The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-09
Gov. Jennings Message.

The message of the governor Of Florida
contains great deal OF information and
many valuable suggestions. Il is a dOcu-
ment that should be in the hands Of all the
voters of the state. Those who read it will
have a very fair knowledge of public af-
fairs in Florida. About all questions bear
ing upon state matters are handled in a
comprehensive and luminous manner. Even
the wonderful phosphate deposits, which are
proving TO be such great source Of wealth,
are given a fair share Of attention.
The governor urges greater economy in
the administration Of the laws, and points
out wherein reforms can be made with
benefit TO the public. For instance. he
recommends that the pay of jurors shall be
reduced from 81 a day to 81 p, and also
that the number Of grand jurors shall be
reduced TO nine. There is no doubt that
nine grand jurors would be about as salts
factory as the present number. AS rule
three or four members of a grand jury do
all the work and direct the course which
shall be followed in the finding of indict-
ments.
And the governor recommends that prop
erty shall be assessed at its full value. II
this recommendation were adopted and
enforced there would be great reduction of
the tax rate. There is undoubtedly a very
large amoupt-probabably more than half
of the property assessed at not more than one
third of its real value. These unfair assess
ments are not, as rule, in the towns. They
are outside of the towns. In the towns prop
erty is assessed at very near its real value,
tor the reason that the demands
Of town governments make high valuations
or a high rate Of taxation necessary.
And the governor recommends the appoint
ment Of state board Of equalization of as
sessments. The MORNING NEWS has adj
vocated.the creation Of a board of that kind
In this state for long time but our legsla-
tors, for some reason or other, fight shy of
such board. If the Florida legislature is sin
cerely anxious to promote the best interests
of the state ana put taxpayers upon an
equal footing, it will make the recommen-
dalton relative to a state board of equal
ization effective.
The governor thinks that too many
murdererS escape punishment, and he wants
the law for the trial Of criminals so changed
that the accused will not have SO many OPP
portunites for escaping conviction. He
thinks the number of challenges allowed to
the accused should be smaller. There is no
doubt that there would be fewer crimes of
violence if the punishment for such crimes
were more certain Those who commit
such crimes escape justice so frequently
that there is feeling that human life can
be taken with comparative safety.
If any one few years ago had suggested
that the time was not distant when a new
source of wealth would be discovered in
Florida which would be of such Importance
as to demand the attention Of the legisla-
ture, be would have been looked upon as
not being in his right mind. But nobody is
surprised to find in the governors message
a recommendation that board of phos-'
phate commissioners and phosphate in
spector be appointed.
The message is an exhaustive one, and
will help the legislature in its work.