The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-03-29
Judge Reeves Discusses
Some Present Live Issues

te1nB the pfTna11es 1OI INC hoAiAAi1
ton OF members of the state legisla-
turs, congressman and United States
senator. It may not be amiss for me
70 express a few thoughts that seem
70 bear ,ypon these nominations.
Before doing this, desire to state
thne axn not q candidate for any Of
6s6n. neither am I advocating nor
opposing the nomination OF any par
ticular person.
In the announcements Of candidates
for fhe legislature, one often notices
that thase gentlemen seem to regard
&c ms quite sufficient TO claim that
they are progressive democrats. in
line with tina administration. As to
what this may mean in the way or
state LEGISLATION. It IL little diff
cult to understand. The policies OF
the administration have almost moth
fmx to do with state affairs and the
members OF the legislature do not now
elect, as formerly, the United States
senator.
LIN it not time for the masses to
formulate for their senator's and rep
resertatives legislation Of some kind?
Or IL the public are unable to do this,
10 It not the duty OF these candidates
10 IQIUUulAbS their ONA VIEWS anu
specifically state them in order that
the people may get some idea as to
whether the views are OF a kind de-
sired? So far as my observation goes,
tAare is but little legislation in this
state OF real benefit to the masses.
Has not the time arrived when the
public should arouse themselves to
some realization Of their real condi-
ton and make demands OF their rep
resentAtfves for the amelioration of
thu condition?
The QUESTION of Taxation.
Let us look at a few OF the condi-
Hons affecting the masses and see
Whistler any fair minded individual
win say that they are what they
should be. Take for example the
question OF taxation. The laws Of this
state, as far back as have followed
them, have always required that
property should be assessed at its
cash value. Instead it has always
been assessed mt not much more than
one third OF its cash value. Notes.
Btoclks, bonds and mortgages are re-
qudred 30 be assessed, but they have
practically escaped taxation. From
such m course the outside world gets
the impression that the state Is pow
erty STRICKEN, and has q very high
rata OF taxes, while the truth is IL the
law were followed, property would
pay its just proportion OF taxes; the
valuations IN the state would go up
and the rate Of taxes would go down.
It may be said: 'swell, the law
provides for this already. How are
we 20 enforce it?" II you have q law
put upon your statute books requir-
Ing your assessor to be provided with
~wvfS Sz
to stamp upon the backs of these in
ntruxnents the date when given in,
the amount for which it is given IN,
and provide that these instruments
shall not be allowed in evidence in
an action for collection unless they
bear the assessors stamp for the year
when required and then only for the
amount for which they are given in
for taxation. you would then find that
this would bring out for taxation the
invisible wealth of this state. 1t will
be said by some who wish to escape
this taxation that it would disclose
BUSINESS transactions, but this is not
fAct because the stencil can be put
on without disclosing either the en-
dorser or maker.
n your assessor refuses to assess
real property at it's full valuation, you
should not re-elect him. for in doing
SO you are enabling those who are
better able to pay to avoid their duty
and thereby to shift the burdens upon
the shoulders OF those less able.
Tax on Occupation.
( Glance ut your statute fixing the Ii
cense taxes and you will find that
practically every occupation has to
pay q license. You will see that the
property in shrinking its taxes is in
this way shifting the burden upon
human effort. In the year 1911, from
this source alone there was paid to
the state OF Florida $446, 6263S, and
for the year 1912, the last year it has
been made UP $52S,044.7s- This ex-
elusive of the county and city license.
In other states a vendor making a
conditional sale OF personal property
and retaining title until payment is
made 10 required to record his reten-
item OF title, but not so in Florida In
Florida he may sell portable mills,
printing presses, and in fact any and
all kinds OF personal property and re-
tain title without recording his re-
tention oc title. Individuals purchas-
ting from the apparent owner are re-
CURED, whenever the real owner puts
in an appearance and makes demand,
to surrender the property. thereby
losing tho price which he paid the ap
parent owner and the real owner is
not even required to have the reten-
ton OF title stated I'm writing.
Bank Deposits.
In most OF the other states there
are some safeguards thrown around
dspcgitors In banks, either making 1t
m penalty Tor any officer OF the bank
to receive q deposit when the bank
t@NnOwn to be insolvent. or prohibit
in# tnteriocldng directorates, or guar
arHeeing the deposits. but in Florida
those interested In mills. timber lands
and turpenttne businesses may organ
inc On bank and use the funds OF that
bank 90 finance the other corporations
I'm which they are interested, and
there f. practically no law to protect
the confiding depositor. In some five
or six states, they have now provided
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