Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-08-13
Reduction of the County Levy.-But
How.


Reduction of the County Levy.-But
How:
Mr.. EDITOR: In one of the late issues
of the Independent a correspondent. writ
ing from the 9Th district. has much to say
about good crops measles" '.pebbly
shores" and last, tho not least. 20 inform
ent Board of County Commissioners had
been in reducing our county levy. And
it is upon this last point | desire to say
something to your readers.
You are aware, sir. that the grand solu-
ton of the problem of political economy
is the great desideratum to be arrived at,
by the different political administrations
as the people are naturally and properly
allured by its practical solution or sue
cesstul application. Therefore, when those
in authority. either Democratic or Repub-
lican. publish or submit their annual state
ments. it is our duty to examine them
carefully and impartially. and it is for this
purpose and in this spirit that respect
fully call the attention of your readers to
the statement" lately published in your
paper.
If anybody will take the trouble to add
up the several columns of figures as pub
lished they will find about $1.92133 not
accounted for, but as the Collectors COM
missions are omitted. presume they would
be about that amount and are therefore
included in the amount Of $50, 1s. and
is simply al error Of the Clerk who made
out the statement. But upon further ex-
animation, | find with much regret and
surprise very remarkable omission for the
consideration OF -payers-regret, be-
cause | desire to see our taxes gradually
re0tuced-surprise, that those in power.
pledged To "Retrenchment and Reform"
should. this particular year, forget that
which they remembered SO well last year
to levy for the redemption Of our county
bonds
Mr.fditor, what does this mean Your
readers well remember their levy of 81, 800
last year to pay bonds and interest This
gear we notice $4S3.S0 levied to- pay inte-
rest only. We must infer from this amount
that something over $4,000 in bonds are
held by individuals in the county, and as
know some of them to be due, | will ask
any reasonable man in this county if he
considers it either wisdom or economy,
because those holding these bonds did not
make peremptory demand for their pay
ment, to allow this year TO pass, when they
could have levied two, three or four thou
sand dollars for the redemption of those
bonds, and thereby gradually reducing our
county's obligation in order that the bur
den of taxation might net fall 50 heartily up
on orr people at one time. Suppose Mr.
Editor, these gentlemen, or their admins
traitors, holding these bonds. should de-
mand their redemption next year, could
we possibly imagine or hope that our
taxes would be less than they are this
year; on the contrary, may we not safely
say they will be higher? Are we in any
worse condition this year, with our favor
able crops. to pay county bonds than we
were last year, when the Commissioners
levied $500 with our unfavOrable crops
in other words, would it not have been
better for our tax-paying people to pay a
part each year, than to apparently reduce
our taxes this year to be increased nertP
Again, Mr.. Editor, will some. of your
many readers inform us where, and to
what extent, were our public roads i'm
proved by the levy of $4,000 for 1874, over
that of 1873, when $4,000 was levied 2 We
knew that our taxes were increased last
year, and so far have been unable to find
or hear OF an improvement notwithstand-
ing we had to pay, as before stated, one
third more for our roads. This year, how
ever, they have initiated the example of
their predecessors by levying $4,000.
Having levied as usual last year for the
redemption of county bonds, and three
thousand more than usual for the roads, in
the name of justice-when they omit to
levy one dollar for the same purpose this
year-tel us how and where this is prac-
tically illustrating ''Retrenchment and Re-
form ?" This question of taxation has al
ways been, and will continue to be ofvital
Importance to our people, and when we
see our Commissioners emitting this year
what they properly did last year-the
sum being due and obliged to be paid at
a future day, and taxing us with the inte-
rest-it is time we were inquiring, Why
should our taxes be reduced this year to
be increased next? And in conclusion
allow me to say, Mr.. Editor, that when
heard our taxes had been reduced, know
ing they were increased last year, Twas gra-
titled and would most cheerfully have APP
plauGed them if their annual statement
would allow me. But these omissions,
this particular gear, for which we must an
ticipate taxes increased next, is entirely at
variance with what | conceive to be Re-
trenchment and Reform. Thanking you
for your kind indulgence, accept my best
wishes for you and yours. CITIZEN.