The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-03-13
FROM MR.. FORT
Our Junior Representative Gives Hi
Ideas on Needed Legislation

Ideas on Needed Legislation
Editor Star: fully agree with you
when you said the legislature should
be careful in enacting laws at the
coming session. As we have strength
and vision we should have community
of purpose and action to meet the
conditions set before US, lest they
slip away from US. Two of the most
vital conditions are money and labor.
The national government is helping US
to help ourselves by appropriating
large sums of money to the states for
roads, conditioned that each state
raise equal amounts as apportioned
to them, to meet this condition. / do
not think we need SO many new laws,
but rather amending and abolishing
some of our present ones. My ex-
perience in county work has convinc-
ed me that some of our revenue laws
are very bad No honest man OBJ
jects TO paying a reasonable tax, but
he does object to paying taxes on a
fair valuation of his property, while
the dishonest man and the dodger in
measure goes free. Our present rev.
enue system makes this inequality
possible. We do not need higher taxes,
but equality in valuations. We need
a system that would work out a 100
per cent valuation and a proportions
ate reduction in millage. / make the
assertion that enough taxpayers could
refuse to pay their taxes to stop the
wheels of state and county govern
ment. Have we men who do not pay
tax and still remain in possession
Of their property? Yes. there are
cases of this kind. Oh. you say; sell
his property. That has been done.
Tax certificates stand against 1t; he
stays in possession and bids defiance
tx. the law. Can it be remedied? Yes,
and / favor doing it by amending the
law to the extent of selling enough
Of his property to pay his taxes-the
sheriff putting the purchaser in pos
session and the state making him a
deed, thus eliminating tax certificates.
I favor laws that would equalize and
standardize values on property once
every two years. The labor problem
should have careful attention. Chang
ed conditions makes it necessary to
change the law to meet the conditions.
The fact that Congress has made
large appropriations to the states for.
road purposes necessitates the stats
or counties raising an equal amount.
/ note Georgia, Alabama and the
Earolinas are strongly advocating
bonding the states to raise money to
meet the federal appropriation, and
build a. system of state highways.
This plan looks good to me. Of course
we would have to amend the constitu-
tion to issue bonds for road purposes.
am strongly IN favor of abolishing
the convict lease system. We need
reasonable labor on the roads. | must
add here that we must stamp our
condemnation upon overwork or abuse
Of these unfortunates.
/ favor a law compelling bonded Of
ficers making their bonds In reliable
security companies.
I favor memorializing Congress to
create a, national game preserve of a
portion of the national forest of this
county. In this, / believe. / will sue
ceed. / also favor a very strict game
law, one that the all the year hunter
must respect.
/ am favorable to a constitutional
convention and re-apportionment. Our
present constitution has been amend
ed till it is frazzled and yet does not
meet our needs.
/ am not yet favorable to the bank
guarantee law as advocated by some.
Horuavpr NAV change my mind
I believe there should be consti-
tutional amendment submitted TO the
people on woman's suffrage.
believe we need other changes IN
the laws, but can't mention them here.
/ beg for cooperation, advice and
suggestion from the people. ! mean
to give you the best in me.
Yours to serve,
Norman A. Fort.