The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-07-13
AN AMPLE EXPLANATION

An AIpLE EAHLxAAA1ION
The Star received Sunday morning
a visit from Mr. viii v. Knott, state
controller, and a candidate for gov
ernor. Mr.. Knott has been to Tam
pa on visit to his brother, and on
his way to Tallahassee stopped in
Ocala to see his friends here.
Mr. Knott counts the Star among
his friends and always pays it a visit
when in Ocala He had the further
reason Sunday of explaining the in
ferences against him in the article
reprinted in this paper from the Or
1ando Reporter Star.
Mr. Knott says, in the first place,
Mr.. Reese of the Orlando Reporter
Star should know he cannot alone
raise nor lower assessments on rail-
road or other property. Tt is his
work to obtain information and fur
nish it to the assessment board, con-
sfsting also of the governor, attorney
general and treasurer, and to see
that all reports and other documents
of the state and county governments
are put in proper shape. Undoubted-
ly, his recommendation have a
great deal to do with fixing assess
ments, and he is always ready to
give good reason for them.
For instance, Reese's allegation
that the assessment of the Atlantic
Coast Line in Orange county had
been reduced from $500 to $1,000
was true. But Mr.. Reese over
looked the fact that since the last
assessment, Orange county has
been divided. The railroad shops
located In Sanford are now in Semi
mole county. These shops and such
other plants are not listed separately,
but always charged in the mileage.
c Consequently, they have been taken
of the Orange county assessment.
MIR. Knott says that if Mr.. Reese will
look back a few years he will find
railroad assessment has been stead
dly and heavily raised. He also says
shat ii Mr.. Reese had looked up the
assessment of his neighboring county
of Osceola he would have found that
Ehe Coast Line assessment In that
county had been raised and not low
cred.
Mr., Reese's statement that the
EloFida East Coast Railway had been
placed ait $2700 a mile should have
been accompanied by the explana-
tion that the part of that system re-
ferred to was not the main line,
which is the best built and equipped
road in the state. but the Okechobee
extension, which is not yet entirely
finished, and on which no regular
service is being done.
Mr.. Knott says that the records
will show that railroad, telegraph
and Pullman property in this state
has been raised 10 per cent since he
was in office. In order to make this
estimate it is necessary to figure on
the records for all that part OF a
system in the state, and not on what
may be in any one or a few counties,
I'm which changing conditions will
some times cause a reduction.
MIR. Knott gave the Star much in
formation about the work of the
comptroller's office. The Star sees
enough of the results of the said
work to know that Mr.. Knott is a
very faithful and efficient officer. We
would have to have very positive
proof TO accuse him of being in the
least unfaithful to his TRUST.
1t is his duty to find information
fully and to furnish it accurately. Tt
is as much his duty to be just to a
railroad as to the most humble citi-
zen on his little freehold. So far as
this paper knows, he has performed
mis- task faithfully
Mr.. Knott, during his stay in
Ocala, was the guest of Sheriff Gallo
way. They were fellow citizens and
old-time friends in Lake and Sumter
counties years ago, and their mutual
esteem has never decreased.