The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-03-10
The "Mud Tax"

1T any TAX upon Iulb luuIBOTldul lu'
dustry can be lifted without an impair
ment OF governmental revenues 1t GER
talnly should be done, and II cont!n.
Ious lines OF improved Interstate high.
ways, as alleged, Will reduce the mud
tax" and the cost Of transportation Of
farm products from the farm 10 the
market Onc.half or One-ihrd. then
surely such improved roads ought 20
be given the agricultural interest with.
out argument or delay.
We have no fault to find with vast
appropriations for pensions, irrigation
schemes, waterways aud railroads. but
It is n crying shame that agriculture,
the monarch. industry, has scarcely
been noticed, nnd when II demands Of
the National Government what the In
divldual communities arc not nblc to
give--cOntlnuOus lines OF improved
hlghways-lts request should be an.
Swcred by large appropriations for
such continuous lines OF improved In.
terstate roads.
This Nation claims to lead in every
thing, and think Il does, for we have
the biggest rivers, the biggest trusts
and tho poorest roads on tHrth.
Surely the National Government
should always do those things that
make for the National welfare, ana
how could the National welfare be bet
ter promoted than by the National aid
for continuous lines Of improved inter
state highways?
BY such highways not only will trans
% o., 10, n,
facilitated, but such rOnds will make
for better education, more social ana
religious privileges, ana IN every way
tend 10 elevate the character OF our
rural population, on whom we, as
Nation, so largely depend.
How absurd II seems when we are
told that the National Government can
spend S25O,00O,O 900 to build one canal |
I'm Panama, and New York State an |
other S1O0,OOO,OOO for canal purposes. |
but that no money can be appropriated |
10 aid the great Industry agriculture |
upon which the prosperity OF the en-
tire country md these special interests |
IG"ts!
Were II not for the agricultural In |
terCsts, canals, rivers. harbOrs and rail- |
roads would be practically useless. for
without the products OF agriculture |
there would be little or nothing for |
them TO transport.
The National Goverrmcnt has ex- |
pended SIOO.O00OOO in improving |
waterways, while I'm capital and inter
est IL has aided railways to the extent |
OF Sl3S,OOOOOO, and In addition to on
courage railroad building, has given |
100 O0GO 900 acres OF the public land |
making n grand total value given for |
these objects OF not less than 81 800. |
100000 besides npproprintlng for irrl.
CATION schemes that the desert may |
blossom az the rose.
All these approprIN lions were made
from the peoples molry. We find no |
fnult because such appropriations have
been made, for we approve OF them
all. but we do find fault because the |
common rOnd, the most important fac
tor among them all, which mikes for
National prosperity, has been utterly
neglected.
Now abldeth waterways, railways
and highways. but tho greatest OF
these In highways.
Some wOuld.be fright minds assume
TO shy that Congress has not the power
to authorize outlays for rond improve
ment, because the Constitution does
not allow such appropriations.
In answer TO hat statement nll we
have to say II hat Congress and the
Constitution were created by tho people
and for the people, and that both Con
gross and the Constitution are simply
instruments 10 do the work aud bidding
OF the people,
All the money held or received by
the Nationnl Government Is the pco-
Plies money, mud do we not insist TINT
q man shall do what 40 wills with his
own when free from incumbra0ccsy
Has tho great sovereign people less
rights than the individuals
There are some tlmld pesslmlsts who
say the National Government IL not
able 10 undertake this grand and ncces.
sary work OF road Improvement.
History tells us that Moses sent spies
10 spy out the promised land. and be.
cauEe the people listened to the advice
Of timld and heartless leaders, they
were doomed to suffer the prIvations,
herdships and wanderlngs Of the desert
fcr forty long years.
But as the brave, farseeIng Joshua
and Caleb affirmed that they were then
able to so forward and pGbseSs the