The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-09-16
REPLIES To {
GOVERNOR's
AN 8 v { R
Tohn S. Beard Writes From
Tennessee In Reference
to Drainage Debate
Question.
ANSWER ANALYZED
Says Governor Misconstrues
the Meaning of the
Constitution.
WRITER STILL CONTENDS THAT
DRINAGE AMENDMENT is A
BAD ONE AND THAT PEOPLE
SHOULD VOTE IT DOWN-IF
GOVERNOR Is CORRECT AMEND.
MENT Is UNNECESSARY ANY.
WAY.

Sewanee, Tenn, Sept. ii, 1906.
Editor Pensacola Journal:
Please give me space in your col.
umns to reply 10 the open letter or
Governor Broward in the issue OF
your paper Of September 9th, purport-
ing to answer the question: While
the ownership of these Everglades
lands is matter of litigation in the'
courts, will il be wise TO spend the
peoples money in draining them, I'M
til such ownership is settled?"
After reading Governor Browards
letter most carefully / cannot see that
the question is answered. He firse
essays an answer by asking the fol.
lowing question: will Pensacola
wait to make improvements such as
paving, sewering, watering and light
ing your greatest thoroughfare, Pala-
fox street, until after all Of the litiga'
tons between claimants of lands along
the street are settled by the courts, or
will you do the work now and charge
It to the abutting property
To this question | ancwer, no. would
not wait until the title to the abutting
property is settled before taxing it and
SilOCt. iSul ~ ''S
title to Palafox street was in litiga-
ton, if there was grave doubt as to
whether Palafox street, when improv-
ed, would belong TO a railroad corpor-
alton or to the citizens of Pensacola
would certainly wait until the courts
had determined the title before tax
ing the people Of Pensacola TO I'M
prove Palafox street. SO, as 1t is the
title to the Everglades land that is in
dispute. and not the title 10 the lands
that are to be taxed to drain the EN.
erglades, | think it prudent and wise
to wait until the courts have held
that the title to the Everglades land
is in the people of the State of Flori-
day before taxing the people to drain
those lands.
The Trustees Obligation.
Governor Broward next attempts an
answer to the question by saying that
'the trustees have no election in tho
matter. They are obligated TO drain
and reclaim the Everglades, and cam
not escape this obligation, no matter
who may own the lands after they are
drained. This answer at best -
only confusing. From whence
springs this obligation? Governor
Broward does not tell us. We must
bear in mind that though the resulc
which the trustees are seeking to OBJ
tain Is the drainage OF the Everglades
that the question and the only ques'
ion now before the people Is the ex-
pediency and wisdom of ratifying the
TO Article XVI of the Com
of the State of Florida, pop
nlarly known as the Drainage Amend
nent. which amendment was proposed
Dy the last State Legislature and Is
designed 70 raise money by taxing the
people of the State to drain the Ever
ylades. This amendment creates a
drainage commission. constituted OF
he governor the encouragement, the
treasurer, the comptroller and the
of agriculture (the trus,
ees of the Internal Improvement
FUND.-. and vests this drainage com'
mission with the powers OF taxation
md places all of the money raised by
his taxation at the disposal OF these
irainage commissioners, without re-
luring bond or other security. These
irainage commissioners are not re-
lponsible or accountable in any way
lnder this proposed amendment for
he use and expenditure Of the money
,aised by the taxes imposed on the
,eople by these drainage commissions
RS. il this amendment Is ratified.
Not an Answer.
II Is no answer 10 say that the COM
will not impose this tax
Ipon the people of Middle, East and
Vest Florida. The question Is not.
will they do it?" but. rs 1t wise 10
i've the governor and four admins
rative officers of the executive depart.
nent the uncontrolled discretion and
over to do it?" Even II there were no
cubts as to the ownership of the Ev'
rglade lands, and the drainage were
8 feasible and practicable and the
inds a.. valuable as the governor tells
$. / think =. would be inadvisable 10
atify this amendment. | think that
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