The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-10-21

the public debt and providing a sinking
! fund.
Previous to the new assessment which
was completed in 1867, the basis of taxa
ton of this county averaged about eigh
million dollars on which was assessed AND
paid tax of ) ceuts on the 500 as State
tax. With this light tax the Republican
party carried the State through the war
and left treasury when it fell into the
hands of the Democratic party, with abun
dant means to pay all necessary demand:
and the interest on the State debt, which
was yearly diminishing. Assoon, however
as that party got into power an additional
debt of millions was placed upon the State
and the assessment on the property to meet
this increased burthen, raised to IS cents
on the 500. Under the new assessment
which took effect in 1868, the basis Of tax.
alton was raised in Cecil county in round
numbers to fourteen millions, which is
doubtless much higher valuation than on
property in most other counties Of the
State.
With these plain facts staring you in the
face, taxpayers of Cecil, without distinc-
ton of party, are you willing longer to be
gulled by ring of Office hunters and hold
ers who represent the Democratic party in
yourselves free and independent men by
voting to advance your own personal inter-
estS?
Believing that this plain statement of
the condition of the affairs of Cecil county
is sufficient to satisfy every independent,
right thinking man, that the. present party
in power is a gigantic fraud, we next pro-
pose to lay before you brief statement of
the financial affairs of the State, drawn
from the Comptrollers' Reports.
Notwithstanding. the heavy expenditures
that were required by the State under
Republican rule, in the payment of Boun-
ties to Volunteers and in tile purchase of
gold at heavy premiums to meet the inter-
est on Sterling Debt in London, only a
half million of the four million ''Dcfence
Loan" authorized to be sold to meet said
bounties, had been required; the other
sources of revenue having been ample to
meet the payments, without resorting to a
further sale of bonds; and in the message
of Governor Swami, based upon the Annual
Report of Comptroller Jump to the Demo-
cratic legislature assembled in the Winter
of 1867, it was stated that the heavy sum
of $3,F1, 2S6 SO had been disbursed under
the several Bounty Acts, and estimated
that iiot more than $460, 900 would be re-
quired, to pay the, balance, and that the
revenues of the State, if properly applied,
would n, adequate to the payment of this
sum, asswell as the other disbursements
requiredunder the State Government. with
out any further sale of the defence Loan
bonds. Mr.. TOME, our present candidate
for Governor, then member of the State
Senate, therefore believing the Act author
izing this Loan no longer necessary, secured
its repeal; but at the same Session some
crafty member had Bill introduced and
passed, " extending the provisions of the
Bounty Acts of 1864 and 1865, which was
construed by the Courts to cover a large
class of claims, including compensation TO
former owners of enlisted slaves, which
ware not previously contemplated nor intend
ed should be paid; the result of which was
that instead of the sum of $3.50, 900 meet
ing these payments, the enormous sum of
Too Millions Of Dollars has since that time
been disbursed by the State on this account.
AS consequence, the Defence Loan
Bill " was re-enacted in the following Ses-
sion of 1868, for the original amount of
four millions; nearly, if not quite all, of
which has been sold, and another Bill,
one hundred thousand dollars, has been
to the extent of both loans, and levies
made upon the taxpayers of the State to
meet the interest upon both.
In addition to the foregoing, the expenses
of each Session of the General Assembly
have been increased over $4,000; the
salaries of Judges have been increased
$40,0 annually; the appropriations to
Colleges and Academies have been increased
$15, 900 annually; Soldiers and Widows of
Soldiers of the War of 1912, receive an
nually about $4,000; various additional
institutions in which taxpayers have little
or no interest, annually receive over $685.
600; the sum of $4,000 is annually ex-
pended to aid immigration into the State,
a visionary scheme which never has resulted
in any advantage, except to the Agents;
and last, though not least, that humbug
and outrage upon the people, the militia"
system, which has caused an additional
annual expenditure of $4,000. Numer-
Gus other appropriations of no practical
benefit to the people, have from time to
time been made.
While the revenues of the State are stead
lily increasing from year to year, the tax
payer cannot expect any diminution of
the public debt or of the State taxes, so
long as the Democratic party hold the reins
of power. Had the same system of econo-
my that prevailed during the Republican
administration Of the State, been continued
by the Democrats, not only the increase of
the public debt would have been avoided,
but the State taxes would have been re-
duced to one-half the present rate; or in
others words, the taxpayers would have
been called upon to pay only the Public
School tax of ten cents on the hundred dol
lars. Continue the Democratic party in
power, and the chances are largely in favor
of further increase of taxes; while on the
other hand, should the Republicans be sue
cessful, a system of rigid economy, with
Mr.. Tome to preside over our State affairs
is sure to be inaugurated.
Again, the Public School system, while
it entails heavy expense upon the people,
which would lie cheerfully paid, if made
practically useful, has been tempered with
by inexperienced and prejudiced partisans,
until it has almost become dead letter.
THE JUDICIARY.
The better to illustrate, we will produce
a few of the leading items of expense: and
first we will take the Judiciary. Contrast
the expense to the State, under the system
in 1866, and the present expensive three
Judge systematic latter a purely Demo-
cratic arrangement. The following figures
are copied from the Comptroller's Report
OF 1867:
For salaries to Judges of Court
of Appeals, $4,000 90
To Judges of Baltimore City
Courts, $4,000 90
To Judges of Circuit Courts,
the Attorney General, State
Reporter, and Crier to Court
of Appeals, 1888 Al
Making total expense for the
Judiciary of the State of 500, 343. Al
From the Comptroller's Report of 1870,
we copy the expenses for the same items.
For salaries of Judges of the
Circuit Courts, $39, 200 90
For salaries of the Judges of
Baltimore City Courts, II, 500 90
Fer salaries of the Judges of
the Court of Appeals, Attor-
new General State RenOrter