The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-09-29
ADOUBTTUL pOLTCY.

terest OF the public, which this paper II
endeavoring to serve In that event II
would be called upon TO do so and would
have no choice but TO obey the sum-
mons. The purpose Of this article, how
ever, IL not TO criticise, simply to call
attention to what appears TO be a glar-
ing Inconsistency the hope that it
can be satisfactorily explained.
Everybody in the State who has kept
pace with events Of public nature are
familiar with the nauseating subter-
fuge resorted TO by the jennings adj
ministration, when on it's last legs, !"
to have itself regarded as an economical
administration, while, unless all signs
fail, it was ruthlessly plundering the
people and turning it's most sacred
trusts into machines for graft, the mag
Ditude and infamy Of which was never
before known in the State-not even
during the Harrison Reed administra-
ton.
They recall how jennings went off TO
BrOoksville, and the Comptroller wrote
him at that place, employing his most
jlngoistic platitudes, informing him that
mis- wise and economic administrator"
had 30 increased the surplus in the
treasury that it were possible at that
time 10 reduce the rate Of taxation for
general revenue purposes TO a figure
much lower than had ever before been
known in the State one mill
They also recall how eagerly the Gov
ernOr (Jennings) "grasped his pen TO
write the Comptroller directing him to
make the reduction so per cent lower
than recommended by his Comptroller
One-half Of one per cent and how he
labored in the said communication (of
course, the laboring was all done before
he left the capitoD to make the dear
people" understand that this condition |
of affairs had been brought about solely
by the wise administration Of their at. |
fairs, fundamentally, at least con-
graduated them upon having one of his
ability to so manage for them
These two worthless knew at the time,
too (Which the people were not expected
to know, that these Flush" times had
been brought about by the work of
other administrations for years back,
and only eliminated or bore fruit at
this particular time. They also knew
that these conditions were only tempo
rary and that the levy would not be
sufficient and would have to be in
creased this year.
What they did not know, however,
WIS that the present administration
would add TO the general revenue fund
at the expense Of the pension fund.
That was a revelation TO be made to
them by the letters familiar In tone) |
passed between the Comptroller and
Governor q short time ago
In these communications. which we
have published in full and which are yet
too fresh in the minds Of the people to
make II necessary to do more than re-
fer TO them here, 1t will be recalled that
JHt NONtIHoI wan IlluIHltu lHdI nc
would be justified in reducing the pen
sion tax and that he so ordered.
Now, to the point
What are the facts in the case?
Is il not a fact that a great many
pension claims are lying in the capitol
Enacted upon because there are no funds
10 pay them? Is it not fact that this
very excuse is given for not allowing
hem?
We assert most emphatically, and
ipon unquestionable authority. that
'uch il the case.
Then why II II so?
Is it right to try to gull the people
n comm an gwine?"
If the old soldiers and their widows
ire entitled to a pension, give it TO
hem, instead OF filching the provision
made for their maintenance by wise
legislature 70 cover up political jug
fling with tax figures
II they are not entitled TO these pen
lions, is II not due them that their
.laims should be passed upon and they
,e informed why they do not get the
pension?
A cabinet officer recently remarked
., .,,,H that 4,