The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1912-03-22

chose him for their Senator. may well
aud Justly be proud.
The bill providing for the taxation
Of inheritsnces. beauests, etc, wss
one Of the chief features Of senator
Flouruoys legislative experience. CIT"
ing the salutary example OF mary OF
the states which have enacted similar
laws. be gave his best talents TO
supreme effort to stregthen rlorida's
financial status by extending the tat-
ing power to subjects OF taxation
more albe to bear the burdens OF
government than the average house
holder, with little property subject 10
taxation, except bis modest home. The
handsome majority by which the
measure passed the Senate was Ger
titicate of its value, but unfortunately
II failed OF consideration in the House
by reason of the cougested condition
of the calendar.
The bill providing for state Board
Of Railroad and Telegraph Property
Assessors. was one universally ac-
knowleJged, even by its opponents, as
one possessing peculiar merit N
would now have been upon the statute
book. bat for its veto by the Gover
nor ln urging its passage by tho
senate, notwithstanding the veto by
the Governor. Senator Flournoy de-
llyerei A notable address, critically
examining and eTectually demolish
ing the alleged reason Of the Egecu
tive, in the peroratiou of which no
said: The fixing OF assessed yalua'
tions OF the vast railroad and tele-
graph properties OF this State ought
not to be left to the discretion OF
any one person II the limited values
of property OF the thinly populated
counties must be determined tnalIy
by a board OF FIVE members, fore'or'.
should the valuations Of the vast hold
ipgs and properties Of railway aud
telegraph companies be left TO
board Of Ave members and not to ono
person: IL the assessment is too low
the people will say d. is influenced
by the railway company: while " n
is high. the latter will be dissatisfied.
ana assert that be lacks manhood and
10 moved aud led through fear of CON
demnation By public sentiment Eitb-
er horn of the dilemma should do
mand repeal Of such law, and place
the power Ia board Of State an
SCISSORS Of lt least five members with
no other duties TO perform When
Senator Flournoys amendment 70 tho
bill was first offered The expressions
Of approval from all who heard or
read it, were practically unanimous
and on Its adoption there was but a
single dissenting vote and that on tho
ground that the appointment should
not be left To the Governor. Even tho
veteran, Senator Hunt Harris. recog-
nized as the watchdog Of the corpor.
alton interests said In a speech: Tho
amendment Is the best that has ever.
been introduced in this Senate; il
solves the problem that has yexsd the
people Of this State for years: it ia
most carefully Worded and framed.
and the speech OF Senator Flournoy
leaves nothing to be said in its favor.
in that his facts are incontroyerti,
Bile aud his argument unans werablo
This Senate could pass that amend
ment and adjourn sine die, and w3
would have paid the State for all ex
oenses." And the De Funiak Breexo
remarked at the time that with such
exercise OF the veto power, the pow
er Of government rests in the will of
the most limited minority. the great
expense OF the session yields no
benefit, aud the individual sacrifices
OF the members Of the legislature.
and their sedulous thoughtful efforts
to better the Laws and conditions and
70 promote the general welfare, arc
wanted"
Among the important bills ot otber
Senators towards the passage OF
which Senator tlournoy gave freely
OF his time and talents, was one in
troduced by Senator Johnson N tho
l7th District, prohibiting fire insur-
ance companies doing business in this
state, in the absence Of fraud, mis-
representation or deceit, from settiD.
up as defense against the payment
Of policy, lack Of title in the party
insuring The bill passed both houses
and was vetoed by the Governor. Rc
ferring to the failure (by single
votel of an effort 70 pass it over tho
veto the De Funiak Breeze in an edi
torisl remarked that Senator Flour
noy, In his speech stated that he was
not there as the special representa-