Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1876-02-05

THE LoGIC OF OPPOSITION TO THE CoAi.
LICENSE TAX ADAPTED TO TIE FAVOR OF
New CouNTY.-The parallel drawn between
Eastern and Western Maryland in the dis
cussion of the coal license measure reminds
observant people very much of similar ar
gument for the new county project In
the latter it is between sections of the cotln-
ty as in the former it is between sections of
the State, and in both the East ovprritlcs
the West. We find that of the $3l 500
Ground Understanding OF which is
paid by the coal region contributed by the
county to the State, about $4,000 returns
through the Public School Boarl-not a
dollar otherwise. Through the same mctli-
UNI we obtain the greater part of our county
patronage.
With similarity Of situation so striking,
it would seem that the logic OF remedies for
tho enc will appl" with equal force to the
other. So that if the coal tax is an cXtor-
Tomato levy-one that should and does call
forth earnest remOnStrance-the other is no
less worthy of encouragement and support,
inasmuch as its mission is to escape outside
oppression and gain home control of home
affairs.
The fact is, the new county is the first
and paramount want; it is the stepping
stone to true representation Of coal region
wants. You ray send your farmers and
town gentlemen to the Legislature without
stint and without end, and just so fully and
SO long will you clamor for mining needs
Take any measure affecting this section now
before the Legislature; suppose there is a
coal region delegation there is it not easy
to sec they could unitcdy and concurrcntly
press the reduction Of railroad tariffs, and
extend the Canal without impinging per
soaal interests or popularity in Cumber-
land? On she other hand, in the matter of
Mr.. Woolfords bill it is question whether
our present delegation is not divided. 1t
can be, easily and consistently, for there is
no agricultural interest in Allcyany which
is not identical with that Of any other agri-
cultural section of the State, and this tax is
the farmers and CAPITALISTS levy upon the
miner.
1t is certain, ther fore, that The formation
of a new county will multiply tcnfoll our
defenccs against tax licenses, and much more
surely secure us against direct and indirect
legislative oppression of all descriptions
AS the arrangement stands the Washington
county delegation can ordinarily afford as
much advocacy and security of our rights
as our own. 1t is easy to give Cumberland
half the representation, or send three farm
ers to represent mining interests, but it is
another thing in Allegany to get the party
lash so adjusted as to drive the people into
sending three miners to take care OF the
welfare and health of their fellow-worlsmcn.
We might reasonably attribute much of our
failure hitherto i'll obtaining our dues to
Misrepresentation or want of proper repre-
sentation of our real interest-one whose
importance overreaches every other in the
State.
The new county, then, is the first and
Indispensable measure. Without it we can
never nope to possess the full panoply o.
representative redress. AS now, we vii
struggle with adverse influences at HON,
and abroad, with no solid ground or prom
Use of success. Without it, every deiensiv,
movement will be an essay to build from
the roof toward the foundation In sucG
cases failure, if not disaster, is a necessity
If, however, we sometimes succeed, it mus
be somehow through the agency of TIE cor
morants who feed and fatlcn on the spoil
wrung from the coal region, and we msy b.
sure there will be rotten policy at the bot
tom of it.
Coal TAX-While the Democratic legis
lature at Annapolis is endcayoring TO crip
pie the coal trade of this section, by levin!
a tax oft two cents per ton on the gross Pro