Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1875-12-10

Mr. Editor:-l have re-read your editorial OF
the 10th ult., ''Retrrnchment," and hnd il
80 admirable and suggestive, that cannot re-
fraiu from troubling you with another article
Your endorsement vi the recommendation
Of he late Grand Jury for the creation of the
Office OF County Treasurer, to take tile place
OF The five gentlemen Collectors, 10 receive, in
stead OF collect, the taxes, is I. measure vi re-
form which iAe people cannot tail 10 approve
when once adopted and put in practice, ms in
the city OF Baltimore aud several OF the coun-
ties of the Slate The plan is To levy the me-
cessdry per cent Of taxes, subject 10 II discount
Of or q per cent. it paid by a certain day
fixed and advertised by the Treasurer.
Under this inducement, have seen the
throng in Baltimore al the Treasures Office
so great that the taxpayers would have to take
their places in line, as at election polls, and
wait their turn to deliver their cash and get
their tax bills receipted For delinquent tax
payers, after given lime, say the first OF the
next January, interest is charged, and a
month later, bills thai remained unpaid
placed in the hands of the Sheriff for collec
ton. This plan has the merit OF reward
ing promptitude and b. consequence enconr-
age economy, and of Furnishing, as lightly as
possible and with the least expense, hardness
and delinquency.
A great saving to the county will also be
jurors to remain at home, attending TO their
private business, until their services nre want
ed by the court. This also Will tend to en-
courage better habits, for of all things disgust
ing aud tending to evil habits the practice OF
ounging about COURTROOM, with nothing
10 do, is among the worst.
The substitution of one for three Judges Of
our Circuit and Orphans Courts, is another
excellent suggesIion-ful Of economy to the
IL Il tel
Of business, without iupairiag the ends OF
justice. II was the opinion of the excellent
laie Judge Brewer, founded upon prolonged
experience in both systems that the one judge
system hasiened the trial of cases and fulfilled
ali The ends OF Justice by concentrating respon-
siuility and greatly lessen the cxl ense Of the
judiciary.
Only TO think of three grave and learned
judges, us is now frequently the case, al
aggregate salary Of SO 900, and with twelve
jurors, sitting ii whole day to listen 10 the
dispulatious of an array Of LAWYERS over the
larceny of turkey, or n case Ut less thaa The
value OF five dollars. The spectacle borders
upon the ridiculous.
In connection with this reform would al
so suggest that our County Clerk, Register
and Commissioners Offices might not be un
worthy OF some attention in behalf Of the
people by their chosen representative
Really, public roads cannot be made too
good, and upon such liberal expenditure, is
not only iusti6ablr, but often absolutely ne
cessary and where the road tax is wisel,
and properly applied, it invariably produces
three resul,s-hrst. N saving OF lime second
economy of team; third social intercourse
and happiness is promoted. But to regard
the numerous roads in this county laid out ~
the public expense upon the dividing line OF
MIR. Jones aud Mr.. Smiths farms public
roads. is as ridiculous rs absurd.
The very description in the published notice
IF application to the County Commissioners
for examiners, stamps them as for private sc-
c,mmodation. Thai for the public is always
ION The most eligible route between given
points, regardless of existing lands or the d.
viding lines Of neighboriug farms. Let the
new board of County Commissioners signalize
Themselves upon the threshold and adopt tn,
true public policy upon the subject OF county
roads. and cease to open keep up private
roads al public expense and my word for it,
better ronds aud at great saving OF expense
to the county will be the result. II this can.
not be done, then let hem adopt the District
system recommended by pubic meeting OF
intelligent citizens held in Rockville more
than y year ago. This will relieve the conn
~ entirely of the road tax, and leave it to
each neghborhood 10 take of itself, AS
its wants, means aud public spirit may die
tate.
Upon the subject Of public schools let the
great apostle OF Democracy, the statesman and
philosopher, Thomas Jefferson, speak. In his
notes Of Virginia, he says: Another object
of revisal is, 10 diffuSe knowledge more gem
orally through the mass of the people This bin
proposes o lay off every county into several
districts OF five or six miles square, and i'll
each of them to establish school for teaching
reading, writing and arithmetic, the tutor TO
be supported by the hundred and every person
in it entitled to send their children two years.
gratis, and AS much longer rs they please 10
pay tor. These schools to be under visitor.
who is annually to choose the boy of best
genius in the school of those whose parents
are too poor TO give them further education,
and then to send him forward to one of the
grammar schools, of which twenty are proposed
to be erected in different parts Of the State for
teaching Greek. Latin, geography and the
higher branches of numerical arithmetic. OF
the boys thus sent in one year. trial is TO be
made at the grammar schools or two
years, and the best genius of the whole
lec;ed and continue for six years and the resi-
due dismissed.
There are several points in this plan of Mr..
Jefferson worthy of note:
|. That he considered it the duty of the
State TO provide gratuilons education for its
youth.
As he evidently was not believer in
unimproyed genius, that this education
should be of that elementary and necessary
character to fit them for the ordinary business
OF life, viz reading. writing aud cyphering
3. That for the few who possessed genius
and talent, higher grade Of education should
be provided for those not able to obtain il, ex-
cept by the aid of the State
4. That this plan of promotion presents the
strongest motive and incentive TO diligence
and industry, SO as 10 via the prize of promo
lion.
5. lis completeness in providing for the
education of all according to their ability and
capacity, without retarding and keeping back,
as in our system, those whose genius fits
them for higher grade of education, or by
examining those less gifted with studies of no
practical value. and which are forgotten soon
err than acquired.
6. Its great economy when once compared
with the New England system, which we, at
great expense, have adopted, and, as vet,
with very unsatisfactory results.
The fact that we are now obtaining our
best teachers from Virginia, is The strongest
evidences in favor of the value and wisdom OF
Mr.. Jeferson's plan.
1t is further recommended by the additional
fact, that after long life devoted to the sub
ject he should have left, as his last direction,
that it be inscribed upon his tomb, Author
of the Declaration of Independence, and
founder OF the University of Virginia
December 4, rs A. B. D.