The Ocala evening star., 1921-07-09


Of the Legislature.
Governor Hardee probably had a
detailed statement in abstract form
prepared for his perusal by the Comp
troller's Office.
Members of the Legislature also
probably derived information from
the Comptroller's Office.
As information, desire TO state that
was in Tallahassee for few hours
at beginning of the Legislative ses-
sion.
Governor Hardee and several Leg
islators asked me if the State Board
of Health millage could be reduced
without material injury to health of
the State.
pretend to be honest and told
them. YES.
based this reply upon the follow
ing facts:
First, the United States Public
Health Service and other agencies
have contributed approximately two
hundred thousand dollars in the past
two years for bettermeht of health
conditions in Florida.
The United States Public Health
Service has large appropriations and
if a CORDIAL COOPERATION is
extended by the State Board of Health
officials of Florida, it is more than
reasonable TO suppose that the Gen.
eral Government win continue liberal
appropriations in cooperation with
the Florida State Board of Health.
The former Board expended forty
thousand, eight hundred and seventy
nine dollars and sixty cents for furni-
ture, fixtures, equipments, automo-
biles. repairs on apparatus, construc-
tion and repairs on buildings.
There is balance due of approx
mately thirteen thousand dollars to
complete the laboratory now under
construction at West Palm Beach.
Add the amount of forty thousand
dollars expended for furniture, re-
pairs on buildings, construction, etc.,
to balance due on laboratory and in
round figures it amounts to. fifty
three thousand dollars.
The former Board left about eighty
three thousand dollars in the State
Treasury from which must be deduct
ed thirteen hundred dollars, due on
the West Palm Beach Laboratory,
leaving a. net amount of approximate
ly SEVENTY THOUSAND DOL
LARS.
The former Board COULD HAVE
ECONOMIZED whereby they would
not have found it necessary to have
expended the fifty-three thousand
dollars referred to above.
If we had played Tight -Wad" poll
itics as you intimate and not spent
this money, there would have been
one hundred and twenty-three thou
sand dollars in the State Treasury to
credit of the State Board Of Health
when the former Board retired.
Now, Doctor. you take it from Jose
phus, if there had been one hundred
and twenty three thousand dollars in
the State Treasury, it is my honest
opinion that the Legislature would
not have appropriated one red cent for
the State Board of Health.
The former Board operated on a
budget.
We spent additional amounts for
MATERIAL IMPROVEMENTS.
NO MATERIAL IMPROVEMENTS
WILL BE NEEDED IN THE NEXT
TWO YEARS.
The surplus left with the income
from ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT
and with a WISE ADMINISTRA-
TION you and your Board can carry
on the work that will be satisfactory
to the people of Florida.
The tax paying public represented
through members of the Legislature
have a RESENTMENT and HAVE
HAD against the State Board of
Health for many years.
During my term as member and
President of the State board of
Health, kept my EAR TO THE
GROUND and CLOSE AT THAT.
My conception of public sentiment
is that the tax payers of Florida are
of the opinion that the central health
plan as in vogue at this time and has
been for many years is a mistake.
The people want local County
Boards of Health to be supervised,
and supervised only, by the State
Board of Health.
The plan of the past and of the
present, but NOT OF THE FUTURE,
is an EMOTIONAL and WASTEFUL
manner of spending public money.
You know and I know, in fact ev-
erybody who is familiar with the
State Government. that the State