The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-09-04
WILL VOTE ON
AN IMPORTANT
AMENDMENT
If PASSED ANY TAX sUR-DIs-
TRIcT MAY ISSUE BONDS FOR
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PuR-
POSES.

The legislature of Florida at its las.
session submitted TO the people an
amendment to the state constitution
that will enable any community in
Florida to vote bonds for the purpose
Of erecting needed school buildings.
AS the laws now stand no vote of
school bonds In Florida is legal. for
the reason that with every bond issue
tax must be levied TO create a sink
ing fund for the redemption Of the
bonds and for payment Of interest
thereon. Such a tax has been inter
preted by the supreme court Of the
state as school tax In excess Of the
constitutional Limitation and therefore
invalid, thereby making unconstitu-
t1onal any school bond issue.
The amendment which has been sub
mitted by the state legislature pro-
vides that any special tax sub-district
may issue bonds for school purposes
and create a sinking fund for the
payment of interest and the principal
Of the bond issue whenever a majority
of the voters who pay tax on real or
personal property shall vote affirma-
lively in favor Of such bond issue.
This amendment, If passed, will en-
able communities that desire to issue
bonds to raise funds from the sale Of
such bonds for bull ing and other school
purposes without imposing any add
tional tax on any other community.
and the passage Of this amendment
will mean simply this: that the state
of Florida extends to it's people a
wider measure of local self govern
ment than they have heretofore en-
Nd ~
great handicap that now rests on the
educational system of the state. Unless
the amendment passes, no legal way
remains for any community to build a
school house except by charity or pri-
vate subscription. or by the commits
sion of some unlawful act The whole
state is in need of such a law, cities.
towns and rural school districts, for
inadequate and unsuitable school build
ings exist in every county and stand
as a bar to progress and growth.
For years the educators Of the state
have tried to get submitted an amend
ment similar to this, and have failed.
Last year Jacksonville sent a delega-
ton to Tallahassee to join with the
other cities Of Florida in urging the
legislature to take action that would
relieve the situation. Different bills
were introduced submitting to the
people amendments for ratification
and the amendment to be voted on in
November received, as a compromise
among the proposed measures, sufl-
Gent votes to submit 1t to the voters.
Behind ii are the business men Of the
state. A committee of business men
is being organized for the purpose of
conducting a general campaign for its
passage.
1t is their intention to organize the
campaign so thoroughly that in every
county Of Florida the voters will un-
derstand clearly its purpose-to restore
to every community that desires II the
right of complete local self government
in school affairs, and the power to
care for the education of its children
by the erection of proper buildings in
which to spend the greater part Of
their hours Of waking activity.
To inform the people of the pIIr-
pose and the absolute need for this
amendment the newspapers of the
state will be asked to give publicity
to the movement, boards of trade will
be interested, meetings in town and
country Will be held, and the people
asked to rouse themselves, see their
need and meet It Those who know
the people Of Florida prophesy that
the measure will carry by large ma
jorfty, that the people will be reused
to greater interest IN those matters
that lie nearest their real needs, and
that the children OF the state will, In
buildings that fifty express the ideals
Of their communities, give thanks to
all who have waged the chiIdren's
fight Within the next two weeks the
campaign will begin in earnest.
Every friend of the children Of Florida
is urged to enroll under the banner of
liberty and progress