The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-07-10
(Don2estic)
1T is UP TO THEM TO EXPLAIN

landO Reporter-StaT does not make
very pretty reading for the friends of
Governor TrammeIl and Comptroller
Knott and other state officials.
Joe Reese, editor of the Reporter
Star, is very we'll posted on state af-
fairs. He has lived 50 long close to
the main works that he has mighty
good idea of how they are run.
The common people of this state
can see every day they turn that
they are not receiving "a square deal
from the railroads. They have rea-
son to believe that the railroad octo-
pus has a tentacle in nearly every
state and county Office. They elect
legislators who pass laws for their
relief only to see them brought to
naught by negligence of men sworn
10 enforce them. The railroad COM
mission seems to have deserted them,
and now here comes a story that
looks ugly for the governor and
comptroller.
It's up to Mr.. Trammen and Mr.
Knott to explain, and the people
would like to see some results as we'll
as some explanations:
The Reporter-Star's Story
Was the legislature creating the
Florida State Tax Commission de-
signed and pushed through by a rail-
road lobby for the benefit. of the
railroads?
This is the question which seems
pertinent in view of the develop
ments Of the past few days.
Soon after the creation of the COM
mission an order was issued ito all
tax assessors to enter property on
their books at the real cash value;
~ short to raise the valuations to
one hundred per cent. I'm view of
the fact that no county in the state
was paying on a hundred per cent
valuation and that sudden increase
Df this kind in the valuations with
out proportfonate reductions In the
mdllage would have worked a ter
riic hardship on the taxpayers, there
was a general protest from the asses
sors, some of them going as far as to
defy the tax commission.
Seeing that their order was too
revolutionary, the tax commissioners
eventually agreed to fifty per cent.
appraisement This was done at a
meeting held at Jacksonville between
"a large number of the assessors and
the chairman of the commission
"A previous meeting of the asses
sors and the commission had been
held at Tallahassee when the pro-
posed increase was discussed.
at that meeting some of the asses
zsors made the point that it would be
4nanifestly unfair for the real and
personal property of the taxpayers
10 be increased if the railroad prop
erfy was not raised in due proper
tion
The assessment of the railroad
and telegraph lines is in the hands
of board composed of the comp
1roller, the attorney general and tht
stare 1nG WIN ID Ccaid1
done in the comptroller's office.
While this subject was under dis
ssussion the assessors called for tn
comptroller, Mr. W. V. Knott, ana
he was asked pointedly, it is said, j
ne would make an increase in tn
n-ai1road assessments .proportionate
" with that to be made on the rea
and personal property. Such
promise was made at that time b
ryae comptroller, lit is stated, and
was because of this promise that tn
assessors agreed TO increase real an
personal valuations.
What has been the result?
While the tax assessors have bee
raising valuations all over the stat
the comptroller has been busy i
lowering the railroad valuations, a.
though such valuations were alread
Eower in proportion than were tn
other valuations.
Another thing which seems t
bear out the idea of jobbery:
1t is usual for the assessor in On
angB county, and presumably tn
other assessors also, TO receive ]
June from the comptroller the raj
road and telegraph assessments,
be duly entered upon his books be
core being submitted to the count
commissioners for equalization at tn
July meeting.
This year the railroad assessment
were received from the comptrolle
only few days ago, too late for th