The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1919-06-06
A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION

The Legislature seems on the eve
of enacting' financial legislation which
is sure to cause a very serious con-
dition in Florida
Hon. W. M. MacWilliams, who has
ably represented St. Johns county in
the senate for twelve or fourteen
years, gives out the following state.
ment through the Tallahassee CORE
spondent of the Times-Union:
"The appropriations made. by this
legislature in all probability will ag-
gregate $5,0O0,000 or very near that
amount. Our assessment roll is 1885,
100000. Taxes will be paid on about
s320, 600, 900, thus allowing about 10
per cent for delinquents. I there
fore can readily be seen that our
state miIlage will amount to in the
neighborhood of fifteen mills. II is
eight and a half mills now. And
am not taking into account the two
mills for compulsory dipping and 9TH
er proposed additional assessments
for various purposes. / have endea-
vored to point out this to the senate
time and time again, but apparently
without avail II this legislature is
not careful, our taxes will be doubled
next year.
The people of the peninsuIar por-
ton OF the state, which comprises
two-thirds or more Of the entire state.
during the past few years have voted
upon themselves an immense bonded
Indebtedness, which has made taxes
higher than they have ever been be-
fore. One result of this is seen in
the great increase in the amount of
property advertised for sale for nom
payment OF taxes. Every county in
south Florida now presents through
the newspapers the biggest delin-
quent tax list that il has ever had.
This is proof that the tax burden
has reached the limit Of the peoples
ability to bear. and the proposed in
crease by legislative enactment, if
put into effect, cannot but cause
widespread disaster.
Not only have the people of the
various counties and DISTRICTS taken
upon themselves an immense bonded
debt for public improvements, but
thousands of individuals, merchants,
fruit and vegetable growers and 9TH
ers, are operating on borrowed money
on which they are paying to 10 per
cent interest Now add $1,000,
600, or even half that amount to their
burden. and what can follow but dis
aster?
Here in this little town of Punta
Gorda, the total state, county, district
and municipal tax rate is now over
5 per cent on the valuation of the
property taxed The propositions of
the Legislature would bring this rate
up 10 8 per cent or over. The pros.
pect is simply disheartening to con,
template.
II is safe to say that every member
OF the legislature, both senate and
house. was elected on a platform of
economy, on either an expressed or
an implied pledge TO work for a re.
duction Of taxes The governor, in
his campaign for election, openly
promised to exert himself to the same
end
The people elected these men in the
belief that they we're not only honest,
but had the brains and ability to solve
the problems that were sure to come
before them. II they have not the
ability, il the problems are too deep
for them, they ought to have the can,
dor, honesty and patriotism to say
SOTO adept a resolution setting forth
the fact that they are unequal to the
task and calling for a special election
20 choose men of competence TO take
their places. and then resign. adjourn
and go home. Il is evident that they
are not keeping their pledges of econ
Omy which they made to the people
who elected them: and for this rea-
son alone, regardless of their incom,
pentency, the people have right to
demand and should demand their