The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1906-11-23

IAB LB6LSL.AByAs S1yys.4 ASls
BY vote 81 neariy tWo 70 one the
people rejected the drainage amend
msnt. OF course many different rsa-
sons eontrfhuted 70 this result We
think the one tliat had the most weight
was the unWilIingness Of the people -
give the drainage commission the arbi-
traEy power they aSled.
These very same men under another
name are claiming and exercising
nearly all the vast powers they asked
the people to legitimate. Their pow
ers should be restrained, and 4 = the
duty of the Legislature 70 see that the
Trustees Of the Internal Improvement
Fund are hedged about by such re-
straints as will prevent the exercise Of
arbitrary powers and minimize the OPP
portunities Of graft.
This would Be the duty Of any legis-
lature. It Is especially the duty Of the
legislature that will meet next April
for the vote on drainage shows the
wishes of the people. 1t is equivalent
TO vote instructing the legislature to
act.
The legislature should 60 into q full
Investigation of the management of the
Internal Improvement Fund. The
Trustees have had unlimited opportu-
mites of graft. II none Of them have
availed themselves Of such opportunities
the proof Of the fact would set Flor
ida manhood on a pinnacle where the
whole world could SEGA state with such
high public ideals that, with success
sion Of officials unrestrained by law, no
one fell short of the dictates Of the
highest sense of honor. II any one has
been guilty he should suffer.
No innocent man will have reason to
oppose such an investigation. To such
a man It would only give certificate Of
the highest character. If any official
his opposition would be an indication of
those who prefer darkness to light pre-
fer it because their deeds are evil
The trustees themselves say that they
have been putting lands on the market
and withdrawing them from the market
without notice. They say they have
been guided only by their discretion in
making sales. The money they have
in their pos session is protected by no
bond and Governor BrOward vetoed a
bill requiring its deposit in the State
treasury, where it would have been
protected by the Treasurer's bond.
The board has used money without au-
thority of the Legislature, and Is using
it today in drainage without such au-
thority. ,e.1
The election held week ago shows
that the people cannot be stampeded by
the cry Of Railroadsl railroads.! and
made to serve the purposes Of design
ing demagogues; but this fact they
should remember: The railroads are not
concerned in any investigation Of the
Trustees of the Internal Improvement
Fund Vr any limitations Of their power
except as the people Of Florida are 30
The acts on which they
claim land from the State have already
been performed The consideration
which induced them to act was offered
by Legislatures long since dead That
matter Is closed so far as the people,
the Legislature and the State officials
are concerned, and II Is now In the
hands of the courts, the facts being un-
disputed, to be decided purely on CUES
tons Of law. The decisions Of the
courts will in no way be affected by any
attempts the people may make to secure
an honest and intelligent management
Of the internal Improvement fund
Times Union.
~~-~-~O~~N-~O~-N-NO~O~
Monday evening the drainage fight
and q few enthusiasts on
both sides were busy ali day Tuesday
for or against the amendment. Con-
Sidering the Importance of the issue,
how ever, there was very little interest
shown. The advocates Of amendment
had to contend with the same elements
here as elsewhere in the State-those
who oppose drainage, those who OPP
posed the amendment, those who OPP
pose the Governor personally, and the
small faction that can always
be relied upon to be against every
thing the Governor is for. "-St. Peters
burg Independent.
The Independent, which dates its de-
9otion to the drainage scheme from the
Fort Myers excursion, should not /e<-
pose its chagrin so plainly. The result
was inevitable. No ore with half a
grain of common sense expected it to
be otherwise. And the personal equa-
tiOE. of opposition to Broward person
ally" appeared throughout the contest
30 little that it required much effort on
MS part and on the part Of his advo-
'ates to make it appear at all II ever
. wNsaEI