The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-11-02
A stron6 Inaict@snf AGAINST ths
~ AMenamant.
Jacksonville. Fla. Oct. q. 1905.

StSCVOfb Oh ElOflOa W pass upOug III
many years, than the proposed drain
age amendment to the Constitution
1t h of so much Importance that it
should not be considered from tie
standpoint Of fractional politics, o
how It may effect the political status
of any official or individual, but only
that of interest to the people of the
State. Without other interest than
love of my native state and her people
who have bestowed npon me high hon
ors, have thought it proper to give
some brief expression of my views on
the subject.
l am opposed to the amendment for
the following reasons
L. do not think that the Everglades
can be drained so as to become avail
able for cultivation without the expen-
diture Of larger sum of money than it
is practicable for the state to raise
without the serious oppression of a
large number of her citizens.
2. 1t is not the part Of wisdom to
spend money on drainage while the
very lands sought to be drained are in
litigation, claimed by various compa-
MES under legislative land grants.
Many lawyers are of the opinion that
by vesting the legal title of the swamp
lands in the Internal Improvement
Board, the legislature did not divest
itself of the power of further controll-
ing the disposition of the lands.
Whether or not this opinion is sound,
it is better to suspend operations until
the courts have finally decided.
3. The proposed amendment would
-eombine in five individuals the legisla-
tive powers of levying taxes, the exec
utive powers Of carrying on drainage
operations and expanding the mon
les raised by taxation, and the quasi
judicial powers of determining what
lands they will class as alluvial or
swamp and overlooked. This is con-
trary to the principles of republican
form government, which is careful to
keep those three departments separate
and distinct.
A. The powers vested in the drainage
commissioners are without those limi-
tations which are necessary for safety.
The uncontrolled handling Of vast sums
of money which W uld go into their
hands might develop a political ma
chine of proportions greatly to the in
jury of our people, without questioning
the integrity of the present board, we
cannot know who will be their success
sors or fill their places in after years.
g. The taxation feature would abro-
gate to that extent the clause of the
constitution, as it now exists, requiring
"a uniform and equal rate of taxation"
BY the proposed amendment the board
of drainage commissioners "are author
lied and empowered to establish drain
age districts and fix the boundaries
thereof to prepare a list
or lists Of all the alluvial or swamp and
overlooked lands within such drainage
districts and levy thereon a acreage tax
not exceeding ten cents per acre, to be
fixed annually" 1t is made the duty
of the respective collectors to collect
smah tax. There is no limit to the con-
tinuation of such annual assessments,
nor is there any restriction to the ex-
tent of the drainage district. The
lands to be taxed may be ten, fifty or
hundred miles from the lands drained,
they may not be benefited in the slight
est by the drainage operations, or the
. owner might not want his lands drained,
yet if they lie within the drainage dis
trict and are listed for taxation by the
commissioners, he must pay the tax as
long as it is assessed or suffer his lands
to be confiscated. II ones lands were
listed for drainage taxation that are
not in fact alluvial, swamp or over
flowed (Which ] am informed has been
done in some cases), it is very doubtful
whether the owner would have any re-
lief as against such action Of the COM
, missioners. The taxation Is not accord
ing to value. A, who may own 500
acres Of land worth $500. 90 has to pay
the same tax that B pays on 500 acres
of land worth $2,50O.00, II both tracts
are listed for taxation in the same