Divorce Bid

A land boom, two hurricanes, a plague of Mediterranean fruit flies and a Depression laid Florida low. A Brooklyn-born Yaleman has done what he could to hoist it to its feet. Jolly, plump Dave Sholtz went to Florida at 22 to study law. Becoming an Elk, a Shriner, a Rotarian and president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, he learned to spout the booster's creed. When Florida elected him Governor in 1932 he proved his loyalty by routing official drones, paring expenses, making the State's financial outlook the most hopeful in seven years.

One year ago last week, Florida's bank clearings, construction, postal receipts, newspaper advertising, railroad traffic had rebounded so high that the State, by Governor Sholtz's proclamation, celebrated a holiday in honor of Recovery. This year Floridians have still greater cause for rejoicing. By final reckonings their biggest business, tourists, was best since the boom days of 1925-26. During the winter, 1,750,000 visitors, a quarter million more than last year, had spent $625,000,000. On horse and greyhound racetracks 2,000,000 persons had bet $36,500,000, up $7,500,000 from last year.

To its best commodity, climate, Florida adds other attractions for affluent nonresidents. Its longtime rival, California, has lately frightened cinema executives by threatening a 33% income tax. With income taxes already banned by the State constitution, Florida recently ratified an amendment exempting cinema companies from taxation for 15 years.

Last week Governor Sholtz signed a bill reducing Florida's residence requirement for divorce from one year to 90 days. Its legislative sponsors had frankly termed it a bid for some of Nevada's 42-day and Arkansas' 90-day divorce trade. Said Governor Sholtz, a lifelong Congregationalist: "Florida is a tourist State, extending to the people of the United States an invitation to come here as visitors and remain as residents. If this bill brings additional residents or visitors to Florida, it will be in line with that invitation."

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