The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-10-15
THE BETTER WAY

signed: T. ED. BRYAN.
THE BETTER WAY
The Tribune is for good roads: its
record along that line is too well estab.
iished for Il 10 need to answer a
charge to the cOntrary.-Tampa Tri5-
une.
viii II please formulate a plan how
10 obtain them without q bond issue
or a tax of some description. We are
for a better way" If it be possible to
formulate a better way.-Ocala Ban
ner.
The veteran Dean of the Florida
prass" has been too long leading the
people of this state along the paths of
political sanity and economic right to
believe for a moment that it is pos
sible to have public roads without
bond issue or a tax of some sort"
There Is better way" than amend
ing the state constitution to give the
legislature power and authority to
ssue bonds at its WILL in amount and
frequency. without giving the people
the right to say whether they APPROX
ed or want the issue, or not, as they
now have the right to say.
Hillsborough county bonded itself,
and built with the proceeds, good
roads TO the value of $2,219,000; the
city OF Tampa. and the city of Plant
City have bonded FOR roads (streets)
10 practically as much more. Hills
borough county and it's incorporated
cities have double taxed themselves
90 buy and pay for $5,000,000 worth
OF the finest roads and steets in Flor
ida. And the people of this county
alone-the tax payers-are taking
care OF interest and sinking fund on
these nearly five millions in roads
and street bonds.
II n were not for such counties as
HiHsborough. and half a score more in
. the EAAAEs AntAG NOQlh NC lO opplOOA
able automobile license fund to look
to as the Understanding, and redemp-
tion-making fund of a proposed bond
issue reaching into the many millions,
for there would be no good roads, and.
no automobiles either, resident or
visiting. TO speak of. Hillsborough
and these other few counties, by bond
ing themselves and building their own
roads. have made it possible for these
bond advocates to even think of such
q scheme as they have concocted.
when they speak of what we have
done" I'm the way of road building, it
makes US think OF the old man who
climbed the tree when danger was
around. but when the old woman kill
ed the beast. ran around Dragging how
I'VE killed the bear"
Marion county. one of the Oldest and
one of the richest counties in the state
has road bond debt of only $560,00O;
and the Ocala Banner. one of its great
est newspapers. is crying for Hills
borough. and the rest of the state TO
pitch i'm and help Marion county build
it's roads!
Frankly. wouldn't it be a better
way" for Marion, and each other coun-
~. TO build and pay for its own roads
and then turn the completed whole
over 10 a state department charg-
ed with the maintenance, and which
maintenance. and its cost, could be
taken care of out of the automobile
license fund?-Tampa Tribune.
II a tax should be placed on gasoline
70 provide for the payment of the in
terest and for the final redemption of
the bonds issued for the building of
good roads it is not proposed that the
retailers of gasoline shall pay the tax
but Il will be collected in the. same
way as the picture show manager
Is supposed to pay the war tax ON the
ticket he sells or the Coca-Cola dealer
the tax on the glasses he dispenses
over the counter. The picture tax is
paid by the one who enjoys the luxury