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

numbers about eight millions of dollars.
The levy of 1868 was the first laid on the
new assessment of property in the county,
which was increased to fourteen millions.
The following amounts were assessed
and collected as taxes for County and
School purposes in the years placed oppo-
site the several sums:
1861. County tax, $50, 1877 90
Public schools included in
$3.50 above, $685.. SO
1862 County tax, 43, 321 03
including schools 9,9T 25
1868. County tax, $4,000 SO
including schools, $3.50 81
1864. County tax, 5s,15s 70
including schools 16, 027 II
1865. County tax, 46, e4s o3
including schools 8, 500 90
1866. County tax, 1886. "a
including schools 16, 302 %
1867. County tax, 1885 10
(There was no tax levied
this year for Public schools,
the Democratic legislature
having repealed the Public
school law
1868. County tax, 99,e4s SO
including schools IA, s35 50
1869. County tax, So, 700 So
including schools 81 ,427 So
1871. County tax, 107,917 30
including schools "a, COS 12
1871. County tax, 90, 157 "a
including schools 90, 6O3 81
In 1864, there was. in addition to the
amounts of tax stated in the above table,
Bounty to Volunteers levied, of $50, 900,
and in 1865, an additional tax for the same
purpose collected, of So, 700; which, not
legitimately belonging to the customary
county expenses, we have omitted in the
statement of expenses for those years, Civ
ing only the current expenses; for County
and School purposes.
1t will be seen that after 1866 the amount
of tax has rapid annual rise. In that
year the Democrats got possession of the
State, and County Commissioner Weldon,
elected by the Union party, turned over to
them, and was nominated and reelected
the next year by the Democrats.
When the Democratic machinery got
fairly to work in the county. in 1867. and
the School law had been brought to dead
halt by the Democratic legislature, in the
contest waged in the General Assembly,
between the friends of Public Education
and its enemies, a levy of ST., 355 10 was
made on the county, which was higher, by
nearly two thousand dollars, than the pre-
vious years levy, Notwithstanding that
thousand dollars for Public schools.
Now glance at these Democratic years,
from 1866 to the present time, when that
party has had its will of the County and
State taxes, and behold the figures how
they swell in majestic proportions. In the
language of Pope
"IIills mount DER hills and Alps on Alps arise"
And the School tax, too, after the Demo-
cracy doctored the school law at Annapolis,
rises year after year in the same grand
swelling numbers. In the years preceding
1866, inclusive, the School tax averages a
little over I'll 500; while the levy for Public
schools for the last four years, which is the
period covered by the Democratic Public
school system, averages upwards of $685.
200 annually. Why is this difference in
the annual increase of the school tax under
Democratic control double that under
Republican management? Have we better
schools now than formerly, or are they open
for longer term in each year? With two
dollars for one in expenditure, we ought to
not, as every one knows.
While on this subject, it may be we'll to
revert to prices of almost everything during
the years $685., when the farmer sold
his wheat for $2.50 to $500 and upwards
per bushel, and hay, oats, corn and stock
at corresponding rates. Gold reached as
high as ITO during these years of war prices
Now and since the Democrats have been in
power, the farmer does not realize more
than half these prices for his produce, and
gold is but 100 12c premium. But the
taxes laid upon the impoverished and over
burthened people, behold them rising in
one of those years in round numbers to
$1OS,OOO.
r. ho
Democratic party, or rather the ofhce-hold
ing "Ring" of that party, which has
lorded it over the county for the last five
years, charged the Union party with cor
ruption and reckless extravaganza, when
they were seeking to displace that party,
and appealing to the people to Ieinstate the
Democratic party in the county as a matter
of economy. But what do the figures
reveal to betrayed and outraged people /?
Behold the taxes now almost double, while
every article you buy or sell is about half
The price it was when an economical Union
Republican party levied the taxes and man.
ged with frugal hands the finances of the
ounty and State.
We have shown by faithful transcripts
I'm the county records, the sums levied
an collected. When the farmers produce
Wa high, light taxes were required of him
sA.o Soubty SofOlbhChU, ny
Renblican officers; but when everything
he rs to sell is down to figures that require
him'o practice the most rigid economy to
max his receipts meet his necessary ex-
penss, we find his taxes doubled by Demo-
eratittax-gatherers, and in the depths of
his depair he asks, uhy is IT,?
by hrther transfers of figures from the
the sane faithful county records, we will
endeavr to show why this state of affairs
exists, md where those vast sums of money
have goe to. From multitude of minor
items ofexpense, which an examination of
the levy lists reveals, we select few of the
most prominent and leading ones, and give
each one separately, running through a
series of eeven years, from 1861 inclusive.
And first W. will take the Office of Sheriff,
and state the amount of tax levied for, and
PAID to, that officer, which is independent
individuals
i iSoa sheiff, 81, SOB 70
Ioos. 1854 SO