The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-12-29

PRESENTED IN "PARALLEL THE EDEICATION
TALLAHASSEE VOTERS
Facts From the Record BY One Who
Knows, for True Democrat.

Every voter in Tallahassee knows, or
should know, that in regard to not a
single item of those eight enunciated
Issues" does the mayor Of Tallahassee
have the slightest official connection by
reason Of his incumbency of that Office.
He cannot fix the tax rate; he cannot
improve the streets and sidewalks; he
has no control over the police force; the
electric light plant is under the sole
jurisdiction Subject TO supervision by
the counciD Of Board Of Managers; a
council committee controls the fire de-
partment; a sanitary committee looks
after the matter of sanitation; every
body in the city desires publicity in
municipal affairs" but the mayor has
no especial power affecting it; all good
citizens wish to see good business
methods Of administration, but the
adoption thereof is a matter for the
council and not within the official prov
ince Of the mayor.
Any one may "arouse public spirit"
without having TO be elected as mayor.
Has this candidate, as a citizen, ever
succeeded in "arousing public spirit
on any tOpic-or even made an effort"
to do so? Why should he have waited
all these years? Can he do more as
mayor than he has done as a citizen?
Is not every citizen and tax payer in
terested, equally with this candidate, in
the reduction of the tax rate if that be
possible? Let him specify the method
he would pursue, as mayor, towards
this end The council fires the tar rate,
according to the requirements of the
city and the value of the taxable prop
erty, and the mayor has nothing to do
with it, officially.
What a spectacle this candidate would
make, starting out at daylight every
morning with shovel over his shoulder
to "improUe the streets!" That is
about ell any mayor can do, in that d.
rection, save by his personal influence
as citizen.
The electric light plant is admins
tered by an official board, subject only
to the council, with ample powers, and
under the strictest Of requirements es-
tablished by ordinance. The board is
amenable to inspection and investiga-
ton, by the council, or by any citizen,
at any time It's books and records are
open to the inspection of all. Com
plants may be made by any one. The
needs of the city and it's citizens are as
familiar to the members Of the board
as they could be to this candidate or to
any mayor.
OF course But what can a poor
mayor-or candidate for mayor-do
about it, all by his lonesome self?
Precisely But will this candidate
pledge" the payment of salaries to the
additional patrolmen he is so anxious to
have employed? The council will have
something to say about any other
method Of enlarging the force.
Well, now, when this candidate, in
his platform, begins to talk about
publicity in public affairs" they do
get right close to the favorte theories
of we people and The True Democrat,
sure enough. That's our strong point
We believe in it, We practice as well
as preach it. We urge it upon our
whole people But we must say that
so far as this candidate and his sponsors
are concerned, the doctrine sounds
queer, If not homogeneous, considering
the fact that the sponsor is generally
reputcd to possess absolute control over
two alleged newspapers published in
this county. neither of which has ever
had word to say about the public
| ity" which for several months has been
given by The True Democrat to matters
of great public interest to the people Of
the whole State, and which transactions
were alleged and proven to have oc-
Cured.
-r--4---.-. 100000
One Of the hopes that the future holds
out is that of deep water and a good
harbor at Carrabelle. II such should
come about there is no doubt that Thorn
asVille would Immediately feel the ben