The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1907-06-21
ProdIGaIity and ParsImOny.
lst. Augustlne Record, lsth. }

The Governor and others interested
protested the utmost willingness TO
have all the transactions Of the Board
Of Internal Improvement investigated,
but denied the authority Of the Legis-
lature; when the test came they did not
contest the point Of authority, but de-
lays seemed interminable both before
and after the appointment Of the com
mittee. After the committee had been
named and had made satisfactory pro-
Rress, can any explanation be made that
will satisfy an impartial critic Of the
discharge Of the committee and the
election of another composed Of the
Governors friends From the whole
State comes the charge 81 did not
believe anything was wrong before, but
now suspect 'nigger in the wood
pile will be found when he is really
looked for" II Is only TO be regretted
that ten thousand dollars Of the public
money will be wasted in an attempt TO
throw dust in the eyes Of the people.
Why deny aid 10 immigration and waste
thousands In q pTetence?
The books are all right, the vouchers
will all be found, but what the people
want 10 know is why land Is denied to
one man and sold TO another why A is
denied for one price what is given TO
b for q smaller price why the Cover
nor Ia 90 anxious 10 make land for the
people IN the Everglades while they lose
land In Taylor county. II explanations
can be found on these points there Is no
need TO use the money appropriation
an investigation. II the committee
doesn't want 10 answer these questions
II can spare US It's report. The knowl-
edge is due the people-it is Of their
own business and their own money
they ask an accounting will they get
hI
II the drainage IL to be continued they
have the right 10 know what is the es-
innate of cost: Of time; Of work to be
done. They have the right TO know
where the money Is 70 be got; who Is
70 be responsible for the exDenditur
and whether the Swayne decision Is to
be respected In spirit as well as In
form. They are not asking for infOr-
nation as TO personal or private but as
TO public money; this Is their business.
n the Trustees have abandoned their
claim Of independence and II they ac-
knowledge the right of the Legislature
10 inquire into their doings they must
admit the right Of the people 10 know;
n they deny the right Of the people TO
know then they should have defended
their position before the Legislature
There might be sympathy tor u mistak-
On view and for men who stood boldly
for what they thought their rights.
But there can be no excuse for public
servants who crinRe when brought TO
book and then hide by lndirection and
ovAde by slight Of hand and artful
lodging. Moreover those who love
and respect the people do not try TO de-
ceive us and have nothing to hide from
the public. Ultimately we all shall
know; meantime, the Trustees are called
upon 20 give the information demanded
BY the Legislature and now demanded
by the people Men who had no secrets
from the public would have spoken at
once; they have still time and OppOrtu-
nifty % Vindicate themselves.
Do the Trustees think they have the
right 10 show favOritism In dlsposing
Of public property DO they think
they can rightfuNy refuse one citizen
what they accord to another I? Can they
claim credit for n desire TO save land
for the people in the Everglades at
great cost while they sacrifice land in
Taylor county at great loss ? Will they
aNDlain