The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-01-08
The Gainesville Bee and Taxa

Tor the State and the democratic party provided
the Governor gets no credh for the same That
is simply the Bees position. Its hatred 10 the
Governor is well known as the cause that
produced it. For nearly two and half years
the Bee was an Administration Taper Ii en-
dorsrd the Dsston sale from the beginning, and
stood by the Administration. Time passed on
and the position of Commissioner of Immigra
lion became vacant The editor of the Bee, as is
well known was an applicant for the position
The appointment rested with the Bureau of I'm
migration, of which the Governor was q mem.
Der AT this juncture Hon. P. w. Whites name
was sent TO the Senate for confirmation Com
missioner of Lands and immigration, in accord
ance with the constitu tinna requirements. One
of the leading members of the Senate-(in view
OF that clause of the Constitution article T. sec
ton 9, which directed that the Office of Commits
soner of immigration should expire at the end
OF fifteen years from the ratification Of the Con-
stitulion, unless continued by the Legisature)-
in an interview with the Governor expressed n
desire for the opinion of the Supreme Court In
view of article 2 Of amendments to the Consti
tuition, which consolidated the offices of Com
eral into one ofice-Commissione of Lands and
Immigration, the Governor asked the opinion
OF the court as he had u constitutional right to
do. No one for a moment thought that it would
have any effect upon the Commissioner
appointed by the Bureau. But the de-
cison, in effect, pronounced the law ere
ating a Bureau, and Commissioner of Immi-
grafton under it, unconstitutional Hhe Consti
tuition in the amendment above referred TO had
consolidated the Two Offices and Judge White
was not only Commissioner of immigration, but
also OF Lands Thus by decision of the Su-
preme Court the law that created the Office that
Mr. Fildes wanted was pronounced unconstitu-
tonal, and the Office could not be filled. Not
withstanding this, because the members of the
Bureau obeyed the decision OF tie Supreme Court
the editor of the Bee became Infatuated in his
disappointment. He turned his back upon his
record of two and a half ycars-deDounced the
Disston sale which he had ali along approved
and blamed the Governor tor his not getting the
Office. Every one knows that had he received
the Office all would have been we'll But what
sensible man in the State thinks that the Bureau
did but right in Obeying the law as laid down BY
Inc supreme (OuTI! 10 nave zone OLnerWI9O
would have been foolish and revolutionary.
But nevertheless, Mr. Fildes was disappointed
and vents his spleen upon the Governor in such
a ridiculous manner to induce smile of con-
tempt See the following extract from his Bee,
of the 9TH Instant:
Voters should remember that il is the Democratic
party, through its representatives in the Legicla-
ture, and moi Governor Bloxham, as he would have
them believe in this year OF nominating conven
tions that has brought them reliefin reduction Of
the State tax.
How puerle-how vindictive, But the Bee
even here is wrong. The Legislature in its &C
ton upon State taxes followed literally the re-
commendation Of the Governor in his Message
The Governor in his message said
recommend reduction Of taxes to meet the
necessary appropriations for the current expenses OF
The tate for 1888, and TO pay the interest her
bonded Indebtedness to four mills. | recommend
the tax for 1884, with priviso similar to that
adopted 10y the last Legislature, of allowing the Gov
ernor TO reduce il to three mills if the aggregate
assessment OF the property OF the State will per-
mil.
-, really the Governors recommend lions
were followed out, ami he had the provision in
serted in 1888 as he did 1881, of allowing him to
reduce the taxes, If he felt warranted in doing
Governor and he exercised ii for the relief of the
people in 1884, ~ he did in 1882 But says the
Bee
Delaying thus long his compliance with the law,
when he could have al least d month ago ISSUED or
ders TO the Assessors TO make the reduction and
thereby save them much labor and great annoyance,
ii does appear somewhat if the Governor had
method in this procrastnation.
Was ever nonsense so palpable-was ever alb
surdiiy So great: Suppose the Governor had
have given the directions in 1888, for reduction
OF taxes in 1884, how would the assessment have
knows, turn their books over to the Collectors in
the summer 81 fall, and have nothing more to do
with them. The Comptroller furnishes new
books for the next year TO the Assessor between
January Isl and March 1st, giving him directions
to the amount OF State tax TO collect. The
Governor Informed the Comptroller the very first
day OF 1884 that reduction Of taxes would be
made for this year-thus giving the Comptroller
ample time to have his books properly prepared
for the Assessors. II the Bee will tell US how an
earlier announcement would have saved the As
SCISSOR much labor and great annoyance we
will guarantee to pay the Bees taxes for the next
ten years Editor Fildcs, do write something
sensible
But the Bee may rest easy. lis nightmare may
be dispeed. The ghost that haunts its slumbers
may he laid Governor Bloxham is not, and will
the nominating convention The Bees personal
abuse is known to all to be simply the result Of
disappointment in not securing an ofice-noth-