The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-04-26
.JACKsONvlLLE LETTER.
.JAcRaoNvIIIp K

Editor FIOTididn. Business here is returning
to its summer basis. The Northern visitors are
getting scarce, and the steamer Sylvester, which
comes here every winter, lie taking in coal pre-
pairing to return North Captain Post, her able
and genial commander, has acquired very de-
servedly popular reputation for cordiality towards
and careful attention to the comfort of his pas
sengers and the Sylvester being the fastest river
steamer has secured large share Of the public
patronage We hope to see Captain Post and
his steamer here again next winter.
The city sewers seem still to be a source of
trouble rather than convenience Workmen are
daily engaged in digging and excavatiug broken
pipe and inserting new. l wonder what the
cause is Perhaps there is net enough fall given
it to the river, or too much economy in the use
of water. For if the decline to the river is sufi
Gent then good stream of water should keep
them clear and clean. Therefore the two former
being o. X there is some crookedness in it, and
just there the matter is settled in its double sig
nifcance, for garbage will settle upon an uneven
place; and if in the case of our city sewers it is
so, then the solution of the trouble is made and
the matter settled.
The bonds issued to construct these sanitary
works have the customary coupons attached.
Some of the coupons may be due, yet the works
have not been approved as far as am able 10
learn, and received by the city. Who holds
these bonds Shall the citizens of jacksonville
be held liable to pay them, although accrued and
accrung before the work is properly done,
turned over to and approved by the city
That's the question. And the tax of sixteen
oil for ofor he IF Lot
100 feet square and eight dollars upon half lot
upon those who don't take water, or $24 and
$12 if they do, according as they may own a full
or half lot, should be eDjOined. Just to think
of compelling man to pay if he don't take
water, and giving him the high privilege of wa
ter supply if he pays little more for it, This
is progress We are progressing, no doubt, and
desire further progress. The method is objec
tionable and effectually burdensome. People
cannot live above their means. And the right
the rich class of society have by such means
to drive their poorer fellows out of a city
into the suburbs by onerous assessments, TO the
end that they may progress, luxuriate within,
and build up city is questionable, and the judi
cary will he responsible for the result when the
question comes up for adjudication, as it must,
if the city of Jacksonville attempts to enforce at
the bar of justice the asserted right TO charge its
citizens for water that they have not taken and
do not agree TO take. Water is an element as
free to human use the air we Breathe given
by Him who is the author Of all being and who
shall take away from us the free fountains of ma
ture, and lead US to his well and compel us to
drink and pay him for the privilege of this arbi-
trary coercion. Society that's what they call
it, has no such right, in no such way, to maintain
its credit as city, or to provide for the payment
of its cnerous obligations. The legal maxim is
lacking to warrant these methods.
In the matter of its Bond holders Va. the City
Government of Fernandina, an Injunction was
granted enjoining the elected Mayor Aldermen
and other city officers from the exercise of any
authority as such upon motion to quash the
constitutiOnaliiy of the act comforting authority
upon the Governor to appoint municipal officers,
and the question in all ts legal phases was dis
cussec before Judge Baker and submitted;. no
opinion has yet been rendered. 1t seems 10 be
will take what may be called the benefit
of the act, and have . new set of officers or
not, and If In all bonded cities not providing for
the payment accrued Of such bonded indebted
ness do likewise, II may be made an act of uni
form operation. The oct which confers power
upon the Governor to appoint municipal officers
under II may or does operate, to repeal that pOr-
item Of another act which requires that the ques.
ton Of using bonds, or not to issue them, shall
be referred to the people, and then again It may
or does not. W.s n.s int II
Article 4, Section "a, of the Constitution pro-
vides. "The Legislature shall provide for the
the election BY the people or appointment BY the
Governor Of all State. county or municipal on
Gers not otherwise provided for by the csnstltu-
tion." Article 4. Section II, requires "a that the
Legislature shall not pass special OF local laws
regulating municipal business, or the election Of
municipal o6icers;" and Section IS Of Article
requires that all laws Gin such casea) shall be
general and uniform throughout the State !" and
Section 81 Of Article says the Legislature