The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-06-29
EDITOR SENATORS ON DRAINAGE.

EDITOR SENATOR'S ON DRAINAGE.
The Gainesville Sun. whose editor is
q useful Senator, copies the following
sensible and timely article from the
Bradentown Herald, whose editor is
also an influential and valuable Senator
next time 70 serve at his second session:
A number of members of the Legis-
lature of 1905 voted for Governor Brow
ards drainage bill simply because they
believed he mad been elected on that is-
sue and should be given an opportunity
to demonstrate its practicability. SEN
atOr j. II Humphries, who represents
DeSOto and Manatee counties, was one
who took this view Of the question, and
in the last issue of the Bradentown
Herald he refers to the subject as fol-
lows: ..E
THE Herald in the campaign of 1904,
AZ is well known, did not support Gov
ernor Broward, but was for X. w. Da-
Wis, man who, though beaten at last,
was known to the Herald as a safe and
brainy man to whose care the best in
terests Of Florida might be safely en-
trusted.
"But when Governor Broward was
elected and inaugurated, we, as loyal
Democrats, yielded to him our most cor
dial support. We even went so far as
TO give our sanction to his drainage
scheme. And this we did not withdraw
until after the matter had gotten be-
fore the United States court and that
tribunal had sustained to a material ex-
tent the contention of those who had
opposed it from the start. Then we
were forced to look into the matter
more closely in order to express an in
telligent opinion to those who looked to
as for information as to the real status
of the case.
1--WE early learned that the Governor
was making the mistake Of setting up
his opinions, supported by his interested
councillors, against that of the courts
Still adhering to what we conceived TO
be our duty, we mildly cOunselled eau
ton and the suspension of all work on
the scheme until the suits already in
court could be brought to an issue and
trial, and the merits determined, so
that the Governor could know just what
his powers were before jeopardizing the
States money and credit
cit seems that the Governor could
not, or would not, take the safe, If not
the only sensible course, but with his
peculiar filibustering bent, decided to
proceed with this gigantic undertaking
without any regard for the courts at
all.
"This aroused the whole State to
more critical investigation as to what
was going on, and at last resulted in
the campaign that is now distracting
the State. And unfortunately for Gov
ernor Broward, the opinion is being
formed that there is syndicate of land
sharks formed, who, by the ways that
are dark and tricks that are vain have
pushed the Governor into methods that
are, to say the least, very peculiar |
After passing the drainage bill, it was
so apparently unconstitutional that they |
framed a constitutional amendment, |
which it is hoped can be forced down |
the peoples thrOats, to make a law en- |
acted two years before a valid law DO |
the lawyers in the Legislature, or the |
members generally, know the meaning |
Of retroactive action? Have they ever |
herd of any State that has passed a |
code of void laws and then made them |
valid by making amendments to their |
con Tuition? Have they ever learned |
the legal Interpretation Of void and void |
able? If there is any of them that |
think they have, il certainly is here in
the State Of Florida. For nowhere else |
is such thing possible. Even our
young school boys know the distinction |
between constitutional powers and leg |
islative powers, even if some old fly
blown jurist has said that the constitu-
tion provides so and so.
But there has been horde of use
less Offices and officers, with fat salaries
annexed, that have influence, fixed up
to bleed the State. We cant believe
that Governor Broward has willingly
walked into the trap thus set for his
unwary feet. But, be that as it may,
the masses are looking to the incoming
Legislature to look into this unholy al
lance who now, though nesting in Jack
sonville, have their hadns upon the Gov
ernOr, and to snatch him as a brand
from the burning, and put brake on
their schemes until the question can
again be sent before the people"
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Stimulation without Irritation.
In case Of stomach and liver trouble
the prODpr treatment is 10 stimulate |