The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1909-04-09
CONDITION IS
SATISFACTORY
Governor GiIChrist Pleased, But
Recommends Many Reforms
THE MESSAGE IN PART
He Asks that Drainage Tax be Reduced
From Five to Three Cents Per Acre
More Power Given Commissioners

More rover OiVen commissioners
In his message sent to the Legislature
Tuesday, Governor Albert w. Gilchrist
says that "the condition of the State
is satisfactory. In support of this
statement the Governor says that Flor
ida's population increased 3j.5 per cent
in the ten years preceding the last gov
eminent census report-the greatest in
crease shown by any State in the Union
excepting six far western States; has
less illiteracy than any State from Vir.
ginia to louisiana; has a death rate OF
only Sc to the thousand; is producing
more than half the phosphate of the
United States and one third the product
of the world; more than half the naval
stores of the United States, and about
half the turpentine and rosin.
He gives strong emphasis to the cum
bersomeness and injustice OF appeals in
both civil ard criminal cases and advo-
Gates reforms, recommends strengthen
ing of the pure food laws so as to en-
power local officers to draw samples
to be sent to the State chemist with
particular view to determining the diff
ference between soft drinks and intoxi-
eating liquors; joins the Railroad Com:
mission in asking for more power and
recommends placing telegraph COM
panies under control of the commission;
saws there should be cheaper primaries
and the candidates required to make
public their expenditures; recommends
the reduction of the acreage drainage
tax from five to three cents per acre
and the refunding on that basis of the
tax already paid; asks for parole sys--
TEN for convicts for good behavior, and
revision of the license laws; recon-
mends graduated income tax and
law prohibiting negroes and whites from
living together in this State, though
married in another State.
The Governor recommends cOnstitu-
tional amendments touching the school
tax and public printing. He advocates
one more high school for each county;
more liberal libel laws on the ground
that "the freedom of the press is the
bulwark of the freedom of the people,
more good roads, better health laws,
and Improvement in care of the insane.
Governor Gilchrist urges the apprO-
priation of at least SIS, 0OO to be used by
the Commissioner of Agriculture in ad-
vertising the resources of the State,
and like amount, or more, for the pur-
chase of silver service for the battle
ship Florida. He suggests laws against
lobbying at the State capital.
Then the Governor takes up "Abra-
ham Lincoln Day." and says:
1.-THE three greatest men this nation
has produced are George Washington,
Robert E. Lee and Abraham Lincoln.
By legislative enactment, this State has
declared the anniversary of the birthday
of the first two a legal holiday. 1t is rec
commended that February 18th, the an
niversary of the birth of Abraham Lin
coin, be declared legal holiday.
abraham Lincoln showed no animus
toward the South. He was correct in
the application of the principle, as ap-
piled to slavery in the United States:
"A house divided against itself cannot
stand He would even have sacrificed
this conviction in order to preserve the
Union. We revere the courage, forti-
tude, self-denia, and devotion to duty
of those who wore the gray. We ma
turaly feel more kindly toward them,
because they were blood of our blood.
We suffered with them, and we natur-
aIlv glory in their achievements. We
must also appreciate the same qualities
in those who wore the blue. The record
made by both armies is now our common
heritage. Many veterans OF the Union
army and their relatives and sympathi-
GERS have purchased property in our
State, and are interested in the devel-
opment of our resources. Thousands OF
relatives of those who wore the blue are
visitors to our State There is no other
Southern State which has better rea-
sons for taking the initiative in this
!. matter. than Florida. Some have SAID
let some Northern State first act towart
recognizing some Confederate cheftain
There is no northern state in which one
tenth the reasons exist for such actor
toward recognizing some Confederate
!, chieftain, as their exists in Florida fo
, the action recommended. Besides Abra
{ ham Lincoln was President of tn
, United States. AS such it was his dut,
\ to defend and preserve the Union. Hal
he lived, he would undoubtedly hav
A been in fact, as we'll as in name, tn
e President of the whole United States
s His untimely death was great blow t
S the Southland, and consequently to tn
f United States.
n Governor Gilchrist's recommendation
e that the Constitution be amended so a
t to prohibit the Governor from bein
elected congressman or United State
J. senator during his term of Office is move
n and commendable.
It Altogether the message is an adj
IS and vOluminous one, occupying sixty
four nrinfod naOaS ,..