Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-01-10
Reforms.

Mr. Editor - had not intended, at least for
the present, TO write YOU on the township
question ! thought it was time 10 indicate
some OF the reforms, which, if adopted, would,
think bring relief to the taxpayers of the
county and at the same time add efficiency to
the public service. But your pointed editorial
upon the anomalous state OF things in Ohio
seems to call for a word of explanation. You
say the taxpayers ia Ohio, whose taxes amount
to nearly $50, 600 900, four-fflh Of which is
local, pay little or no attention to local cleo
tons, while they fairly run wild over Con-
gressmen vet the local officers mainly decide
how much they shall pay in taxes and for
what il shall be expended. This is like GO
ing to housekeeping 10 The fourth story while
entirely overlooking and negectng the econ
omy and convenience of the basement below,
and confirms the correctness of the French
traveller, NJ. Mohissari, as quoted BY me last
week. namely, "That the American is shrewd
and Intelligent in private life, while he allows
bis passions, prejudices and pride in national
affairs absolutely to blind him and put him at
the mercy Of professional politicians" Now,
| how this happens in Ohio more than in any
other State is easily accounted for. Ohio was
settled by two opposing elements. That from
| Virginia and the South favored large counties ;
that from New York and the North favored
the township system The result was COM
promise, BY which the counties under board
of three Commissioners elected by the people
retain control Of the public buildings and
grounds and of the fiscal affairs Of the coun-
ty including the appointment and collection
A of taxes with power 10 establish and vacafe
7 pnbrfc roads TIE 7ownslIp. Il X can be cal led
such, is body corporate with three trastees
for its management and has control OF The re-
pair and superntendence of public roads, with
the establishment OF roads of minor or local
Importance, astrays health, fences and en-
closures Thus II is seen thai although all the
counties are divided with townships Of six
miles square with reservation of one mile
square for schools, that the responsibility Of
the management of county affairs is divided
between the County Commissioners and the
trustees of townships. And like all divided
responsibility, as you have shown has failed
10 call out that interest which direct legisa-
ton among the people and for The people new
| err fails to inspire and excite TO active effort
and interest.
Michigan was the first of the new States I'M
qualified to adopt the New York system 50
highly eulogsed by Mr. Seymour. Illinois
being once a county of Virginia hesitated TO
| adopt it, hut provided in the constitution OF
l848 that a majority of voters in each comfy
should determine The question for themselves
| The result is that out of l02 counties in the
State rs have adopted the township organ liza
ton Indiana, Iowa aud Wisconsin have also
adopted the township system; some favoring
the Ohio plan, and some the New York sys-
| tenn. Minnesota has vaciated upon the
suhject-frst adopting the system and then
abandoning it, and then coming back again
| to the New York system.
There is one rather novel and, | presume,
unusual feature in the Ohio statutes, which at
he same time indicates a verv commendable
liberality of sentiment, and that is that each
county shall subscribe for one copy OF the
leading newspaper of each political party pub
lished in the county, to be bound and filed in
the county auditors Office for gratuilous in
spection of the citizens of the county.
II is also recorded as worthy of notice 10
the Ohio system, the absence of those town
meetings which was noticed by Mr.. Jefferson
as imparting so much strength to the opposi
ton to the embargo when he was President
and the use of those meetings is noticed by
DR.. Locqneville,a distinguished French writer
and statesman, as that which constitutes the
strength OF nation.
For most of the facts above given | am in
debted to an able article on the township ques-
ton in the newer States which appeared in
the Penn Monthly Of May, IT, kindly loaned
me by Prof. Adams, of the Johns Hopkins
University. A. b. ID.