The Ocala evening star., 1915-08-18
INCOMPETENCE
AND DISHONESTY

The state millage has been fixed at
six mills, or a half mill more than
last year. With exceedingly large
increase in the taxable valuations Of
the state we cannot figure by any
mathematical process why the in
crease. Taxes should be lowered,
and it seems TO Us that the demand
for business men in Office grows more
important every day.-TaylOr Coun-
ty Herald.
In an effort 10 explain this in {
crease r. J. Patterson, member of (
the Trammell-appointed state tax
commission, says that the recOmmen- /
dations of the tax commission were
disregarded by the legislature of
1915; that an unduly large amount
was voted for expenditure by the
state board of health; that the citrus
canker fund smacks Of class legisla-
ton; that the legislature was remiss
in not enacting a corporation fran
chise and inheritance tax; that the
people are careless in the matter of
issuing bonds; that the corporations
successfully evade payment Of an
equitable proportion of the taxes.
Is any department of the state
government more important than the
board of health, which should at all
times be literally provided with
funds?
Is it not the duty of the state to
assist in waging a fight upon par
. asite which threatens to ruin the
: great citrus fruit industry? Does not
: the national department of agricul-
) ture do infinitely more for the agri-
z cultural development of Florida than
: the professional politician controlled
state does itself?
! If the corporation franchise tax
e and the inheritance tax are needed
n why hasn't the governor and his CO.
j horts who have been in Tallaha ssee
e for years, sufficient force of charac-
d ter to force the passage of needed
f laws on this subject? A majority OF
: both houses have been with them or
o most questions. Why not on this?
o The people have striven for year:
f to get the state officials and iegisla
l. tors to do something in behalf o.
It good roads, but without success. Nov
=. they are going ahead themselves anc
t. will give Florida the finest highwa!
4, system in the south. Still Mr.. Patter
e, son says the people are careless II
st the matter of voting issues of bonds
r Would he stop all material progress
t, in order that a cOterie of politica
W demagogues, while repeatedly refus
If ing to pay the states just debts, ma,
? continue to boast of economy of ad
e, ministration."
If the corporations successful
ct evade the payment of an equitabl
t proportion of taxes, why hasn't tn
lie governor, the comptroller, the ta
l. commissioners or some other individ
re ual or body, courage and abilit
IN enough to force them to pay thei
lie just proportion of taxes?
10 With all due regard to Mr.. Pattel
IN son, we think his explanation @
n present conditions is the stronges
IN condemnation of the state admins
IN tration that we have yet seen. In eN
rs cry feature it is an unintentional aC
mission of incompetency on the pal
of the powers that be that have fC
is so long time held office through ''foul
e. flushing" refusing to pay the state
an debts, even when they had the none
at on hand with which to pay thos
nd debts, and because of the veal
,e- kneedness of many newspapers.
wv In refusing to pay those India
er war claims to Floridians, twel'
id years after the money with whiC
cd they should have been paid has bee
a turned over to the state by the nj
ng tional government, they have mae
Sc Florida appear to be a thief amor
ed commonwealths.
ut. What is needed at Tallahassee is
ull display of business ability and cor
on mon, everyday honesty.-Taml
lse Times.
There is a great deal of truth
the foregoing. There is a stroI
on feeling in Florida that the state go
,or ernment is afflicted with dry rot, al
ey needs a good shaking up.