The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-02-05

One million, four hundred sixty
seven thousand, eight hundred and
thirty three dollars. otherwise 81, 467,-
$50!
This is what the state Of Florida has
to show as it's balance sheet on the
first of January, 1914.
Florida has shown wonderful re-
sources and it has shown clean, eco
nonieal but not niggardly expendi-
lures for public service.
Florida has been. and Is every year,
exceedingly liberaly to public educa-
ton. especially Its college expenses.
Florida is generous indeed to it's
Confederate veterans, and rightly SO,
and that is one of its largest items
of state expense.
Its public institutions, like the lun-
attic asylum, reform school and other
institutions, are carefully financed,
and the showing for such purposes is
up with the most advanced conditions
Of this day and time.
The revenues of Florida are received
from a general land tax at a very mil
lage, supplemented by a very large ocA
cupational and railroad tax.
The business showing made by the
last annual statement of John c. Lun-
ing state treasurer, Is one that re-
bounds great credit to the state and
puts Florida at the top of the list upon
any comparative showing with any
state of the Union.
Florida finances are carefully scru-
tinized by the boards that are carved
out of the state officers in Tallahas-
see.
The state treasurer, for instance. IS
not simply the man who takes In and
pays out cash, but he, by virtue of his
Office, is an active attendant on nu-
merous boards that govern the states
business.
These boards practically make up
budgets that are submitted to the state
legislature every two years. and upon
the wisdom and scrutiny of these re-
ports, the legislature acts and appro-
pirates
Therefore, when the state treasurer
makes his report, one can go behind
it and pay a tribute to the personnel
of the state treasurer himself, because
he is not mere autonaton with state
money, as the county treasurer is with
county money.
Without any other reason than the
personal knowledge of the present in
cumbent and a desire to exploit his
good works where 1t is so richly de-
served. I think that the state of Flor
ida is particularly fortunate in hav-
ing nan like John c.. Luning as state
treasurer.
The state is fortunate In having a
governor and cabinet officers built on
the same lines, but 1 have known John
c. Luning SO we'll for thirty years
that / want to pay a tribute to his
merit as an official.
Holm q TdInfY1p crand official
when he was Cleveland's appointee as
postmaster in Leesburg in 1885.
He was a good official when he was
a member of the board of county com
missioners Of Lake county.
He watched the public's business
interests and scrutinized 1t to the full
lest detail
He believed that public ofYfce was
NOT private snap. He was the
same efffcient man when he was at
the head of the convict department
under the late lamented b. E. McLin,
former commissioner of agriculture
He was the same extraordinarily
able clerk of the internal Improvement
board OF our state.
There 1t was that Governor GIL
christ saw his merit, and by his ap-
pointment. inducted him into the Of
fee OF treasurer of the state of Flor
ida.
As I said before. John G. Luning
brought into the cabinet a clean brain.
an honest purpose and an unerring
vigilance of public matters.
This is the kind OF a public servant
that ought to be, is and will be an
preciated by the people Of Florida
John c. Luning is pre- -emirlently one
of the men in Tallahassee among the
others OF signal ability above men
toned, that made 1t possible for the
state to make this magnificent finan-
cial statement.