Florida. Governor

The series covers the terms of early twentieth century Governors Albert W. Gilchrist (1909-1913); Park Trammell (1913-1917); Sidney J. Catts (1917-1921); Sidney J. Catts (1917-1921); Cary A. Hardee (1921-1925), and John W. Martin (1925-1929).

In 1821, Florida became a territory of the United States and, as such, had its governors appointed by the President of the United States. The territorial governors of Florida were Andrew Jackson (1821-1822), William Pope DuVal (1822-1834), John H. Eaton (1834-1836), Richard Keith Call (1836-1839 and 1841-1844), Robert Raymond Reid (1839-1841), and John Branch (1844-1845). Florida became a state in 1845.

The post of Governor of the state was created in the 1838 Constitution (Article III, Section 1, 1838 Constitution; Article IV, Section 1, 1885 and 1968 Constitutions; Ch. 14 FS) and became effective in 1845. The Governor serves a four-year term and, since 1968, can succeed himself for one term.

The Governor is the Chief Executive Officer of the state and as such is commander-in-chief of the state militia, signs all commissions for state and county officers, fills hundreds of state and county offices by appointment, and has the power of suspension over state and county officers. The Governor is also chief planning and budgeting officer for the state, has veto power over legislative acts, can call special sessions of the Legislature, and can call for adjournment if the Legislature cannot agree upon a time.

The Executive Office of the Governor was created in 1979 (Ch. 79-190, Laws). The Office is comprised of staff members handling the administrative functions required by the Governor. The Office also houses various committees, commissions, and councils created by the Governor.

During the Civil War, the U.S. Federal government attempted to raise financial support in Florida's northeast section which was occupied by Union troops. The areas affected were St. Johns County and the city of St. Augustine, Nassau County and the city of Fernandina, Duval County and the city of Jacksonville, and Monroe County and the city of Key West. An Act of Congress approved August 5, 1861 authorized agents of the U.S. Treasury Department to collect a direct tax in the state. Property of citizens in the occupied areas was subject to seizure in payment of the $77,000 levied on Florida. In some instances, property abandoned in places like Fernandina and St. Augustine was sold to the tax agent or his associates.

The U.S. direct tax was eventually ruled unconstitutional and thirty years after its passage, an Act of Congress approved March 2, 1891 stated that the U.S. government would reimburse all affected states and territories. The money appropriated for reimbursement was to be paid to the governor, but not until the state legislature authorized acceptance of the amount appropriated in full satisfaction of claims against the U.S. In Florida, Joint Resolution No. 6 of the Laws of Florida, 1891, accepted the appropriated amount.

Claims of individuals for direct tax reimbursement were to be filed with the governor within six years after the passage of the Act (March 2, 1897). The applicant for reimbursement was required to prove that he or she was the legal owner or heir to the legal owner of the property. Once the claim was validated, the governor issued a state voucher drawn upon the Merchants National Bank of Jacksonville.