The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-06-08

Improvement to the land by the individual corpora
The proposed amendment WHICH ygp are e vote upon
at the next general election to be held next
Commission the power Is seize s such right 81 way for
canals drains, ETC.. in such amounts as the commission
deems necessary for its purpose pending
The jury in estimating the compensation to be paid
for such land right Of must take into cohsdera
reason of the drainage of the land This land or right
of way be taken by the drainage commission before
4 is paid forf ever paid for The Jury can under this
derived by the drainage Offset for the right OF
way. Nor is that ALL. This proposed amendment gives
the Legislature the power to tax the benefit to be de-
rived By the owner of the lands from the drainage
Think of it, my frends-- is practically double taxa
ton The jury in the contemplation proceedings re-
by as much as the Jury believes the lands enhanced
in value by the drainage and then the tax assessor as
drainage commission tax the enhanced value of the
landsI But still that is not ALL The Drainage Commits
drainage district and tax every of land in the
State ten cents acre regardless OF its value prox
unity to the place to be drained! ~ 0oepo obay
This tax for the purpose of drainage is paramount
to every other tax under this constitutional amendment
and all of this power is given for the purpose Of drain
ing lands when no one knows when this land drained
mately belong to the people the legislative grantees
the railroad and canal companies % ~, a.. ,.e
repeat that at best this constitutional amendment
in these gentlemen unlimited discretion and dam
gerous power. -,.', srg -
Now my friends you know what position l take upon
this amendment have already told you that the lands
held by the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund
amount to less than three million If they drain
Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades it will make three
cordma to e gut b Internal mr.
ment Trustees Now the aggregate of the lands granted
to the different railroad companies by the Legislature
and which they will get if the courts ultimately decide
that the Legislature had the right make these grants
is seven million acresa million more than we will have,
even if the drrinage scheme is contaminated ',.. "a.
yy fnot fha tstr find fnoft
lands belong to the railroad companies that the present
act of the Internal Trustees their present intention of
imposing this expense upon the tax payers is to say
the least, premature and nexpedent, and do not be-
eve that any who has the interests of the tax pay
ers the interests of the people at heart should lend any
assistance to that scheme but upon the contrary should
Now fellow-citzens this is the most important ques-
ton think likely to occupy the attention of the Leg
AS have told you that differ with Governor Broward
and the trustees it is proper for me to say mean no
reflection upon Governor Broward have great respect
for and perfect confidence in him and sincerely friendly
feeling for him. believe Governor Broward to be as
sincere, honest, patriotic and courageous in what he
conceves to be his duty as any man who ever sat in the
gubernatoral chair Of the State of Florida But do
most ST. my OeeYe bU 6s b SS os KEN
fortunate the selection of of his advisers They
have advised him wrong and he making most colos-
sal mistake in this effort to drain the Everglades and
Lake Okeechobee this expense not knowing
to whom the land will belong when drained.
Therefore, advise every within the sound of my
voice next November his vote against the ratih
cation of the constitutional amendment known as the
Drainage Constitutional Amendment which gives the
power of which have told you to this commission to
further this scheme. ......g ..o.i...-a .,.-....
We should wait until the courts Of final jurisdiction
have decided tOwhOm these lands belong If the courts
ultimately uphold the contentious of the trusteesf
these lands in the last analysis, belong to the peo-
plethen it is time enough for to consider from the
report of competent engineers the practicabty and
feasibility together with the cost and resulting benefits
lof drainage.
Since reaching my majority, my every vote has been
IpaSt candidates /
honestly believed be the sincere friends of the people
have the stump and otherwise, always and at all
times advocated and defended those measures which
honestly believed to be in the interest Of the whole
IF unvS