The weekly true Democrat., 1905-06-16
WHY DID THEY Do TIT

the nays VOUeO against Al1ONlnR Llt
matter (of the WALES claim) 10 come
up in our State courts on it's merits
and asks, "Do they fear that WALES
can establish his claim7"
As to the motive underlying any
members vote, the general public and
the press should not, In courtesy, in
quire Whatever right TO do 80 belongs
TO his immediate constituents, and sec
ondary only to the whole people when
the result affects them as a whole.
This result occurred in the matter of
the Wales claim, and every citizen of
Florida, being directly affected, has the
right to know, of those who acted in
the matter, precisely why they acted
as they did.
Whether this laudable and legitimate
curiosity will ever be satisfied by those
whose acts are thus questioned is
another matter, and one purely of spec
ulation
II one who voted to close the doors Of
justice against Col. Wales should say
that he did 30 because he believed the
claim TO be without merit or fraudu-
lent, and that the State does not owe
Col. WALES anything, did he not usurp
the judicial prerOgative, and decide a
question Of law which was only proper
ly TO be decided by the courts.
II one says that while he acknowled-
ged the existence Of a valid contract
upon which the claim Is based, he be-
lieved that only a small part of the
amount claimed Is due, Snd that Col.
WALES should have been satisfied with
the sum which the Legislature of 1903
awarded TO him, (abOut 10 per cent Of
the face Of the claim, then did he not,
like that Legislature, usurp the funC-
tions of an impartial jury, organized
under due form Of law, and sworn TO
do justice between parties ltigant ac-
cording to the rules and principles gov
erning judicial prOcedure7
The fact Is, that the trouble connect
ed with the WALES claim is just begin.
ming AS the correspondent above
quoted aptly remarks: The courts
ought to be allowed to let any honest
man present his claims, and no honest
man ought to object to an honest, legal
claim being paid. No business man
would consent TO have his mercantile
claims go before the Legislature; no
man would want TO advance money 70
the State under these conditions.
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The second committee appointed by
the Legislature to investigate the State
insane asylum and the report of the
first committee reported on Thursday
OF last week entirely exOnerating the
Board Of Commissioners of State Insti-
tutiOns, the superintendent of the
asylum and the female attaches. The
report was unanimously adopted by the
Legislature, thereby throwing q cloud
upon the report of the first committee.
Hon. G. S. Wilson, of fernando county,
was a member of the second committee.
Brooksville Argus.
Quite 80, but ex-Gov. Jennings and
Hon. A. G. Groom, two very influential
members Of the Board, the two who
possibly more than any other members,
had supervision over the management
Of the asylum, and DR.. Gwynn, the
superintendent of the asylum, all these
hailed from fernando county. and the
latter two were appointed by the gov
ernor. Further comment would be
superfluous,
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The Buckman bill, which has passed
both houses and been signed by Gov
ernOr Broward. puts enormous power
into the hands of the executive which no
doubt, will be exercised by Governor
Broward with the most conscientious
care and deliberation. II is of the
greatest Importance that the State
Board of Control, TO be appointed by
the Governor, absolutely should be q
body Of upright, competent and un-
trammelled men. To this end the Trib-
une urges that the Governor should not
appoint on 1t any member of the Legis-
lature who might be biased for or
against any practical location for either
Of the State Colleges, or any one who Ia
interested financially in any town likely
to become a competitor for said lOca-
tion. Tampa Tribune.
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