The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-21
FINANCES OF FLORIDA.
TIE ANNUAL REPORT OF CONTROL
LER BLOXHAM.

Decrease Of S42a,O64 In the States
Indebtedness - The Total Indebted
ness Only $5o7,7oO - Material
Changes in the States Present
Financial System Declare Impera-
tive-Some Of the Irregularities
Shown Up.
TALLAHASSEE, FLA, Feb. Coon
troller Bloxham's report for the fiscal
year 1892 bearing date Jan. l, 1898, has
been given to the public. 1t is a compre-
hensive review Of the financial condition OF
the state and furnishes data that should be
thoroughly studied by all who are interested
in Florida's prosperity. Although the state
has had to borrow money to meet the de-
mands for local criminal costs placed
upon her by the present constItu-
tiOn and the large extra appropria-
Jions made by the legislature for
educational purposes, pensions, state board
Of health and state troops. yet her indebted
ness has decreased S424, O64 81 under demo-
cratic rule. Her bonded Indebtedness IN
the hands Of individuals amounts to only
1857 100 which, with the $50, 900 borrowed
by legislative authority, makes her entire
Indebtedness In the hands Of individuals
S5O7, 700, q mere hsgatelle as compared with
her resources. Florida's bonds are at a
very high premium and her controler's
warrants pass current in the business chan
nels Of the country.
The controller warns the legislature, how
ever, that Florida cannot retain her pres
ent enviable financial standing unless ma
terial changes are made ia her present
financial system. He argues foroibly
against the rutnous centrali2ing policy IN
der the present constitution Of making the
nRDle al rad =
criminal prosecutions, and points out that
this policy Is not only greatly embarrassing
to the state financially, but gives no relief
TO the counties, as the county taxes now
average mills higher than when all criml-
nal costs were paid by the counties.
Tables are given showing the present
irregularities Of the system upon the tax
able property Of the state. Your corr
respondent has made a partial examination
OF these tables, and some curious results are
obtained. For instance, Duval county
draws from the state treasury for jurors
and witnesses, costs Of criminal prosecutions
and commissions to county officers as much
as she pays in from all the taxes collected
on all the property assessed in the county.
DuvaIs contribution for the support OF tue
state government comes solely from what
she pays in for licenses. Columbia county
draws out OF the state treasury more for
jurors and witnesses, costs of criminal
oihcers than she pays in on &C
count of license tax and property
tax combined In a word, she pays moth
ing for the support OF the stategovernment,
as she draws more from the state treasury
than she pays in. jackson county, for 1892,
drew out Of the state treasury for similar
local expenses, nearly double what she paid
into 1t. These irregularities, under the CEN
tralizing principle Of paying all the local
costs at the capitol, are unjust aud unsatis-
factory. Local self-government," says the
controller, sis generally more economical
and always more satisfactory The report
bristlea with suggestions from eminent
1urists and officers familiar with the work.
ingS OF the present system, aud points out
clearly the way to secure relief It news to
the line and the only doubt about obtaining
financial relief comes from fear that the
legislature may not have the nerve to meet
the emergency and apply the remedies. This
scribe believes the Legislature will, notwith-
standing the opinions of a few doubling
Thomases.
A number of topics relating to the states
expenditures equalizing valuations, revenue
laws, state banking associations, ETC., are
touched upon. The controller believes that
the federal government should assume the
expense Of maintaining quarantine stations
| and excluding contagious diseases from our
extended seacoast. While Florida stands
as the gateway for the entrance OF diseases
from all the tropical countries, 1t Is asking
too much Of her to bear oil the burden. The
report is the ablest and most comprehensive
that ever enanated from that department.,
ana should be studied by all, espec ally our
prospective lawmaHers Controller Blox-
ham is a strong advocate OF the most rigid
economy and low taxation. IL all Florid-
ians would fall ia on this line the taxpayers
would rejoice in the much needed relief
during the present administration.