The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-04-07

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companies in order to protect alike the
investors, settlers and reliable dealers.
People in other states and at great
| distances have bought Florida lands
| under Glib misrepresentation Of agents
whose knowledge Of the state Is even
| less than limited Laws must be en-
acted which will protect the legitimate
real estate dealer and colonization op-
! orators against interruptions specula-
Ftors. The men and women Of other
I states who invest money in Florida
! lands should be protected. Confden &c
in Florida lands is being destroyed,
| and the process must be arrested now.
SeVenth-Drainage Of Everglades.
The drainage Of the lands known as
| the Everglades by the state on a sCien-
! tific and business basis that viii in
| sure drainage and reClamation; and
| that the same shall be drained and
| saved for its people, and not permitted
| to go into the hands of Spectators. If
the state is to be responsible for the
! drainage and reclamation Of the
| swamp and overlooked lands, pur-
Chasers Of unreclaimed lands should be
fully advised at the time Of purchase
definitely when these properties will
be drained and reclaimed, and lands
/ should not he sold TO prospective set
i tiers until the same have been made
permanently habitable and tillable.
/ want IL understood that l am not
| opposed to the drainage and reclama-
| ton Of the Everglades. I take the
| position that this great work will never
be accomplished so long as the present
methods are followed. The original
purpose Of drainage advocates was TO
| conserve the vast acreage involved or
| our own people, and no one expected
| that these lands were to fall into the
hands of spectators to be sold with
out true conditions being explained.
| If the states name is to be coupled
| with Everglades lands, I contend that
: 1t is then the duty Of the state TO
| insist that purchasers be definitely In
| formed when complete reclamation will
| be accomplished They should also be
| warned that they must expect % spend
| money for treating these lands and
| lateraIs providing for irrigation before
they will be productive In plain Ian
guage, If the state Is to be even re-
motely responsible for these lands IT
| should see that there is no nisrepre
| sanitation on the part Of those who
| have acquired the right to deal in
! them.
The state should stop frtttering away
| its public lands in drainage failures
and should show some attention. to the
enormous acreage OF lands In the other
sections Of the state that do not need
either drainage or irrigation.
Eish+h-Imrigration Bureau.
! The establishment of an Imm1gra-
! ton Bureau for the purpose Of de-
| velopfng impartially an sections OF the
| state Florida possesses a vast terri
| tory OF inhahftalble and tillable lands
| distributed throughout the state and
| believe it should establish and de-
| ternl5ne to have an immigration bu
Teau that will aid and assist all Sec
4 lions for the development and coloni-
| Zation Of these properties. We should
1 AE,VH - Ill
| tons, end protect every honest In
weston and settler by providing that
he receives what is represented when
! sold to him.
The last official report states that
| only three per cent Of the S0,0o0,0O0
acres Of land in the state Of Florida
is under cultivation. Added to the
number Of desirable citizens who are
! leaving other states for better fields
WIN be the splendid opportunity to get
/ the cream OF Europeans coming to
/ this country through the opening of
/ baltimore as a port Of entry for i'm
migrants. The state Of Florida merely
/ has TO reach out to people fits enorm-
GUS acreage which is now unproduc-
| tive The publicity bureau could ad-
vertise the entire state and its vast
acreage Of productive lands and the
| immigration bureau could devote itself
corners to all sections of Florida alike.
Il would be part OF the work OF the
latter department to see that invest
ors in Florida lands get exactly what
they pay for, and are not in any way
victimized by interruptions real estate
operators and land sharks.
Nlnth-State Tax Equalization.
The organization Of a State Tax
Equalization Board by which taxes
Of the people shall be uniformly regu
lated and the state shall receive just
" its proper returns from all property
holders.
Tax assessments under the present
system now vary from so to SO per
cent, in different localities, Of actual
values. In many communities the basis
of assessments have not been changed
for years, though the enhancement of
values IN all parts or the state has
been enormous. The work is at present
carried on by county assessors, while
the comptroller assesses railroad
properties.
There should be a State Equaliza-
ton Board whose duties il would be
to hold sittings in each county for
the purpose Of eoualizing and unity
ing properties assessed for taxation.
This body should see that some coun-
ties. which are standing an excessive
pro rata Of the tax burden. are re-
lieved, and that others that are not
sharing their part be required 20 so re-
adjust the basis Of valuation as to
pay their part. This plan Of equaliza-
ton viii result in q lower rate and
will yet increase the revenue de-
rived by the state. This board should
have full authority 70 meet IN each
county during the year. and the county
tax assessors should be members ex-
ofiicio when the body is sitting in their
counties.
Tenth-Primary Law.
Amendment Of the primary election
laws of the state. We should pro-
vide for a more thorough publicity of
campaign contributions and expend- |
itures, and regulate and limit the |
amount that legally shall be expended |
by candidates for office-state and |
county-and for what purpose said ex-
penditures shall be authorized.
There has not been a gubernatorial /
or senatorial election since the or /
ganiZation OF the primaries that has /
not cost from $4,000 20 100000. This
expense has gone for advertising, \