The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1904-02-05

WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 26. 1901
hoh- W ;. Jennings, Tallahassee, Fla:
My Dear Sir-Nour letter of January ;
postmarked the 4th, reached me in Jack
scnville January ;. 1 would have replied
AZ once. but was prevented by an un-
ususl pressure Of public business, atten-
uon 10 which / regard as Of more impor-
lance than writing political letters
aNall myself OF the opportunity now. how
ever, and take Occasiun to give you some
attenuation about ms record, which you
seem 50 sadly TO need, and which will
serve, i hope, TO correct the astounding
statements YOU boast Of having made in
your recent public speeches.
take up your letter In the order OF its
statements.
In making the statement I did, viz,
governor Jennings says I have done
nothing since / have been in Congress %
there was no intention TO do you Injustice
Several gentlemen Of unouestioned integ-
rity and veracity informed me- both be-
fore and after the publication OF the Ocala
Banner letter, that you had said as much
20 them, and viii give you their names
should you desire u. While you disclaim
ever having used that language. fits sub
stance or equivalent. your letter to nv
mind Is In itself the equivalent of that
language
Ysu devote much space to the Florida
indian war claim. IL is a simple matter,
not mislead the public. The claim had been
standing for over forty years. The people
~ Florida know this, and they know too,
when and by whom the provision for its
payment was finally passed through Con-
Eress I have never claimed the credit for
myself. nor denied 10 others the credit due
them. You cannot go further than I in
commenting the earnest and intelligent
sdorts Of Senator Pasco and other mem
bers ~ both branches Of Congress who
preceded me here. I have stated repeatedly
that on entering Congress in 1899. found
On the Senate files. as result OF their
rainstaking work. much valuable data
which contributed no little - the passage
~ the measure. and. indeed. for nv part,
Z even accorded 10 YOU credit for the per.
tsnctory part YOU played in taking the
warrant home.
some Pertinent QuetiOns.
Are YOU taking especial pride in the fact
chat the Indian war claim was collected
curing your administrations And are YOU
pferinE that 20 the people Of Florida asI
something with which YOU are especially
- Do credited DO YOU forget. or did yOul
know. that Governor Drew and Governor
Rioxham. and Governor Perry. and Cow
srnor Fleming. and Governor Mitchell all
exercised the greatest energy in urging
this matter upon Congress. each In his
dav. and that an Of them. perhaps. made
greater effort In this direction than YOU
have been known 20 do? 10 YOU realize I
that On the claim was not collected during I
either 81 the administrations / have named 1
o was not the fault Of those distinguished I
aid much-lOved sons 81 Florida. and that
fhe final collection Of the claim reflects !
NJ more credit upon you than upon them?
Tn connection with this Indian war claim,
shv o. Do that YOU seek 20 have me say
that the aggregate Of the various appro-
rriations Tor Florida, viz, about A1o0O00,
would lower the taxes and lessen the
-. 1-r1nv
that Z confined my remarks specifically
o. the amount contemplated in the total
o. the Indian war claim. VIZ. and to be
exact. 81 .O72 930 66. The language Of my I,
letter quoted In yours, is plain and IN
r1Ietakahle. 7 mentioned that the total ap-
r~orrfatious obtained for Florida were
about g4100000 and then said:
This means more than s. per capita for
avery man. woman and child in the state
81 Florida. and the collection OF the IN !.
Eian war claim. provided the affairs OF
state are administered wisely and hon
estlv should have the effect Of lowering
taxes and lesseuIng the burdens OF all the I
People 4
reIterate TOW that every dollar 81 the
Indian War clair1-Sl .O73. S30 66-should have Z
70 erect % lowering taxes and lessening ,
the burdens 81 All the people; and. while /
7 Fid not say 80 then. 7 do say now that 8
every dollar % the total Of appropriations 5
for FLORIDA does its part In lesSening c
ere burdens 81 All the people L
no you contend that the Improvement I
- rivers and harbors does not make new ;
ana competing avenues 81 commerce anu :
tfrs lesser the rates Or freight /,
no YOU contend that high rates o.
freight are not n burden on al the peo- !
rie- I
. no ,ou contend that the money spent, |
slfhrr In improvements az this kind or :
anon hubble buildings does not add e. the :
prosperity ~ worl<men. artisans and con
ffartors does not find It's way into an :
avenues OF trade and does not lessen tn =
burdens ~ ail as well as add 20 the pros ;
rrrltv ~ ALL
TO Won contend that the eight dollars
-o-fh On pensions FOR the brave soldiers
NJ the Seminole Indian war Of 1858 who u
asked their lives On the common defense
ard the aged and Outlines destitute C
u-aou-s ~ tho soldiers Of that war Is no. n
|. solacp and n comfort 10 them In their ole n
49, and n lesseninE 81 their burdens p
strange Indeed. "
Tf YOU DO vour position is strange indeed.
- strange that 7 venture there are hut q
'eu m any. On Florida who Will agree win n
.,u hut 7 will admit that your confer b
son generally on this position is IN entire l
~ -rnorv with YOUR most unaccountabie a.
.f-fs-,e-t that OF the 81 o.. 93oS6 collected p
,~ account ~ the Indian War claim Only p
.r1 ggs fS applicable 90 lowering the taxes
- Iezesnfrc tho burdens Of all the peo- \
- ,-,- saw that bv Legislative action ~
mon 1-orr recounmendation. this was an 81
Sled 90 the States bonded debt DO YOU IN
-.,- 40 saw that n there had been. no .,
and no Legislative action ~
So state would not have been better or. =
- ne extent ~ the sum collected But tel -
no rleasp what became of the diHerence y.
,o-u-eoD that sum YOU mention and the y
4 ~. ar cra Was N not paid 20 the people. =
y F1o-iaa. either On money or by settle :,
ra~t 81 the states bonded Indebtedness -
= fbe Government and the accrued interest =
re-eo-7 And 81 50 paid. does not that =
rseen the burdens and lower the taxes % -
n the people? as
~. s,,te ov-es the national Government a
J. 800 ,vs Interest SSS0 1896. BY act OF -
'ourrcss. approved March lSss toefore -.
-v election 10 the Senate). the Secretary = =
r ne Treasury was authorized ana IL