The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-03
GOV. Flemine,s Message.

Gov. Jennings Message.
The message of Gov. Fleming. Of Florida,
touches upon all the important matters re-
latiug to the public affairs of that state,
and contains great deal of valuable and
interesting information. The suggestions
and recommendations of the governor will
be admitted generally to be wise ones, and
entitled to very careful consideration from
the legislature.
Among the most important things to
which the governor invites attention is the
states financial condition, which is not al
together satisfactory. The state is not en-
barrassed in any way and her debt is so
small as not to be in the least burdensome,
but her annual expenditures have been so
much increased lately, and there has been
such marked falling of in her receipts
from liquor licences, that her revenues are
not sufficient to meet her obligations.
The rate of taxation is now three mills on
the ollar, and that has been the rate for a
| long time. Since it was established the
states expenses have been increased about
| sl25. 200 year. 1t is true that be taxable
| property has also increased, but not suffi-
GENTLY TO meet the increased expenses. 1t
| il estimated that for the next two years the
revenues will amount to about $40 900, and
that the expenses Of administering the gov
eminent in all its branches will be about
| 1928, COO To meet the deficiency the gov
| ernor advises that the rate Of taxation shall
be increased to four mills on the dollar AS
| that appears to be the only way out of the
difficulty it Is probable that it will be
adopted.
The governor calls attention to an evil
which ought to be corrected at the earliest
possible moment If it were corrected there
would be 10 necessity for increasing the
rate of taxation. 1t is the differentiation
Of property for purposes of assessment.
The assessed valuation of the taxable prop
erty is now $90000,0O0. The governor
thinks that the real value Of the property
that is liable for taxes is about $3.50, 000, 900.
He thinks, and very reasonably, too, that
at least $500, 100000 Of taxable property
should be returned by the assessors.
1t is plain that the assessors do not dis
charge their duties conscientiously. They
are too much under the influence of the
property holders Of their respective coun-
ties. Each county is afraid that it will pay
more than its fair share of the taxes. and
each taxpayer tries to pay as little taxes as
possible. The assessors are bulldozed by
public sentiment into making unfair re-
turns. The probability is that in too many
instances the valuations Of previous years
are accepted even in cases in which the
property is worth several times as much as
it was when the valuation was made.
The governor sees no way to get a fair
valuation Of property except by means of
board of equalizers, and he recommends
the creation of such a board The recon-
mendation will hardly meet with favor
from the legislature, but that body will
sooner or later have 20 provide some means
for securing a fair assessment 1t would be
a much wiser plan to assesses property at
somewhere near its real value, and have a
low rate of taxation, than to have a low
valuation and have high rate of taxation.
The statistics of Florida's schools, which
the governor presents, are decidedly inter
esting, and will assist greatly in making
the state favorably known outside of her
limits. Florida has an excellent superin-
tendent Of public education, and his work
in behalf of her public schools has done as
much as anything else to bring her the
prosperity she enjoys. The population of
the state within the last ten years has in
creased about 100 per cent. In that time,
however, there has been an increase
of 1913 per cent in the attendance at
her public schools, and of las in
the value Of her public school
property. Indeed, it is doubtful if any
other state has a more admirable school
system, or better attended or better con-
Quoted public schools. Besides the publ
schools, there are many colleges and semi
naries in the state. Many of them are small,
Of course, but they are steadily growing,
and their progress is certain to keep abreast
Of that of the state.
The message is a carefully written and
thoughtful paper and will increase the gov
ernor's popularity.