The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-04-09

ready been passed. and which may pass az the next e
election These amendments 70 be substituted In the body
Of the Constitution and to take the place Of such sections
Or articles as may be may have been amended This
20 Be known e. the "COnsttuton as amended In 1910
or to be designated IN any other manner as the Legislature
may see proper
Constitutional Amendment Relating OneMil School
Tax for High Schools and Rural Graded Schools.
The Supreme Court has decided the Acts Of 1907 apprO
ratnR IN the aggregate S16 for each Of the years
1907 and 1905 for encouraging High Schools, and for
encouraging average daily attendance to be unconsttu
tiOpaL The passage Of a constitutional amendment sl
recommended authorizing the levy Of one mill tax to
be expended for the benefit Of high schools and rural
graded schools throughout the State the Legislature
may direct A Onemi tax will result In $4,000 tOI
e155OO0 The total assessed valuation OF all the property
for 1908 was s159390 23O Though all IL not collected
for each particular year yet the annual redemptOns and
saes for previous unpaid taxes will partially Offset tho IN
paid taxes for each particular year.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT - COST OF
PRINTING.
Your attention Is invited to the fact that prior to and
including the year 1902 all the constitutional amendments
submitted by the Legislature the qualified electors were
approved Since that time there has BEEN at each cleo
tOn at least constitutional amendment which elected
much discussion. The effort 10 defeat such amendment
In many caused the electors in order TO be sure OF
voting against the Objectionable amendment, TO vote
against all by examination Of the vote cast you will
observe that less than onchrd Of the electors voted
or against the Constitutional Amendments. In my
opinion, the efforts in 1904 10 defeat the Constitutional
Amendment comforting civil jurisdiction on the Criminal
Courts Of Record which amendment deprived Justices Of
the Peace of all Jurisdiction caused the defeat Of all but
Of the proposed amendments Mt that election and the
efforts 10 defeat the amendment referring to drainage in
1906 practically caused the defeat Of the other amend
ments and in 1908 the effort TO defeat the onenil tax
for higher educational purposes caused the defeat Of the
other amendments
The voters not evidently, sufficiently educated on
IA Ia n1o n,
Art. II, OF the Constitution requires an amendment TO
be advertised three months This should be reduced TO
one month. Posters, other means should clearly set
forth the effect Of the proposed amendments The cost
OF advertising the proposed amendments In 1905, Z
amounted TO s35sS00. Some may this as an s
argument for n Constitutional Convention. II new
Constitution adopted at the FIRST session OF the
Legislature thereafter there would be just MS many amend
ments proposed as there This cost OF three
months advertisement should he lessened TO month
SCHOOL FUNDS-HOW DERIVED p
The School Funds are derived from the following =
0nemlll State tax appOrtOned In proportion to
che actual school attendance; interest State School
Fund the county tax OF not less than three than
mills the net proceeds OF all fines collected under
the penal laws Of the Suite, within the county and CAPT
tatioh taxes. r.
SCHOOL DISTRICT TAX "
Authority for Trustees Of School Districts TO Bond Dis
trCta for School HOuscsScc II OF Art. XII Of the Ia
Constitution Relating to School Districts
In addition to this the Legislature Of 1907 appro
prlated el05,0O0 annually for High Schools and Rural
Graded Schools This represented approximately a one
mill tax The Supreme Court Of the State declared these
acts unconstitutional This amount which has hereto
fore gone to the schools will have to be supplemented NJ
sther by constitutional amendment suggested In another
portion Of this message, by the establishment Of
school districts throughout the State authorized
BY the Constitution. Referring to school districts your
RtentOn 10 invited to the fact that under the present
law the trustees Of the school district not allowed to
bond district for the purpose Of building school house.
II deemed expeden and also necessary It would be well
10 amend the Constitution to permit the bonding m
u districts for the erection Of school houses This
lge Of advancement In civilization consequently there
wants As these school houses are to be used for
he future well the present there IL why
pOsierty should not help to pay for them.
1JGF MOuE TTTQTH cCuOOY q ron Afyrf