The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-10-06
"A MORTGAGE on FLORIDA"

(
The following from the Times
Union is pretty good stuff for the
voters to chaw on:
Referring to the arguments Oh the
road bond amendment, the Miami Her
aid says:
| "Much has been said by the gentle
men who are vigorously supporting
the proposed amendment to the con-
/ stitution. about the manner IN which I
the taxes to pay interest and create
sinking fund to repay the bonds, VIII
be imposed Their plea is that all
/ such taxes shall be laid upon auto
mobiles owned in the state by advanc- !
ing the license tax fifty per cent over
the tax now imposed. They propose
plan by which the legislature shall
only issue such bonds as will be re-
quired to be issue to furnish funds for
the two-year period succeeding the
Legislative session. until the Hmita-
tions of the constitution, as it would
be amended, are reached. They have
Eendorsed and believe that the plan of
] the state road board will also be
4
lature, that provides for a comprehen-
T sive system of roads, including five
j, great main thoroughfares. They as
) sert that the federal government viii
match dollar for dollar the money
that Florida will raise for good roads
: and that. therefore. this state will Sc
5 cure two dollars worth of roads for
n every dollar spent by the people of
Y the state"
t The Herald clearly points out the
: fact that the legislature cannot be
e bound by the announced plans of the
II advocates of bonds. 1t can issue the
G bonds in such sum as it sees proper,
Y governed only by the limitation that
e it will have no power to issue bonds In
% greater amount than FIVE per cent of
IS the assessed valuation of the state at
it the time of issue 1t can collect the
money as it pleases provided only il
collects enough to meet the interest
70 on the bonds and provide FOR the pay
6 naent at maturity 1t must also pro
e vide for keeping the roads in repair
n The promises of the advocates Of
n nonds amounts to nothing at all.
70 To make them amount to something
1s they should have been Incorporated il
n the amendment referred to the PEG
70 fple What if after the resolution pro
II viding for the issue of bonds tn,
N words had been added: "But it is dis
III tinctly agreed that the interest OF
q these bonds is to be paid and tn
ct bonds shall be retired at maturity onl.
nj by the revenues received from tn
at license fees on motor-drawn vehicles
pt and that the real and personal prop
IF ertv of the state is not liable for thei
~ payment" IF this proviso had bee
to tackled on the end of the amendmen
the bonds would not have been sol
for two cents on the dollar
But that is lust what the people G
Florida are BEING assured. Why nc
=. tell it to the owner of the mortgag
as well as the man who has it to pay
- That would be honest.
- The assertion that the federal go1
'ne eminent will match dollar for dolls
:; for any monev appropriated by tt
~ e state for roads. while frequent
= made, is not true, and the men WI
make the statement know it is NJ
true. The government appropriate
$50 what it pleases for this purpose ar
IN lit will spend about eleven hundre
" thousand dollars for it in Florida ne,
!. Id year. But it would not spend a doll;
ver more if Florida spent half billie
mi on roads.