The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-03-17
The Collection of Taxes.

MIR EDITOR: | see by your issue of the a5lh
nltimo, that you favor y reduction of the com
missions heretofore allowed to collectors for the
collecting of county and State taxes TO four Der
cent. hereafter That would be but nibbling at
extravaganza, and would avail very little in
bringing about proper and necessary economy
The disease lies deep and must be probed TO the
bottom. Experienced surgeons cut deep when
operating for the eradication of foul and dam
gcrous ulcers; quacks cut but skin deep, which
only irriatcs and aggravates the disease The
idea of givinga man 81 ,S25 for about six months,
attention to business, when Just as good and
safe men land much safer than some we have
lad can be found who would be glad to have
the collectorships for less than half that amount
Is burlcsquc on economy. We all know thai
an energetic collector can and will make three
fourths, perhaps four iifths of his collections in
less than six months from the time he receives
his books from the commissioners; for the law
gives him every facility for prompt collections
by the inducements of graduated deductions to
prompt payers as well as the speedy means of
coercion to tardy payers.
If the offices were established for the especial
benefit Of the incumbcnts, and held by them as
property, then those large and eXtravagant com
missions may be all right; but if they were es-
tablshed for public convenience and the bene.
fit of the people, and the interest of the ipclIm
bents are incidental only, (Which | assert is the
true democratic doctrine then the County Com.
missioners, as honest men and custodians of the
public interest of the county, are bound to re-
duce the rate allowed for collecting taxes TO the
minimum that will secure the services of good
and safe men to do the collecting; and one far
thing paid beyond that rate will SAVIOR of favor
itcism, and prodigality with the peoples money.
In this country where offices were established
solely for public convenience and advantage, no
one man has any more right to office than
another Offices were not created for the SUP
port Of particular men, families, or cliques at
the public expense. The applicant for an office
ought to become an officer with view solely
to the public benefit, and not as n matter Of
right or Encouragement, and the applicant who
can serve the public best and cheapest ought
and will, If the public interest be regarded be
appointed.
But more can DC saved to the over.burdcned
taxpayers of the county than the So, 900 wear
plan proposes to save. At least s., 900 can be
saved by the appointment off County Treasurer,
and the voluntary mode of paying taxes. And
why not have ity Who so green, Mr. Editor, as
not TO know who prompted the getting up pc
tltions TO the Legislature opposing appointing
or electing County Treasurer? II the appl5
cants for the Collectorship, and their special
friends, had remained neutral in the matter of
County Treasurer, no petition to the Lcgisla-
ture opposing it would have been heard of. =
But office is regarded in these days rs q species
of property, and government as means of pro-
noting individual interests rather than rs an
instrument established solely for the benefit of
the people; thus dycrting government from its
legitimate ends, and making it.an engine for the
support of the few at the expense of the many.
ECONOMY.