The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-03-26
SIDE-STEPPING MOST
IMPORTANT INTEREST
OF THE STATE

The following from the Tampa
Times shows how the members of the
legislature have neglected their most
pressing duty. The story leads one
to wonder if the present legislature
will add to the discreditable record.
The Times says:
Joe Earman, in the Palm Beach
Post gives an interesting resume of
the work of past legislatures. Mr..
Earman has been familiar with polit-
ical matters in Florida for quite some
time, and his "reminiscences are full
of interest and instruction. He ap-
proves of the expressions of the leg
islators on various subjects of inter
est to the people as they have been
given in the columns of the Jackson
vile Times-Union and Tampa Times,
but says the only way we can Judge
of what can happen, it to go back
and see what has happened. Then he
gives his resume.
Going back to 1893 and taking up
the tax question he says there was
at that time widespread sentiment
in favor of fixing the tax laws on a
more just and uniform basis. F. F.
L'Engle, a representative from Duval
county, man of recognized ability
and character, prepared a bill au-
thorizing commission of three men,
to be appointed by the governor, to
study the laws of the several states,
and prepare bill to be presented to
the next legislature embodying the re-
suits of their study. This antedated
by a dozen years the same idea which
was taken up by Wisconsin and re-
suited in giving that state the best
| system of tax laws of any state in the
Union. fractional jealousy resulted in
the defeat of this bill and nothing
was done. In 1895. and again in 1897
the choice of senator engrossed the
attention of the legislature in those
years.
In 1899, DR.. E. S. Grill, of the 26th
district, brought in a tax bill that
would have reemdied many defects in
the laws, but could not get it consid-
cred.
In 1902, DR.. Grill was chairman of
| the senate committee on finance and
taxation, and again brought in a tax
bill, but the members were too much
interested in charter fights and prf-
vate bills to give it any attention and
again it failed of passage.
In 1903 the WALES claim and the
dispensary bill took precedence of
everything else, and though DIR. Grill
and few friends were on the tax re-
form job. nothing was effected.
/ 4
the attention of the members and tax
alton got no show.
In 1907 and again in 1909 an effort
was made to get constitutional
amendment separating state and
countys taxes, but although there was
no strong opposition, it died on the
calendar.
In 1911. DR.. John G. L'Engle of the
18th district. brought in a worthy tax
reform bill. and made a hard fight
for it. but it went the way of all its
predecessors, and failed.
In 1913 the legislature did create
the tax commission, but failed to give
it any power. beyond an advisory one
Consequently it failed before the PEG,
pie, and was abolished by the special
session in 1918.
In 1915 no attention was paid to
tax REFORM
This brief review shows that our
legislatures for the past % years
have been composed of men who have
subordinated the interests of the state
to their own little personal matters
Let us hope that the legislature OF
1919, soon to come together. will be
composed of men who are broad
minded and intelligent enough to con-
slider such vital matters as tax reform
in tax-burdened state, of the first
Importance.