The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-07-12
LETTER FROM LIGHT
The COrnfasse1 Philosopher of Reddick
Expels n Few Thinks from
His System

Editor Star: I will give you $40 in
cash il you will take the laws passed
in 1909 by the legislature and show
me the fool bill' you say the legisla-
ture of two years ago passed in regard
to publishing county finances. provid-
ed, if you fail to find such law you
will acknowledge your error in the
Star and treat to cold drinks when
! see you shortly. dare you to take up
the above proposition.
The county commissioners have been
reminded by the last grand jury that
(the said fool bill you write of the
| law declares the county commission
ers shall post two copies at the court
house door of the resources and ex-
penditures OF the county and furnish
the foreman of the grand jury a copy
of same, which they failed to do.
| If the county commissioners refused
to publish a statement of it's finances
because Of costs why have they failed
to comply with the law which would
have cost nothing for posting. etc,
and furnished those who desired to
see an account of our finances an op-
portunity
| You write in your piece that II
Hillsborough county would publish in
|
would cost $4,000 to the voters Yet
| Hillsborough county commissioners
did publish in the Tampa papers a
statement Of the county receipts and
disbursements the early part of this
year and if legal rates were charged
1 doubt If it would cost 500.
| Suwannee couty commissioners pub
lish monthly a statement of warrants
issued
The school board of Marion county
published in their last proceedings a
budget of the expenses connected with
the coming school term and levy Of
taxes approved by them. The expense
connected with publishing same viii
not cost the county 25 cents.
The county commissioners are now
publishing monthly statement of
troad expenditures In their monthly re-
ports which does not cost the county
so cents a month.
The county commissioners at the
end Of each year could give the total
lreceipts, the disbursements and indebt-
edness of each fund In the county and
publish same at legal rates costing the
county less than $40.
Mr.. Editor, Is 1t not fact that the
Star and Banner get both 500 per
year for publishing the county COM
missioners' proceedings? Why don't
iyou charge legal rates for this work
What paper in the state charges legal
rates for this class of information.
Mr.. Editor, did not Mr.. Carroll of the
Star go before the county commission
ers and ask for the permit and got it
to publish the laws of 1911 legislat ture
and you will get but 800 for all tina,
job?
Mr.. Editor. why do you come to Us
taxpayers with legal rate charges
when we simply demand OF the count y
commissioners an accounting of their
stewardship:
The reason why the county refused
to publish the Information asked OF
| them is because some of the board did
NOT want the taxpayers to know the
, condition of affairs in this county, Is
my honest opinion.
| Here's my proof for the above be
lief. When We were sending the Pc
,ition 10 the governor to have the
county commissioners books audited
swhy did one OF the 1910 commission.
ers write the governor. trying to pre-.
vent the auditing Of the commission
ers' books. OF whom he was a mem
ber- We have copy Of his letter
Mr.. Editor tell the county commits
sioners ''it Is hard to kick against tn.
tricks" l. s Light.
Reddick. Fla, July IL, 1911