The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-09-01
Fourth Page
Our Drainage Primer

some OF the things you told me about drainage. II
were not for the discussion that has been going
on, ana the things you have read to me out OF the
newspapers. see that Governor Broward and
Mr.. John Beard had a debate in Pensacola, which
brought out many OF the points on both sides.
There are some things that don't understand
yet, which wish you would explain to me-
Pa.-All right, Algy, fire away. and Ill do the
best can to enlighten you.
Agy.-What want to know first is who's going
to pay the tax for draining these lands In the
Everglades. Mr.. Beard said the whole State, and
/ believe you told me that the Times-Union and
other newspapers opposing the Constitutional
Amendment for drainage, are now saying this.
Pa.-Well, Algy, that question Is dead easy.
Those people WHO OWN LANDS IN THE
DRAINAGE DISTRICT ARE THE ONLY ONES
ASKED TO PAY THE DRAINAGE TAX.
Algy-What do you mean by drainage district?
Pa.-By drainage district mean that portion Of
the State which the Trustees acting as Drainage
Commissioners under the drainage law passed at
the last session OF the Legislature, have now laid
out, which consists OF parts OF Osceola, Dade De-
Soto, Lee, Monroe and Manatee counties.
Algy-Then the people living in these counties
mentioned or, In other words, In those parts Of
these six counties included In the lines laid out as
the drainage district, are the only ones who will
be called on to pay the drainage tax for draining
the Everglades?
Pal mean just tnat Algernon. and nothing
more.
Algy-But, pa, Mr.. Beard said that the Trus
out drainage districts all over the State; In Els
Gambia County, or In Madison County. and could
collect the tax and use this money for draining
the Everglades Can they do It!
Pa-Oh, yes, my son. they can do It all right
but the question is. WILL they do 1t, and the an
swer is, THEY WON'T DO 1T.
Algy-Why won't they do IT.
Pa.-They won't do 1t because 1t would be an
improper, unjust and unreasonable thing for them
to do. People who are elected to ONCE as a rule
are disposed to do the right thing and will not use
the power conferred on them by the people, i'm
properly. Public officers have great deal OF
power conferred on them which they could misuse.
In order to have government effective 1t Is neces
sary to clothe executive officers with power.
Algy.-You mean by this, pa, that the people
are obliged to trust the men whom they put In Of
fee to considerable extent?
Pal meant just that Algy and In the case OF
these Drainage Commissioners the thing that will
prevent them from laying out drainage districts
in places where drainage Is not needed and collect
ing the tax and dumping It into the Everglades, Is
the same thing that prevents the Tax Assessors OF
the various counties from increasing the assess
ment on the property OF the people they don't like
and lowing 1t on the property OF people they do
like. It's the same thing that prevents the COun
ty Commissioners from Incorporating money
entrusted to their care It's the same thing that
prevents the County Treasurers or the State
Treasurer, from running on with the public
money. It's the same thing that prevents the
Governor from Withholding appointment from
people who are selected In the primaries for APP
pointive Offices whom he don't like and giving
them to people whom he does. In other words, 1t
ia the thing called conscience, which prevents
men from doing wrong even though they have the
power to do It. Il is the thing that society Is
based on, without which there would be no so.
ciety no government, and no anything else, but
anarchy, riot and confusion.
Algy-Well, think I'm satisfied now that 1t Is
only the people owning land In the drainage dis
trict, including the Everglades. who are going to
be asked to pay for draining the Everglades
MAI a. 1rwnxx Do rkN thnOn
are.
Pa--Well my son, these people are divided,
like Gau into three parts. First. the large land
syndicates, who own 100000 acres OF land In the
drainage district, who will be called on to put up
100000 nickes; second, the Trustees holding
the land which belongs to the people. who will be
called on to put up 2.S62000 nickels for the
2,S62,00O acres which they hold; third, the indi-
vidual land owners, owning from 40 acres up to
$1,000 acres each, who will be called on to put up
40 nickels and up to $1,000 nickels. according to