The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-01-18
EXPENDITURES OF 1HE 1. 1. BOARD.

Board, says Our experience in seek
ing information from the |. /. Board,
now dOuble-barrelled with the drainage
board, has been enough, and besides do
YOU not remember a resolution Of that
board, which requires that no Che "a.
have access 70 or information from I'M
less furnished by the board, or some
thing to that effect
1.-The Journal is not exactly satisfied
with this statement Of the case. Edi-
tor Collins should go about this matter
in a definite way Of course it is no
more his business 70 publish these
items than that Of any other person,
but he is on the ground and has ex-
pressed desire 20 know how this
money is being spent, and we thought
that ne would be better person te get
up the data than any newspaper man
we know.
ave suggest 20 the editor Of the
True Democrat that he make request
on the board for this information, and
il they refuse 70 let him have he can
tell US why il is not forthcoming, but
we feel sure that the board would not
refuse 10 give the information without
giving valid reason therefor, and
when this reason is published the peO-
pie can Dt the JuuKtb WUtJUeI TIC
bOard's reason is sufficient or not.
1.-The reference 20 resolution Of the
board, made by the True Democfat, is
very indefinite, and the editor Of the
True Democrat himself does not seem
10 know what the resolution is Now
the best way TO get light on this ques-
ton is for him 10 go down 70 the eXecu-
tive office, or wherever the headquar-
49, g Il DOT. MI s,gk m, "a
COPY Of il. II the Internal Improve
ment Board Of Florida has decided by
resolution, or motion, or in any other
way, 10 prohibit an inspection Of its rec
Ords it is high time the people Of Flor
ida were knowing it.
eve cannot believe but that the
board will allow an inspection Of all its
records, and we believe that if Editor
Collins makes the proper demand for
these records he will be given them
He is a tax payer Of the State, and as
such is entitled 70 all the privileges Of
every other citizen, and one Of these
privileges is the access 20 all the public
records Of the State. II cannot be
doubted for an instant that the records
Of the Board Of Internal improvements
are public records, and we believe that
there are many people in Florida who
would be glad 70 know where the money
in this fund has gone, and for what
purposes, during the past few years.
1T is true the Legislature has the
power 10 investigate this board but it
should not require legislative investi-
cation To compel it to allow the inspec-
ton Of it's records, which are necessar-
lily public records II will be remem-
bered that at the last session of the
Legislature bill was passed abOlishing
the office Of secretary and treasurer of
this board, and providing for the inspec-
ton OF It's records, but this bill was We
tOed by Governor BrOward.
when the Legislature meets in April
these bills will be sent to the House of
Representatives by the Secretary Of
State for disposition, and it is possible
they may both be passed over the Gov
ernOr's veto. 1t would certainly be
more appropriate for this board TO take
the people Of Florida into its confidence
in these matters than TO force the Leg
islature TO pass these measures over
the Governors veto and accomplish
that which the board can, in part, ac-
cOmplish Of It's own free will. - Pensa-
cola Journal, 18th.
lUS lIuo DelHOCIdt lully TehHH0b JH6
difficulty experienced by editors and
others throughout the State in obtain
ing trustworthy information concerning
the conduct Of the public business at
the Capitol. It was partly with 4 view
to correct this that the True Democrat
was established, and we therefore real
ise the right Of the JOurnrl, and of all
others seeking such information, to call
upon Us freely, at any time, therefor
and we renew our promise TO fulfill
their desires as faithfully as circum-
stances will permit.
In attempting to obtain information
concerning the proceedings Of the
Trustees Of the Internal Improvement
Fund we have been met by the citation
Of certain resolutions of the board.
adopted October 20, 1904, which are
still in force, and a copy OF which fol-
lows:
Resolved, That upon request for any
concerning the affairs, files |
or records OF the Trustees Of the Inter !
nal Improvement Fund, that said re-
quest be referred to the Trustees for
permission or direction relative thereto, |
prior TO the furnishing of any data,
copies OF records, deeds, plats or maps, |
relative 20 the Internal Improvement |
Fund, under said request
That when cODipa Of liata mr. doOds or