The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1920-08-19

THE PUMA 6OkDA HEhAb
ment, persuasion, self interest, pre-
JUDGE and all other human emotions.
They hcve from 500 to 1000 bills
and questions TO weigh and consider
in the 60 days. They are besiegeG
by every class and faction to pass this
pet measure and that pet measure.
The crowd that cen make the most
noise can usually get the most re-
suits,
If the state proposes to bond for
roads there is only one just and prac-
teal plan for this bonding This
should be from Pensacola to Miami
via Jacksonville, from Tallahassee
via Perry, Mayo and down the west
coast to Fort Myers and from the
Georgia line via High Springs,
Gainesville and down through the
center of the peninsula. To con-
struct these roads would require
better than $50,000,000 at present
prices. Roads as here indicated
would materially benefit every per-
son in Florida.
If the state is going to bond then
concrete proposition should be pro-
posed, specifying the roads to be con-
structed, and fixing a definite amount
of bonds to be issued, otherwise ii
4 is unwise and dangerous.
| The advocates OF this present pro-
posed constitutional amendment pro-
pose that $20,O00,0OO of bonds can
be paid, interest and sinking fund,
out of tax on automobiles. This is
pure sophistry, and an argument to
catch votes on the blind side.
Automobiles are now taxed and
the proceeds arising therefrom go in
to the general revenue fund, school
fund and other funds. To divert this
automobile tax from these funds II
the state bond would mean that we
would have to add taxes to other
property to supplement the funds
depleted.
Again
The proposed constitutional amend,
ment does not fix the source from
which the interest and sinking FUND
shall be raised. Tits is left entirely
with the legislature, and the pr0pert!
taxed for this purpose can be chang
ed at any succeeding legislature.
Again:
Any tax raised in the state o.
Florida is bound to resolve itself in
to burden on the state as whole
| will venture to say that SO per cent
OF the owners of automobiles in The
state of Florida are rather to be pit
led than taxed. They pay an exorbi
tant tax in the price of the car, ant
then a continuous tax for gas and re
pairs. They have my sympathy
And again:
If this constitutional amcndmen
, is adopted and the 1islature passe
| bill authorizing the issue of bond
, and the bill provides that the inter
, est and sinking fuJd for said bond
= shall be raised by g tax on automc
t biles only, then l venture to say n
= bond buyer will invest his money /
| the bonds. To make those bonl
| understandable they are going to hav
Y to be made charge against all tn
[ properties in Florida.
, How any l2vel-headed, practic;
business man can give his supper
/ to this proposed constitution;
amendment is more than | cen unde'
stand. 1t went through the lcgi3l;
5 ture on a wave of good roads ell
thusiasm. Your humble servant di
G not vote for it. After it had pass5
= the senate and number of II
members realized what thy had pr
posed they changed to a vote again
: it. On it's passage two votes wei
!. recorded against it. On molten
|. reconsider the vote whereby it pas
!. ed on the table there were IS vote
!. against the amendment, enough
!. have killed it initially