Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-01-11
JUSTICE OF REAPPORTIONING

JUSTICE OF REAPPORTIONING
In contribution to the st. Angus.
tine Record, j. A. Rowand makes
some very pertinent suggestions as
to possible legislation and constitu'
tional changes when the state has
voted for reapportionment at the
polls next fall-provided the voters
do vote for Reproducing. Mr.
Rowand points out condition that
has been commented on at every ses-
sion of the legislature-that the pros
porous counties are called on to pay
operating expenses of the less pros
porous counties. And yet these less
prosperous counties have more repre-
sentation in the legislature. When
representation has been equitably ad-
justed, believes Mr.. Rowand, 1--WE
should amend our constitution so as
to separate state and county taxes;
let each county pay to the State tax
in proportion to its size, then be free
to tax itself for a sum sufficient to
take care of it's individual needs:
There are 32,O99,052 acres in the
State, the counties range in size from
40,S63 acres, to 2,455,640 acres, and
the least county pays more of the
State tax than the biggest county,
(see Comptrollers Report for 1920;
this is not right Nor is it right to tax
The people in one county to educate
the children in another. Added wealth
brings added expense, these richer
counties need all the money they can
get to pay their own expenses; look
at the condition of their school boards,
they owe from a few hundred thous-
and dollars to almost two and half
million dollars; then look at the
School Boards of the twenty-five
counties that are being helped by the
balance of the State, they are in much
better shape. | am sure these latter
counties can educate their own chill
dren without any outside assistance,
but Section 6 of Article IL of the Con-
Stitution don't ask US if we want to
pay it, neither does it ask them whe-
Their or not they want this help, it
simply provides for the collection and
distribution of this fund in the man.
ner that we are doing it, and l think
it should be repealed.
To bring about these changes in
our Constitution:
list. Amend Sec. l of Art 9 Of the
Constitution so as to read as follows:
Tbs legislature shall provide for
unEC.m and equal rate of taxation
for State purposes, thereby taxing
each county in proportion to the num-
her of acres contained therein, and
authorize the several counties to fix
their own values on both real and
personal property, and make their
rate to suit their individual needs:
Except such property as may be eX
empt by law for municipal, education
al, literary, scientific, religious or
charitable purposes.
2nd. Repeal Sec, 6 of Art, u. This
is the Section that takes money out
of one county to help educate the chill
dren in another: See Comptroller's
report for 1920 beginning at page 134
and ending on page 294; money is ia
ken out of every progressive county,
and It is sent into counties whose
school boards have very little bonded
Indebtedness, and could educate their
own children, and would do it if it
were not for this clause.
Bird. Amend Sec. Art. II In line
3 after the word provided" strike
out, including the special tax.
4th. Amend Sec. s Art. II. After
the word "tax," strike out the balance
of section, and insert in lieu thereof,
sufficient to meet the requirements of
its school board.
9Th. Amend Sec. Art. II. In
line 8 after the word fund" strike
out, and of the one mill State tax
apportioned to the county.
9Th. Amend Sec. 9 Art. II. In
line II after the word exceed" strike
out the word "three" and insert the
word five"
With these amendments every
county would pay it's own expenses;
we could put our property on the tax
books at full value, lower our millage,
and make much better showing than
we can today. This sectional feeling
will die out; and neither East, West
North, OF South Florida will want to
divide the State.
WILL YOU HELP PAY TRIBUTE
az. urnnnDnU VIII CON7