The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-06-03

Division.
The merchant should favor the
five-county plan, for it will bring him
more business. If he will but stop
and think how much money is paid
to the oftice-hold'ers in Arcadia every
year and how little of II benefits him
tall, he will see the wisdom of cut
ting this vast territory up into small
ting his vast territory up into small
er units. In Arcadia four county
fees more than 100000 year. How
much CT this money do you, Mr.. Pun
ia Gorda Merchant, Mr.. Wauchula
Merchant, Mr.. Moore Haven Mer-
chant, Mr.. Sebring Merchant, Mr.
Avon Park Merchant, get? Not a
dollar.
Only One Salaried Oflcer-Oficials
Get Fees
Create five counties and you have
five sets of county officials. These
officials are paid in fees. Not a dol
pay salaries, except in the case of the
county superintendent, whose salary
we have not taken into consideration
in the 100000 mentioned. The fees
paid these county officials would not
be materially reduced. The sheriff
of a small county would have more
time to look after the duties of his
office, which would mean a better en-
forcement Of our laws, the arrest and
conviction of more criminals or the
| lessening of crime-the latter the
most preferable.
The county clerk would still have
err counties development would be
more rapid, realty transfers increas-
ed and a greater pro rata Of in
struments would be handled than in
this vast empire as 1t now stands.
Probably in the smaller counties the
fees would not amount to 5000
of $4,000 a year, but have we ever
had a man for county clerk who was
capable of earning $4,000 or $4,000
a year in private life? Plenty of
men-good, capable men-would be
glad to fill the position as county
clerk, even If they only averaged
$4,000 to $4,000 year.
Division Means All Property Would
be Assessed.
The tax assessor would add
enough taxable values to the tax
| 4 ;rr En-, nd
the collector handsome incomes. If
they did not, then they would not be
doing their duty, for we know OF
many instances where property own
ers holding valuable tracts of land
are paying ridiculously low taxes.
For instance, we know OF one forty
acre tract, twenty acres of which is
planted to grove Clearing trees), up
on which the owner paid in 1918
$50 taxes. He recently sold TWEEN
ty acres of this land for SIS, 500 cash
Think of it---forty acres Of land, one
half of which sold for $500 cash
.aad only $50 taxes! Another con
Germ with land equally valuable is as
sessad 50 an acre for this rich land
At Sebrng a man owning valuablt
ten-acre grove desired to pay his tax
es ard it was discovered that he haC
not been assessed at all.
And these are not the only in
stances wherein the small landowner
is paying taxes in order that the mar
with large holdings may escape his
just portion of taxation. Are you
Mr.. Small Property Owner, willing
that these conditions should exist
perpetually? Or will you help rem
edy them by casting your vote fol
men who favor equality in taxation
better government, better schools
better roads, the more equable dis.
bursement of public moneys and
court houses located nearer youl
property?
Division Candidates Pledged tn
Five-CouEty Plan.
The division candidates for state
senator and representative are pledg-
ed to do all in their power, If elected,
to work for county division on the
fve-county plan. They the ex-Sena-
tor F. M. Cooper and DR.. e. J. Eth
eredge, both experienced in legisla-
tive matters and both men whom you
can depend upon to do just as they
say they will do.
Their opponents are men brought
ont by few large selfish interests,
the politicians and the abstractors,
who will go the limit to thwart the
will of the people and prevent the
cutting Of DeSoto county into small
er units. They are men dictated to
by those who disregard the rights of
others ip order that they themselves
may reap large benefits, regardless of
whether or not the march of progress