The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1897-07-29
A PLAIN STATEMENT.
Editor Harris and the Tax List
Let us Fulfill the Law.


threatened by resolutions passed
by the county executive commit
tee and when we learned that at
torneys had been employed by
editor +. e. Harris to break up
our contract and being assured
that a majority of the new board
of county commissioners were
opposed to US, we were forced to
employ council and go into the
courts to protect our interests.
We were regularly and legally
appointed to perform O. public
service, that of printing the tax
sale list and in order to perform
that service, we had to purchase
$500 worth of printing material.
1t would have been great folly in
us to have sat down and allowed
editor Harris to force this busi-
ness away from us by unfair and
illegal measures after we had
gone to SO much expense in get
ting ready to do it, ''Self pre-
servation is the first law of ma
ture,' and we want it distinctly
understood that this legal con-
test was forced upon us. In con-
IA.,f h nf "A
was decided to mandamus the
tax collector, in6wing that this
would bring out all the legal
points in the case and settle the
matter as to our right to the tax
list. In company with G.. L. Bit
finger, we went to see tax collec-
tor Pooser and told him that our
only object was to protect our
rights and not to force him to
close the tax books and thereby
oppress the people; that so far as
we were personally concerned, he
could have all the time that he
thought proper to make out his
list for the paper. Both Mr..
Bittinger and Capt. Pooser will
bear us out in these statements.
We publish these facts to correct
a false impression which the Ban
ner has been unjustly trying to
create among some of our coun-
try people, viz, that we are try
ing to oppress the poor Taxpayers
and put public money in our own
pockets. Let it be understood
that editor Harris is directly re-
sponsible for this matter being in
the courts and if carrying out
the law oppresses anyone, he is
to blame for it. Heretofore when
the county commissioners award
ed the tax list, and they have al
ways given it to the Banner till
this year, it was considered final,
no one being greedy enough tC
hire lawyers and seek to set aside
their action. If they had selected
the Banner at their May meeting
the other papers would have
recognized the legality Of the
contract and submitted grace.
fully, but in their Judgment they
saw proper to select the Ocala
Evening Star and the Banner
sets up q howl, denOunces the
commissioners as infamous char
acters and declares that theil
action must be changed regard
less of law and justice and th'
cost of damage suit against the
county. It's course in this matte
is both, revolutionary and dis
tructive. For if one contrac
made by the commissioners Cal
be set aside at the will Of a few
interested parties. then all thei
contracts can be set aside ant
what becomes Of our public inter
ests? If editor Harris and hi
able attorneys succeed III breai;
ing up this printing contract mad
with the Evening Star, they WI
destroy much Of the public conf
dence now imposed III our honor
able board of county commits
sioners to transact the cour
tvs business, besides lntlictin
heavy financial losses upon q pr
vate citizen. 1t is a seriOu
thing to tamper with the publi