The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1901-01-10

1
1915, no change was made in the con-
stltution of 1868 nor i'll the constitution
OF 1885. The supreme court, as first
constituted, is the supreme court of to-
day. From 1916 to 1891, 46 years, the
court issued 2G volumes of reports, at
which time, 1891, the court was SIX aud
one half years behind with its work
During the past nine wears the court
has issued IL volumes of reports con-
tanning more matter than the former 20
volumes; and yet the court is five years
behind with it's work
This should convince all reasonable
men that it is impossible for three judges
to perform the work devolving upon
this court under the existing circum-
stances and our complex system of
practice. A comparison of the condi-
ions, the wealth and population of
Florida, when this court was created
with that of the population, development
and wealth of today, should appeal to
the lawmaking power for its best
thought and action which. l beg to urge,
to the end that temporary commission
may be created to adjudicaUe and dispose
OF certain cases to be allotted by the JUS
tees, to enable the court to dispose of
accumulated cases and clear the docket
speedily, and to provide by constitu-
tlOnal amendment for the establishment
Of another division of the supreme
court
Circuit Courts.
The circuit judges are likewise unable
to perform the duties devolving upon
their courts in several of the circuits
These courts were established by the
constitution of 1868, and although our
| population has more than Quadrupled
and the business of these courts more
than six times as great, we have the
same number of judges that we had in
1858.
The criminal dOcketS in several of the
counties require all the term period,
thus depriving itigants on the civil
side Of their rights and leaving them
without a remedy. These conditions
demand correction, and must appeal to
every patriotic legislator to provide a
constitutional amendment creating adj
ditiOnal circuits OF judgships. There is
q great necessity for a provision for adj
dltiOnal circuits and circuit judges.
States Attorneys.
From the great increase in homicides
and other cases of felony appearing on
the dOckets of our circuit courts, the
time of the states attorney being re-
quired i'll court work, it appears impos-
J sible for states attorney to acguaint
himself with all the cases in a circuit
and prepare for the prosecution as the
interest of the state demands. The
lawmakers having the power to bring
about correction Of these evils l sug-
! gest that the subject be investigated by
them, with view of providing by con-
Stitutional amendment for a states at
torney for each senatorial district, to be
| paid out of fees to be prescribed by law.
Taxation.
Section l, article 9, Of the constitu-
ton reads: ''The legislature shall pro-
vide. for a uniform and equal rate Of
taxation, and shall present such regula-
lions as shall secure just valuation of
all property, both real and personal, -
exempted property excepted. This is a
subject that has perpleXed the most ex.
Derienced minds from time immemOrial,
and will continue to do so while the
subject lasts. 1t has been ascertained
that under our present system of valua-
lions, property i'll some counties is as
sesSed at 90 per cent. of its value, while
in others If Is As low as 20 per cent. In
| 1871 the legislature created Il stare board
| of equalization To determine the relative
! value OF tie real estate in the different
counties. This board made its report to
the legislator. III 1872, which report was
confirmed.
Since t!3a1 time. NEARLY 20 years. there
has been II" power ar BOARD of rqUallza-
ton TO determine the relative value of
the real estate III the different counties
resulting i'll policy OF local depression
of valuations, which has placed our
state Ill the awkward position Of main
tanning an uneven burden of govern
ment, and higher rate Of taxation than
would have otherwise been required.
That remedy should be provided to re-
ieve those who are bearing an unjust
burden, and to provide for uniform
and equal rate of taxation, must be ap-
parent.
Board of Health.
l heartily approve the state board
of health as constituted, and be-
| heve that our only safety lies in our re-
tanning supreme sanitary control Since
the enactment of the law establishing
our state board of health, the employ
ment of competent state health officer
ten years ago and the enforcement of
the law our state has been immune from
yellow fever epidemics, save during the
year 1899. when our state control was
practically suspended by federal author.
ity. Our state being immune during
the entire period of the operation of our
state control, enabling our port cities to
increase in population and in wealth
during this period over 90 per cent and
our state to increase, under adverse cir
cumstanceS, more in population in the
past decade than any other state in the
union convinces me that we should sus.
tain our health laws.
Education.
! am in favor of the most liberal sup
port and development of the public
school system, and contemplate with
pride the record made in our state, and
hope to see an advance commensurate
with the necessities before US, extend
ing, if necessary, to the establishment
of night schools in such places as are
found advisable to meet a growing de-
mand, and the adoption Of the free
school book system in each of the coun.
ties Of the state.
These and other imDortaut Toottore