The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-04-14
AN OPEN. LETTER

Ocala, Fla, April 1Ztn-
Mr.. N. A. Fort, House of Represen-
tatives, Tallahassee, Fla:
NV dear Sir: AS you have often
asked me for some expression OF
views on legislative matters and
had little opportunity to talk with
you before you left, IN addition
want to make these further observa-
tions:
/ refused to sign any requests that
the legislature appropriate any mon
ev for the determination of the citrus
-canker, because / was In no position
TO weigh the Importance OF the var
ious pressing demands upon the state,
or. indeed, even to determine the
merits of the appropriation asked
independently Of the question OF the
present ability of the state to meet
such requests. For these reasons you
won't find my name on the petitions.
It is hardly necessary to tell you
my views about good roads, as dlffer-
ent phases of this question have SO
often been discussed between us, but
as so many matters are requiring
your attention / deem it proper 10
saw, first: there are no adequate laws
for the punishment of anyone VINO
may destroy the paved roads OF the
state. In proof of this. don't believe
anyone (outside of the municlpah-
ties) has ever been convicted for
damage to a public road in any part
of the state, and if so, he was GER
tainly not represented by an attorney.
Anyone who does any damage Of any
character to a public road should be
subject to immediate arrest by the
sheriff, it matters not how small the
damage may behave that question
to the good sense of the sheriff. IL
you undertake to define the character
cf the injury or the character OF the
vehicle some one will find new means
to ruin the public roads. This Grim
inal law, however, might provide an
exception in favor of those persons
employing the particular vehicle IN
the manner and over the particular
road as might be specified IN license
to be issued pursuant to resolution OF
the board of county commissioners,
such license not to cost exceeding
$3.50 and in no circumstances TO run
beyond the term of one year Second,
you well understand that the method
of condemning a right-of-way for a.
public road at the instance Of the
county commissioners is too cumber-
some, too expensive. and there are
entirely too many formalities con-
nected with the validity of such pro-
ceedings, useless notices to be given,
and indeed the commissioners have
little or no authority, as they are re-
stricted by the petitions filed before
them and the reports of the viewers.
These provisions make it wholly i'm
practical to construct public roads
the citizens cooperate. All that for
mality is absurd and unnecessary and
the directors of a railroad corpora
ton can in a few minutes pass the
necessary resolution as a foundation
for condemnation proceedings for the
condemnation of a right-of-way from
Jacksonville to Tampa quicker than
the county commissioners can carry
through the necessary proceedings
for condemning a road through ten
acres Of land.
1t is idle to talk about building
good roads until these two matters
are amended. In addition TO these
matters, the legislature should bear
in mind that the proper limits of tax
alton should be always somewhere in
side of the limits Of the benefits con-