The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1898-01-06
formulating an opinion or telling
the truth about the tax sale pub
LEGATION controversy.
The MariOn County Tax Sale

referred to the injustice and un-
necessary trouble the Rev. j. G.
Porter was put to to have his
bill paid by the state for publish
ing the Marion county tax sales
advertisement. Now the Tampa
Tribune takes up the sword IN
favor Of Brother Porter and cuts
deep with a keen blade, as fol-
lows:
"The collector was diametri-
cally opposed to Mr.. Porter pub
fishing the list and when the sale
day rolled around made it con-
venient to be absent from the
state, and under the law his dep
uty was not authorized to make
the sale. The publisher Of the
paper sent his bill to the comp
troller for his money, and that
official emphatically refused to
audit it on account Of no sale
having taken place. Thus, for
the gross careleSSneSS Of a coun-
ty official, who purposely and pre-
premeditatedly absented himself
from his post of duty on that
date for the purpose Of depriving
Mr.. Porter of his legitimate
money, the Ocala Star is put to
the expense of legal procedure to
collect a just claim against the
state. The idea is ridiculous and
the motive is worse than high
way robbery. The state of Flor
ida owes it to itself to see that
this bill is liquidated and that
criminal prosecution be instituted
at once against the tax collector
for malfeasance in office.'
This is pretty strong language,
a little stronger, perhaps, than
the subject demands. The Me-
tropolis has understood that the
tax collector was an invalid and
sick at Hot Springs, Ark, and
unabl to be present to make the
sale.
AS the Metropolis has already
said, it believes the bill should be
paid, and that no such dangerous
precedent be allowed to prevail
as in this case, as it has nothing
to justify such position. If it is
law it is a law any state should
be ashamed of.
The idea that a newspaper pub
Usher must be subjected to a loss
of $4,000 by the negligence Of a
county official, with whom the
publisher has nothing to do, is
the most ridiculous and absurd
proposition ever set up. It has
not one particle of fairness or equi-
ty to sustain it, and we care not
what state officials or others may
say, they know it is not right and
proper to hold one man response
bic for the &C IS of another.
Every newspaper in the state
should, for self-defense, if not for
other causes, oppose any such at
tempt to deprive them of their
legitimate rights, and they
should never let up until such
law is abolished. Every one of
US are in the same boat, and if
we do not defend ourselves and
our rights we may all be swept
under by the same wave that is
now buffeting Mr.. Porter. Are
we to tamely submit to the
wrecking of our business because
a tax collector fails TO perform
his duty and because a state Off
GER says such is law without even
protest? If we are not, let us
all join in for new laws and new
officers who will see that justice
done each and every one of us,
regardless Of the acts of tax col
! lectorS or others with whom the
publishers have nothing to do.
We might be ever so much op-
posed to a business rival, but we
don't think we could favor de-
priving him Of his just dues,
earned by hard and patient Ia
! hnr nSnecially whom be WAS not