The Pensacola journal., 1907-06-05

account of the insiStence of the voice
OF truth crying out TO be heard
Every time Senators or house mem
! berS not friendly 10 drainage ran up
against the governor he showed them
a new drainage act which he had pre-
pared and the map (and maps, be il
remembered. are BrOward'S s long suit
showing the area 10 be included in
the drainage district.
II they expressed doubt as 10 the
prOpriety of introducing that bill az
this time the governor would say
[ things like this:
Still Fighting.
Do not imagine that | have stopped
lighting for this proposition l do not
purpose TO be beat by people who
are permitted by their self interests
TO oppose a meritOrious proposition
I like this. When | stop on this prop
OsitiOn it will be when the clods are
| falling on my coffin. Pass this bill
at this session of the legislature il
you want TO serve the-peOple of Flor
ida. Fail TO pass ii, and Twill stump
the state IUr one end Of 1t to the
other, and take time enough to cover
every precinct and at the end of that
I will call the legislature together,
and have in my pocket instructions in
the shape of resolutions adopted at
mass meetings that | will address, di-
recting the legislature to pass the
drainage bill.
All got this kind of doctrine and
finally Wednesday O. this week the
white flag of surrender went up. and
the senate in which a mbinatiOn
was reported TO have been made
against the governor, let the word so
around that drainage legislation as
proposed by the governor would be
adopted.
When the bill came up for cOnsid-
GRAFTON in the senate Thursday, the
remnant of the opposition fought
valiantly to MAIN or kill it. Every
one of these were voted down. de
spite the earnest pleas of Senators
Humphries, Senator Henderson, Sen
atOr Harris, Senator Johnson and Sen
ator Beard.
And Friday the bill passed the SEN
ate after a two days fight.
And the bill went TO third reading
and will become a law for the house
is waiting for the chance to pass it
under suspension of rules. and Brow
ard is still talking drainage.
The area included in the drainage
district prescribed in the new drain
age law contains an area of a little
over four million acres, which is as
large as Massachusetts and Rhode
Island.
1t materially reduces the area COM
prised in the Old drainage district and
no land is included in the new drain
age district except land actually over
flowed. There are no owners Of land
in the new district to be taxed. except
those who derive their title by gift OF
previous legislatures cOnsummated by
deeds from former trustees. There
can be no question raised as to un-
necessary power given to the trustees
nor can there be suggested that any
one may be taxed under this law eX-
cept those whose lands will be direct
ly benefited.
There is no longer any question
about drainage.
It will be accom- pliShed.
Nothing can stop it.
Courts cannot interfere. AnOJhCE |
legislature does not convene fJr twG /.
years and with the money derived /
from the taxes raised under IhI= -
the trustees will be able to MAKE p .
demonstration of the practiCa5ilirN, /
desirability and the para
mount importance Of this undertaking /
that will compel every dOu6tins
Thomas to hold his peace-and Brow
ard is still talking drainage.