The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-08-03
over 311s per cent, and In many cases 8

49, o72 POI SSht, ohu IL AAdhy cases q
per cent.
It is sound policy to utilize our rail-
ways to help every class to build Up
industries. to assist agriculturists to
ship to and from the seaboayd at low
rates and to insure travel at low fares.
Our revenue last yeae was between
E2,2000O0 and f2,3coOOO.
We have, spread the functions Of the
state materially. In 1891 we changed
the fiscal system. We abolished the
system Of taxation that relieved those
who held considerable interest in the
colony from contributing their full
share Of taxation and established a
graduated land and income tax. But
a man who had an income up to 1900
paid no income tax. A man who had
an income of $1,000 paid tax of six
pence on the pound and shilling per
pound on any excess of $1,000. This
was intended to relieve the worker
from contributing taxation under this
head. 1t is In our country one of those
anomalies Of the human system that
the larger families generally are to be
found among those receiving the small.
est income, and to meet this we put
It into shape that relief should be CIV
en- to the smaller wage Garner.
We exempt all improvements from
taxation. This is. an incentive to the
holders Of land to make improvements
and gives widespread employment.
1t has worked well, and in building
there has been almost revolution. Old
places have been pulled down and new
ones haye gone up. The rate Of or.
binary land taxation was "a penny q
pound, and we had a graduated tax,
increasing One-sixteenth of a penny a
pound when the value is $4,000 and
less than $1,000, and then that rate in
creases with the value Of the property
with maximum Of threepence to the
pound, which is payable when the
value is 100000 or exceeds that sum.
We introduced drastic legislation
governing factories, stipulated for
proper sanitary conditions and contin-
uous inspection. We Ak the number Of
hours per week that employees can
work, making heavy fines for viola
tons. At first this was opposed by
some employers, but others supported
1t warmly, and every intelligent per-
son recognized that il all factory own
ers were put upon the same footing
they had an opportunity of fair compe-
tition. The humane employer would
not subject his employees to a sweating
either in pay or hours.
We do not, as q government or as
people, do anything in the direction OF
trying to level people down. Our laws
affecting the regeneration of our coun-
try have gone toward making a purer
and better condition. Our people
give equal opportunity to all, In every
walk of life, to better their conditions
without doing it at the expense OF the
many. The laws have been intended
to improve their positions. They are
democrats in the truest sense OF the
term.
We have extended state ownership
in many other directions. We have
owned the whole Of the telegraphic
and telephone systems ever since the
country has had responsible govern
ment. We own the state life insurance
which has been very
great success. The profits are invest
ed for the benefit of the insurers, and
none Of the financial results are In any
way claimed or owned by the govern
ment, and, though there has been the
competition by foreign life companies.
the government life insurance holds Al
per cent of the total amount carried.
We have also established govern
ment lending department for advanc-
Ing money to settlers. This has low
cred the rates of interest on mortgages.
The department has loaned upward Of
e.. 100000 without single loss. We
have a government postofice savings
bank for deposits of any sum, and
there Is more than $500. 900 In this