The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-01-12
Objectionable Legislation.

Hon. Robert NJ McLane, Senator from
Baltimore, has brought forward his arbi-
tration project by which differences be-
tween employers and employed are to be
adjusted through the agency of State Conn
missioners. We have not seen the bill,
but object to it on the ground of its Great
ing additional officers, to be supported at
the public charge, and also on the ground
Of additional complications between capital
and labor, which ought to be left entirely
free to control their own relations towards
each other. There is no necessity forsuch
a statute, and it viii only serve to cumber
our already cumbrous code.
Hon. Isadore Rayner, Of Baltimore, has
presented bill to create State Board Of
Control and Review, to see that all assess
ments are based on marketable value
This is the act prepared by the Comptrol-
Ter. 1t provides:
That tax commissioner of the State of
Maryland shall be appointed by the Governor,
Comptroller and Treasurer, to hold Office for
four years and until successor is appointed.
His duties shall be the general supervision of
the assessment and valuation of property in
the several counties and the city of Baltimore,
and advisory to the county commissioners and
Appeal Tax Court. He shall assess for State
purposes and advise the county commission
ers and Appeal Tax Court in reference thereto.
He shall assess for State purposes the capital
stocks of State and national banks, banking
associations and other incorporated institu-
tons, and shall report to the Legislature every
regular session the amount and basis of as
sessment for State purposes in the counties
and city.
In addition to the assessors appointed by
the city, the Governor shall in March next
appoint for two years terms one State asses
sor for each ward of Baltimore city. One
State assessor shall also be similarly appoint
ed in each county in addition TO the appoin-
tees of the county commissioners. The duties
of these State, city and county assessors shall
be to inform themselves by all lawful means
Of all property, stocks, debts or investments
in their districts liable 10 taxation, and which
may have been heretofore omitted in the
assessment, and Of all buildingsan and improve
nents made and all property acquired since
the assessment, and report the full cash value
thereof to the county commissioners and APP
peal Tax Court. The State assessors shall
assist the county commissioners and Appeal
Tax Court in the annual correction of the as
sessment already made whenever required,
and shall receive each four dollars day for
such service rendered. The collectors and
assessors shall be allowed for pay, as original
assessors, Is per centum of the amount of
State and county or city taxes actually col
lected for the year on the assessments of
new or omitted property or investments re-
ported by them respectively, and finally
adopted and charged by the county commits
sioners or Appeal Tax Court. The assessor
who first reports such property shall be deemed
the discoverer of said new or omitted proper.
ty or investments, and entitled to the reward.
All the new assessments of newly discovered
taxable property shall be reportedto the State
tax commissioner and to. the comptroller of
the treasury, with the name of the collector.
The county commissioners and Appeal Tax
Court shall annually hear appeals and make
transfers, attachments, &c, at times to be
specified by advertisement in newspapers.
The objection urged against Mr.. Nc
Lanes bill, applies with even greater force
against this, as it creates a swarm Of adj
ditional officers to cat out the substance of
the people, and offers no guarantee, that
if it becomes law it viii be an improve
ment upon the existing system.