,000) thousand dollars, or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and the same is hereby appropriated out of any moneys in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purchase of furniture for the Governor's Mansion, provided for by Chapter 5472, Laws of Florida, Acts of 1905, for the improvement of the grounds thereof and the purchase of two additional lots in the same block on which said Mansion is located at a cost not exceeding twelve hundred dollars, and for such other improvements or extensions in and about the said Mansion and grounds as may be deemed necessary or advisable by the Governor's Mansion Commission. Sec. 2. That the payments of the moneys hereby appropriated shall be made by warrant drawn by the Comptroller on the Treasurer upon itemized accounts approved by the Governor's Commission, or a majority of said Commission, and duly audited by the Comptroller. Sec. 3. That the Governor's Mansion Commission proCommission. vided for under Section 1 of said Chapter 5472, Laws of Florida, Acts of 1905, be and they are hereby vested with the power to carry out the provisions of this act in connection with their other duties prescribed by law. Sec. 4. This act shall become effective immediately upon its approval by the Governor. Approved June 3, 1907. CHAPTER 5605-(No. 10). ' AN ACT To Amend Sections 525 and 526 of the General Statutes of the State of Florida, Relating to Taxation and Finance. Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. That Section 525 of the General Statutes of Florida, relating to taxation and finance, be, and the same is hereby amended so as to read as follows: see 1907. "525. Review by County Commissioners.-The Assessors Review by County Comshall complete the assessment rolls of their respective missioners; counties on or before the first Monday of July in every law. revenue year, on which day such Assessors shall meet with the Board of County Commissioners at the Clerk's office of their respective counties for the purpose of reviewing and equalizing the assessment, and may continue in session for that purpose from day to day for one week, or as long as shall be necessary; Provided, That the County Commissioners of any county may, if they deem it necessary, extend the time for the completion of such assessment roll. Should the Board increase the value fixed by the Assessor of any real estate or personal property, due notice thereof shall be given to the owner or agent Notice to be of such property by publication in a newspaper pub- given of meeting to lished in such county, or by posting a notice at the court hear comhouse door if there be no newspaper published in the plaints. county, at least fifteen days before the Board will be in session, to hear any reasons that such persons may desire to give why the valuation fixed by the Board shall be. changed. The Board of County Commissioners shall meet on the first Monday in August of each year for the purpose of hearing complaints from the owner or agent of any real estate or personal property, the value of which shall have been fixed by the Assessor, or changed by them, and for that purpose the Board shall sit as long as may be necessary." Sec. 2. That Section 526 of the General Statutes of Florida, relative to taxation and finance, be, and the same is hereby amended so as to read as follows: "526. Equalization of Assessments.-The Board of 1907. Equaliza tion; see County Commissioners shall have full power to equalize the assessment of the real estate and personal property in their respective counties, and for that purpose only may revenue law. raise or lower the value fixed by the Assessor on any particular piece of real estate or personal property. It shall be unlawful for the County Commissioners to lower the assessment of any personal property given in by the owner or assessed by the Assessor, which shall not have been specified under oath. The County Commissioners failing to obey this provision shall be subject to a fine of fifty dollars each, and suspension." Sec. 3. That all laws and parts of laws in conflict with this act be and the same are hereby repealed. Sec. 4. That this act shall take effect from and after its passage and approval by the Governor. Approved May 22, 1907. Levy. Proviso. CHAPTER 5606—(No. 11). AN ACT to Provide for the Levy of Taxes for the Years 1907 and 1908. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. That for the purpose of securing an equal and uniform rate of taxation and to pay the appropriations for the current expenses of the State for the years 1907 and 1908, and for interest on the bonded debt for said years, and paying other appropriations by the Legislature, there shall be levied upon the real and personal property of the different counties for the year 1907 a tax of two mills upon the dollar, and for the year 1908 a tax of two mills upon the dollar; and there shall also be levied for each of the years 1907 and 1908 a constitutional school tax of one mill upon the dollar; Provided, That if the Governor shall discover from the aggregate assessment of the property of the State from other sources of revenue the reduction of the two mills tax of either or both of said years will be justified, he is hereby author |