The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-06-19
To Tie Taxpayers of Cecil County, and
WhomSOeycr This May Concern.

WhomSoeycr This May Concern.
About the 9TH of May, 1868, accepted the
unenvablc appointment to act as School
| Commissioner for the 18th Election District
of this county.
| Section 4 of chapter 3 of the Public
/ School Law clearly shows what the County
| Commissioners are thereby authorized, EN-
powered. directed and required to do in the
case of levying and collecting such tax
upon the assessable property of such county
as the Board of School Commissioners shall
designate as sufficient to make good the
deficiency. Section in chapter clearly
sets forth further duties; and from my con-
struction of said School Law, | see nothing
that would Justify the School Commission
ers to suspend the schools for want of funds
to pay the necessary expenses, &c.
When the County School Board organi-
zed in May, 1868, the books clearly showed
that all the outstanding debts, contracted
for by the former Board, were more than
we then had any prospect of funds to pay,
unless some of the new levy was applied to
that purpose. For that reason the Board
declined to commence the schools before
the list day of September, 1868. l will
here admt-and think the the Board will
bear me out when l say that the Board
made a mistake in not asking for such
levy as would have met the necessary re-
quirements of said law-I advocated a levy
of fifteen cents on the one hundred dollars;
but as some of said Board were sin favor
Of economy" said levy was finally voted
down to ten cents on the one hundred dol
lars, being one-tenth of one per cent. on
the assessable property. Now to explain
such economy to the taxpayers, is to tell
them that to meet the necessary payments,
falling due quarterly, said School Board
was forced to borrow money, and pay per
cent. interest for said accommodation
whereas, if the levy of fifteen cents on the
one hundred dollars had been asked for,
made and levied by the County Commits
sioners, this excessive interest could have
been avoided. Our Honorable County Com
missioners cannot plead ignorance of the
effects of a short levy for l think l can
safely say that they borrowed money to meet
necessary wants, and paid at least nine per
cent. interest Why is this excessive inter-
est exacted? Because there is no levy made
that would guarantee the ultimate payment
of the principal, which can only be met by
renewal. l think the Supervisors could say
something in regard to how promptly they
received their pay. Now the School Board |
have asked for a levy of twenty cents on
the one hundred dollars, which it is clearly
evident it will require to keep the schools !
open and pay the suspended debt, which, |
presume, no one will doubt, will some day
have to be paid by the taxpayers. But |
their Honors, the County Commissioners,
assumed the authority to make it fifteen
cents on the one hundred dollars, in place |
of twenty cents, which it will require to |
keep the schools open and pay the liabilities
of said School Board without counting what |
it ought to cost for repairs of old school !
houses or for building any new ones where
they are required. Now, twenty cents on !
the one hundred dollars would be one fifth
of one per cent. on the assessable property, !
and | think there is no considerate tax-pay-
CT, living in this county, who would not !
prefer this levy to having the debt accumr,-
late by the excessive interest which sooner |
or later must be paid and think and am |
satisfied, that the levy for 1870 will have
to be increased more than the total levy of |
1869 was reduced from the levy of 1865
But I cannot see in what particular the !
levy for the School Board for school pur-
poses could effect the popularity of our .
worthy County Commissioners; if it effect
ed any, it must fall upon the County School |
Commissioners. AS look upon the School |
Law, it makes it obligatory upon the !
County Commissioners to make such levy
as the School Board require.
1t is a ruinous economy to conduct |
any legitimate business on a borrowed cap
ital at per cent, and the creditor cannot |
borrow at per cent. when he cannot give
good security for its payment at maturity;
and when I, individually, cannot pay those
whom employ in cash as they earn it, I |
will stop. And cannot consent to act as
an officer in any capacity when l cannot
pay those who have right to claim it when
due. Truly yours,
J. J. HECKART,
School Commissioner of the 7th Election
District of Cecil county.
To tie Honorable, the Gommissioners Of
Cecil county, Nd:
hereby send you my resignation of the
..Ii;.., e.cG IL.