The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1920-09-24
ERECTING scAREcRows

Of all other classes, is not only repug-
nant TO the descendants of those who
fought In the Revolutionary War for
that equality OF burden sharing which
this country guarantees today, but it
Is antagonistic to that principle of
equity WHICH declares that those who
benefit most from a tax must bear
the greater share of its raising.
pa Tribune.
We have read the Constitutional
amendment providing for bond issue
for the building of good roads very
carefully and can not understand how
the esteemed Tribune can arrive at
its conclusions.
We reprint the amendment for it's
further inspection:
The Constitutional Amendment
"The Legislature shall have power
to provide for issuing State bonds
only for the purpose of repelling in
vasion or suppressing insurrection,
or for the purpose of redeeming or re-
funding bonds already issued at a
lower rate of interest, or for the pur-
pose of acquiring, building and main
tanning a system of good roads and
bridges throughout this State under
such regulations as may be prescrib-
ed by an act Of the Legislature; pro-
vided, that any bond issues authoriz-
ed in pursuance hereof for a system
Of good roads and bridges shall not
exceed in amount five 90 per cent. Of
the total tax assessment of the state
at the time OF ISSUE"
There is no clause. no clue, nothing
that we can see on which to base the
assumption that II ratified by the
voters OF this state, under this
amendment the sacred traditions for
which our revolutionary sires fought
will be uprooted; that the principle
of equity which declares that those
who benefit most from a tax must
bear the greater burden of it's rails
ing"
Now to US there seems to be no
ambiguity, nothing obscure, no hidden
dynamite in this amendment which
requires a Solomon or Scion to per-
ceive and interpret.
Under the provisions of this amend
ment 1t seems to us that the legisla-
ture Is given wide latitude and it can
invest the commission that will be ap.
pointed by Carey A. Hardee with
powers to formulate the very best plan
possible for the building of good roads
and we have no doubt that the plans
that the commission will originate
will bear just as lightly upon the tax
payers as a wise and prudent economy
can suggest.
To us time is fleeting, opportunity
Is pressing. and If we are to enjoy the
luxury OF good roads their construc
ton can not be put off for ten or
twenty years.
Now is the accepted time.
We have been told since child
that the streets of the New Jerusalem
are paved with gold and ornamented
with the richest jewels, but if we shall
ever inhabit those celestial regions
we hope to be provided with wings
so the gold paved streets will be but
little utilized, but during our remain
ing stay on this earthly sphere we
should like to share the luxury of ordi
nary paved roads-not of gold but. of
asphalt or concrete.
We haven't the time to wait so we
beg our able contemporaries not to
set up bogies and scare-crows which
will prevent us this enjoyment.
II the Commission appointed by
Governor Hardee shall have the wis.
dom to adopt Commissioner McRae's
suggestion Ii does occur to us that
these roads can be constructed with
out the taxpayers ever realizing
particle of the burden.
A minimum tax on gasoline will do
the business and as one gallon of
gasoline will drive car twenty miles
over a good road to ten miles over a
bad one the cost will be absolutely
annihiliated without taking into con.
sideration the immense saving OF the
damage by wear. tear and breakage.
Then. too, the luxury of good roads
compared to the misery and wretched.
ness caused by bad ores needs no
enumeration.
II one Is for good roads now is the
time to put their good intentions into
practice.
For the love OF the beautiful and
good don't approach this subject with
the vOfca of Iacoh and 4ha harI. "a