The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-08-07
MR.. THOMAS ANSWERS
MR.. BENJAMIN

MR.. BENJAMIN
Mr.. Benjamin states that a good
many statesmen, when they want to
write letter for publication, employ
lawyer to write it for them. He also
said that it was evident that Alder
man Thomas wrote his own letter,
which was sincere to the point of Sc
verify. He also states that / contra
dicted myself so obviously that few
people who read the letter need to
have their attention called to it.
1t is quite true that / did write the
letter myself. and it may have SEEM
ed crude to a lot of highly educated
people, but I don't think my letter
was so crude but that every citizen
of Ocala could understand the mean
ing of it. Now, it may have been
possible for some people to miscon-
strue the meaning of my letter and
think that contradicted myself when
l referred to boneheads, smart-alecks
and fair-minded men. Mr.. Benjamin
printed the names Of several of the
gentlemen who were on the council at
the time the valuation of the Ocala
House was increased from $4,000 to
$1,000 and everyone of them has a
lot of good business traits about them
friends of mine. But any one with
F! common sense ought to know that
some of the smartest and best busi-
ness men in the country will some
times make mistakes and will be call
ed boneheads and smart-alecks. I hope
that the readers of the Star take the
meaning of my letter in the way I in
tended it. Of course, shrewd writer,
especially an educated one, can al
ways pick out and find an error in
another's writings and make noun
tain of it, not taking it in the way it
was really intended, and this is the
reason | presume that most people
employ a lawyer to write their let
ters.
| Now going back to the original edi-
torial of July 26, which l replied to in
the Star of August 2, Mr.. Benjamin
stated that majority of the council
was against accepting less than $4,000
for back taxes on the Ocala House
/ AT G1lC UICSI4I1S IC1C1ISu LOs
the proposition was laid by until the
next meeting, at which time the coun-
Gil accepted Mrs. Edwards PROPOSE
tion, Messrs. McIver and Osborne be-
ing absent, but I want to say for Mr..
Benjamin's information. as we'll as
the general public, that if every mem
Der of the city council had been pres
ent, the proposition would have been
accepted just the same. Mr.. Benja-
min stated that the sum of $4,000
would have been collected for the
three years back taxes on the Ocala
House if Councilman Goldman and
myself would have stood by the ma
ljority of the council Mr.. Benjamin
is absolutely in error, for he should
know, and does know what Judge Bull
locks decision was in regard to the
assessment of the Ocala House
though I did not intend to refer to
this if possible to avoid it, for the
simple reason that it would poison
the minds of other delinquent tax
payers of the city, but since Mr.. Gold
man so plainly explained the situation
it should convince Mr.. Benjamin that
he is the one in error, instead of my.
self, and it should also convince him
that there are a few other people who
know a little something about the
laws of Florida besides the editor OF
the Ocala Star. Mr.. Benjamin stated
that l omitted to say that the present
council had consented to reduce the
valuation on the Ocala House from
100000 to $65, 200 though, however
it is quite true and / am very glad in.
ded to say that at the time the valu.
alton was reduced from 100000 tc
$65, 700 every member of the council
was present. Mr.. Benjamin stated
that if the valuation of the Ocals
House should be reduced, then there
| is a whole lot of other property, il
justice to home people, that should be
reduced and asked if l am ready tc
lead a move in that direction. In an.
swer would say that / stand ready al
any and all times to advocate anc
help in any move to justly equalize
taxes on all property within the city
of Ocala and only wish that we haC