The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-03-01
THE MANDAMUS RACKET

tax collectors fiscal agents OF the state
comptroller with authority to redeem
matured bonds and coupons in accepting
them in payment Of taxes.
The object of the bill is to put an end
to the mandamus racket practised against
the comptroller in Tallahassee. At pres
ent, whenever such bonds or coupons are
offered for redemption in the payment of
taxes, the comptroller is forthwith man.
dan1used, resulting, of course, in his hav-
ing to refuse to accept bonds and coupons.
Representative Denison, who is one of
Fort fierce's most prominent lawyers,
argues that, if his proposed bill becomes a
law, tax collectors can not be mandamused,
because they are acting merely as agents
for the comptroller, and the latter can not
be proceeded against because it will not be
he who will accept the bonds and coupons
for taxes.
Two important and sorely needed re-
suits would ensue from such a law, Mr.
Denison points out: first, relief of tax
payers, who, because of their precarious
financial condition, can not pay their taxes
in money, dollar for dollar, but will be able
to pay them in matured bonds and coupons,
which can be purchased at a discount, and,
secondly, the relief of counties through the
decreasing of their bonded Indebtedness.
Mr.. Denison believes that in reason
ably brief period, should his proposed
measure become a law, many counties in
the state will be able to decrease their
hondod indabf adnnco RI Gu crroof or, ovton+
their bonds will be worth their face value.
The bonded Indebtedness of so many
counties in Florida, contracted when vir-
tually everybody in the state, residents
and non-residents, were victims of the
boom fever, as a result of which they did
not entertain passing thought of the COM
ing of the day when they would have to
pay, pay, pay, is so far beyond their in
come there is no hope of effecting final
settlement for many distressing years I'M
less some method, similar to Mr.. Denison's,
is adopted and put into effect.
A man who contracts debt is morally
bound to pay it, and the same thing APP
plies to a county, but if it is impossible for
the man or the county to pay his or its
debt, because he or it has not the money
to pay it, then what course is there left
for the creditor to pursue?
In the cases of millions of men
throughout the country, since the depres-
sion began, debts have been paid at dis
count-The Citizen is aware of instances
in Florida where the discount has been as
much as 80 per cent, and the creditors
have been pleased to receive part of
what was owed them, because it has been
a question of getting a part or getting
nothing.
That rule has prevailed since the be-
ginning of civilization, and is based on the
age-old saying that one "can not get blood
out of stone."
Many an honest man, who would have
been happy to pay dollar for dollar in WHIP
ing out his Indebtedness, has settled up
for only part of what he owed because
wise.
The same thing applies with equal
force to many counties in Florida, which,
in the final analysis, are men and women
in the aggregate. 1t is impossible for the
counties to pay dollar for dollar, and that
impossibility is thrown far into the future
if no relief is obtained, hence, should they
not be accorded the privilege of paying
what they are able to pay?
Finally, why should counties (the
same thing applies to cities-a question
The Citizen will later discuss be
estopped from receiving in payment for
taxes bonds that they themselves issued
and were paid for? Were the bonds good
only for the county to sell and not to re-
deemg
The hairsplitter will reply, "Yes, TO
redeem them with money" but if the
county has not the money to redeem them
and can redeem them for what is owed it
in the form of taxes, why split hairs when
there Is no nfhar way 0uf9