The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-02-16
A CURIOUS STATEhEHT.

ness" Of the Internal Improvement
Fund operations during recent years IL
bearing fruit. The Board 0f Trustees
has just made public a statement pur-
porting to give in detail the particulars
Of It's transactions for the year 1906.
Heretofore II has contented itself with
the publication, every two years, Of a
sO-called report, briefly abstracting its
proceedings for the period Of two years,
and conveying but an imperfect idea Of
what 1t really has done. The present
statement is very different, but It is
confined chiefly to the subject of the
drainage Of the Everglades, and there
fore conveys the impression that its
purpose is simply to justify the opera
tions of the board with reference to
that particular scheme.
Our space forbids an extended and ex-
haustive review Of the statement, but
we desire TO call attention TO the fact
that, according 10 its figures, $48, AS. SIS
Of the total of 800, 5s5. Is, disbursements
Of the fund which it reports, has been
spent for drainage operation" in the
Everglades OF course, further expen-
ditures therefor have been forbidden by
the injunctions issued from the United
States court at the suit of the Southern
States Land and Timber Company and
others, and the mention Of this fact In
the statement bears all the earmarks
Of piteous complaint and protest, as If
the express purpose Of the statement
was TO argue the merits Of the injunc-
ton cases in the public prints.
Another remarkable feature of the
statement consists OF the fact that no
where does 1t make any mention of the
existence Of the act of the Legislature
Of 1903, 80 vitally affecting the status
and disposition of the moneys and lands
Of the funds, nor does 1t inform the pub
lie what steps, If any, the board has
taken to comply with the terms Of that
law. An abstract Of the provisions of
this act follows:
Section provides that call moneys
now in the !. |. Fund, after the pay
ment of all legal obligation" shall be
deposited in the State treasury and
placed to the credit Of the several coun-
ties Of the State "for the purpose of
constructing hard roads in said coun-
ties. -
Section provides that the proceeds
Of all sales Of "swamps and overlooked
lands made subsequent to the passage
Of the act shall be deposited in like
manner for the same purpose.
Section defines the manner in which
the funds so assigned to the use Of the
counties shall be transmitted to and dis
Dursed by their officials.
We desire to be distinctly understood
rs not in any manner aligning the True
Democrat in incorporating opposi-
ion to Governor Broward's Everglade
drainage scheme. 1t is, indeed, agrand
md extraordinary conception, almost
,qual in magnitude and grandeur to the
Panama Canal or Mr.. II. M Flagler's
abroad TO Key West. But we certain
y regard it as of doubtful possibility
With the means at hand, or in prospect,
or its accomplishment, evOn II the pro-
ect Of using all Of the ! | Fund
moneys, and the drainage taxes author
zed by the act Of 1905 could be carried
'ut. And so far al the moneys of the
FUND are concerned. the act Of 1908 for
lids such use thereof, while the ques-
ion OF the constitutionality Of the ,
rainage tax is yet TO be decided by the
ourts. The many millions of dollars {
1volved in the cost Of the scheme must ,
e produced from other sources, if at ,
H.
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According Co the Supreme Court de- $
ision on the Ruckmap law. the occupa- s
on Of the Trustees of the Internal n