The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-05-04

notice to the person or persons MAX
ing the returns Of the time and place
of hearing to assess the same from
the best information they can obtain"
Under this provision of the law if the
comptroller desired to favor the rail-
roads it would only be necessary for
him to accept the returns as made
by the railroad companies, as the law
plainly and specifically provides that
only in case returns are not made or
that the returns so made do not give
a complete and correct value of such
railroad property, shall the matter
be referred to the board. In other
words, under the plain provision of
the law, the comptroller could insist
upon the returns being made to him
promptly by the railroad companies,
and if such returns were all received
on or before the first Monday in
March of any year he could accept
the returns, and the property of the
railroads would then, under the de
rection and specific provision of the
law, be assessed as returns by the
railroad companies. Now, if the
comptroller desired to discriminate in
favor of the railroad companies, it
would be very easy matter for him
to pursue that course, and by accept
ing the returns as made by the rail-
road companies entirely exclude the
attorney general and state treasurer
from participating in any manner or
form in arriving at the valuation of
the property. That the present
comptroller has never pursued that
course is a matter of record, as in
every case, whether the returns were
made CT not, the matter has been re-
ferred to the board, and the assess
ment or valuation of the property has
been made by him jointly with the
attorney general and state treasurer
after having given the notice required
by law; and it is an open and noto-
rious fact, which is evidently well
known to these parties who are seek
ing to injure the comptroller, that
annually the representatives of the
| different railroad companies appear
before the board and much time is
consumed by them in arguments in
the effort to show the board that the
valuations already placed on the rail
road property is excessive. In order
that the question of the valuation OF
railroad property for assessment pur-
poses shall be determined, it is abso.
lutely necessary that at least two
members of the beard should agree
thereon, and so far as the present
board is concerned, it is generally
known that its actions has been unan
imous and that the result has beer
concurred in by all of the members.
Some Of those opposed to the can
didacy of Comptroller Knott for the
office of governor, having discovered
that he was not vulnerable in an!
point, either as to his private or pub
lie life, have determined to endeayol
to injure him by misrepresentation
and in doing so they have in every in
stance in which his public record hai
/ been attacked lost sight Of the Law
purposely and have endeavored Il
nuddle the minds Of the people b!
specious arguments. Born of the de
sire to defeat Mr.. Knott, regardless
of the means or the method pursued
# seems that one of the tax commits
sioners conceived the idea that h
would attempt to cloak his misrepre
sensations under the guise of an at
tempt to defend the tax commission
; and to show that it was not respon
sible. There is no doubt that tn
duties of his Office were so slight tina