The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-07-09

~ mills ea lhe fakabie oFooerty of fhi'
State 90 produce sufficient funds % meet
ne Payments During TIE two years thai
TIE legislature between 1909 and 1911.
I IN that D. true. Mr. President and II We
are % eipe pensions az all ] aay that
pursue A. % make 3 sufficient levy 10
secure the required amount But Mr.
President. ! desire % read for inforna-
cui8tss amply Tor go contingencies, and
shows, % my mind beyond eaTil. that the
greatest amount that would D. necessary
ary III. 1919. would B. i2Is. 900 90 Is ex-
cess ~ the amount % b. raised BY
present miliage. The aaseaged valuation
tOuay D. practically one hundred and
4 slrtv mali0na. we NAV aafeiy aasums
I that The increased valua tiOn viii Be 81
least Fifteen millions FOE each year. u
Eonia fsg,Halfe, therefore, Only az 10
mills, and ! understand that my friend,
Senator Grill who q IN expert on tax
alton, has said that ! VII take less than
may Be reasonably expected under the Old
law. u q p0HsiUie. Mr.. President under
this condition that there are many IN
The Btate 81 FLORIDA who. after sober,
delibernte consideration u this question.
can insist that this new act should b.
Eeated after ,nig analysis submitted.
quarter mills would suffice 81 meet che
requirements 81 the present law But 10
may BE- o0ntsnded that the most Oblec-
tiOnable and an ust question h. that the
poor farmer and family and children ~
the country are taxed 20 support these
old soldiers; that such tax r. warranted
90 support those who actually went 90 the
front bot not for those who remained be-
hind "a the cOmmlHsary or 81 the home
90 Ruaru the ammunition OF the innocent
mothers and CHILDREN az tReX labored
lreHlde. Let - calculate the average eN-
pense that the additional levy 81 one
and 0ne-qunrter mills would be; the
average farmer probably has an assessed
valuation Of not exceeding fysvvJ. one
and one-quarter mills upon which would
D. gl i-z cents. Does not this amount
compared With the great good that the |
combined efforts Of FLORIDA citizens VIII /
DO 10 the grand old s0ldiers who fol- |
lowed the matchless lee. Jackson, Long !
street and Gordon, even though Il might I
be- that because Of intentional false testl- /
m0ny on the part of the applicant or
charged IN the present act with certain /
trusts and duties, that undeservinR per-
sons are upon the pension roll
Those who are guilty Of wrong doing /
who have made false anidayita and hled
false testimony, ana proof, those who
have been negligent AZ officers OF the
state government, and upon whom has
been Imposed BY the Legislature the
aacred duty u the discharge Of the public
trust, ought, IN fairness and Justice, bear
the burden Of the punishment, and not
those who lived IN the generation Of
unparalleled hardship and strife, those
whose personal sacrifices, conservation 10
the cause Of duty and patriotism, lighting
for the principles which they believe ana
which were right are 90 lllastrions. Let
consider. not AMID the environment %
sentiment or passionate feelings, but IN
the forum Of wisdom end fairness, where
with our heels. and give our deliberate
t4oamont after mature consideration.
Place, gir. the blame, where q ought 70
toward the evil that does exist and not
create new hardship BY b new act
which In equally as vulnerable and aua-
ceptible % the same attacks and defects
as ia the old, with the exception. how
eVof, that the new act cuts out, aa o..
were, the home guarda Is u possible that
iiStlnction Of relative merit between the
soldier who was az the front and the man,
~ ! said, who guarded the ammunition
2 the ., 9Esd ones E ,f ~ ,hS as
Aside from the aacrihoes that were neces-
vary because Of having lived IN that
period and Of that Esneratlons vas i
- patriotic In him who remained az homo
. guard their small residue % property
hat was left IN order that u might be
hose who remained there SS 70 "S make 'Ii Il
possible for the herOlnes 81 the South
'rn States 20 continue their mahufao-
ave 10 the soldiers at he 'front.' their sp.
lafel, ana made possible the cOntlnu-
.tlon Of the war q bring 20 us the price
eHs heritage % the settlements 81 the |
lueations then On Issue, and gave 90 us
MS grand solidt reunited confedera- .
Ion Of states; u i IL not. then I must !
'oniess, hr President, that I was trained /
'eption Of reason, Justice and fairness :
iaa been Trimmed on improper precopts ]
Iud examples, and my conception Of the
lrand, patriotic love gnd devotion OF
4 home. anxious To foster and promote :
he preservation Of their country's rights {
ND success 81 their men nc the front :
ave their hair Tor bow strings. which 70
ne reward 10 receive the benefits % {
lenaion az him who, BY accident, was On
position 90 80 90 the front and be upon
ave been On actual battle, those 81 yea q
ghO have served IN the Natural Guards I
mid turmole, strife, riots and moPs, '
nov nov 'ha, wnllS .yfS may % .o,n9 who
hat you have sufficient room IN the
anka 90 meet the offers Of the patriotic a
oya who want 90 80 e The front;
hla argument, there IL no logic, there q 4
0thlnH IN experience that tells uH that \
he men who were left behind an home 4
yards or reserves. are not less honorable 9
ecouie a penHioBcr than men who act 4
ally served ht the front. That the latter q
iade personal SACRIFICES 20 FAR az per- d
oncerncd Il not SUFFICIENT answer. be. 4
aune We must nt the same time con- 4
lder that he who remained "a home h
uttered TIE mental sngulsh % not havs r
b serve and 20 give hts life, n necessary, a
I his counlrya cause. "A
Il don't wish 70 take up the time Of q
ls senate ca thie measure unnecessat- y