The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-10-12


his speech on the drainage question,
which could be reduced to one hour If
he would leave of the abuse of the
railroads and newspapers. We grant
that there is merit in his drainage
scheme, but not sufficient merit to JUS
tify surrendering to the drainage board
the unlimited powers which are carried
in the drainage amendment to the Con-
stltution. -Manatee Journal.
We would vote against the proposed
drainage amendment forno other reason
than that it makes of the highest Off
Gals Of our State a close corporation,
amenable to no one, with autOcratic
power to ride rough shod over the heads
Of the people Of the State at their will.
Though we see no need for all this ex-
pendture, we would say let the drain
age board be men holding no public Of
fee, we'll settled conservative business
men Of education and years of educa-
ton and years of experience. - Lake
Eustis Region
1t is TO be hoped that a majority Of the
people of Florida will not vote at the
coming election to pass an amendment
to the constitution which will enable
five officers Of the State TO become the
peoples masters, with no one having
the power to call said officials to account
for their acts. The voters of Florida
will please bear in mind that if you pass
the drainage amendment, you place in
the hands Of five men the absolute pow
er to do as they please with the lands
and money belonging to this internal
improvement fund. These men will be
accountable TO no one for their official
doings The time was when public Of
ficals considered that they werei the
servants of the people. Things are
now changed and some men want the
people to clothe them with more power
than any political bosses" have ever
possessed Florida Star.
The adoption of the drainage amend
ment to the constitution will take load
Of responsibility off the Legislature,
for that august body, supposed to have
something to do with regulating things
in this State, will have no authority !
whatever in the premises, and the
Board of Drainage Commissioners will
be in effect an independent government |
in the commonwealth Of Florida. By |
virtue of its organic creation, it will be
responsible toitself alone, and the Leg |
islature will have no more authority to |
check it, or regulate it, than to amend .
the constitution itself. That's too much
power TO put in the hands Of five men |
entrusted with the handling of large
sums Of money collected as taxes from |
the people and under no bond for the
faithful performance of duty. That
would be all right in bureaucratic Rus
STA, but it looks all wrong in democratic
Florida. Live Oak Democrat.
In the scheme proposed by the drain
age amendment the collectors are re-
HullSu pay ONti w JlS ri aildbG DOdIu
the acreage tax and other amounts col
lected from the liens by this amend
ment, and not to pay the same to the
State and county treasurers. No par
ticular officer is named in the amend
ment who shall receipt for and become
responsible for these taxes, or who is
required to give a bond or other secu-
rity to account Cor this money. The
amendment has not provided for any
auditing of or accounting for these
funds The State Treasurer is a mem
Der of the board, but he does rot there
by become also treasurer of the board |
on occount of his Office. There is alb |
soutely no provision in the amendment
for safeguarding or protecting this
money, If there were no other reason .
for defeating the amendment, these de- /
fects just stated would be sufficient to .
REQUIRE its defeat. st. Augustine Rec /.
ord.
The proposed Constitutional Amend /
ment to Section 9, of the Constitution /
to pay our Supreme and Circuit judges .
better salaries, is one there is justice /
in, as il requires the services of the
host ln vyvnrs apd almost II NOT avorv /