Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-07-25

YERS MEETING.

Al adjourned meeting Of the taxpayers of
this county met at the Court House on Thurs
dax. scout one hundred and .tueutssfxa pes
sons being present. The meeting was orga
nized by the selection Of Hon. Jos. II. Bradle.
as chairman, after which the report of a spe
eial commit,e appointed at a previous meeting
on the goth of May last, was read. The re
port, which was very lengthy, rccltes Tie
great expenses of tho county and State under
existing laws and recommends general re-
ducton Of expenditures.
The following resolutions, prepared by the
committee, recommending where reductions
should be made. were adopted by the meeting
That we commend the action taken by our
present County Commissions in red ucing the
county taxes from e8l TO III cents on the 81 0c
aud we suggest that In those compensatlons
and rates OF expenditure which are left to their
discretion q reasonable deduction should be
made.
That the county printing be let to the low
est responsible bidder, the cost not to exceed
$500, and In case Of tic bid the commissions
shall award the same by drawing lots, and
IL there be no bids as low as five hundred
dollars then the Commissioners shall have such
printing done by private contract, the cost not
TO exceed the aforesaid sum,
The number of County Commissioners shall
be three instead Of fye no two of whom shall
come from the same election district, their rate
OF compensation 10 remain as t present; and
Ia order to diminish their responsibility in the
allowance of discretionary compensatons and
expenditures, our Delegation to the next Gen.
eral Assembly be and they are hereby request
ed to fix rates Of compensation and limits to
special expenditures. and to Substitute pur-
chases BY contract with the lowest rOsponsi-
bic bidder wherever practicable.
That instead Of the present system Of tax
collections, the collection Of Of all taxes, State
and county, be committed by suitable legis-
lstion TO County Treasurer, who may also
hold the Office of Clerk 10 the County Com
missioners. That suitable bond with not
less than two sureties shall be req uired of
him. the qualifications Of the sureties to BE-
pronounced on by the Judges of the Circuit
Court or q majority OF them, and that his
compensation shall be $4,000 per annum for all
services required OF him as such Clerk and
County Treasurer.
That the County Treasurer. or present COL
lectors IL no change Is made, be empowered
by suitable legislation, at the earliest practi-
cal moment, to collect all taxes on property
In the hands of trustees or receivers
That every person in the State, or person
holding property therein, ought to contribute
his proportion of public taxes las provided in
the 18th art of the Declaration of Rights for
the support of the government, according to
his actual worth in real and personal proper
y.
Whereas we consider the expenses Of our
Circuit Court to have become excessive, there
having been a steady increase in the cost of
Jurors, &C., from the sum Of 81, 800 in 1853
to S5,o4l .2s in 1873, and whereas the Con-
stitution in section o, art. 4, requires that
1.-THE Judges shall from time TO time inyesti-
gate the expenses, costs and charges of their
respective Courts, with view to a change or
reduction thereof, and report the result of
such investigation to the General Assembly
for its action, Resolved, that the Judges of
the Circuit Court be and they are hereby
respectfully requested to take this natter into
consideration, and see what reduction can be
made in our Court expenses and report the
result OF their investigation TO the next Gener-
al Assembly.
THAI our delegation to the next General
Assembly be and are hereby requested to OBJ
tain such constitutional action as may be
necessary for the abolishing of the Orphans
Court and the assignment Of one Of the
Judges Of the Circuit Court to the duties
thereof.
That the salary Of the Clerk of the Circuit
Court, without disturbing the present system
OF fees, shall not exceed 81. 900 per annum.
That tina salary OF the States Attorney
shall no fixed at $500 per annum.
That the She-iGs shall be allowed Is cents
sday for the support Of each prisoner and each
days board shall embrace at least two meals,
and for the transportation Of prisoners from
ons county jsil to other places OF confinement
he shall DO allowed the actual cost Of trans
portatiou, his own necessary expenses and q
per diem compensation not 10 exceed two dol
lars.
That the Senator aud Delegates from this
county TO the next Legislature shall be aud
they are hereby requested 10 consider the
policy and propricty Of securing such iegisla-
ton. and II necessary, such amendments to
eur State Constitution as will give TO each
election district In every county the right to
levy, collect aud expcnd Its own taxes for such
purposes as may be Of Q local character, leav-
ing in the hands Of the County Commissioners
the duty Of levying, collecting and disbu rsing
for all such purposes as are requisite and ne
cessary for the county at large.
Fec Bills were increased In 1865. We think
they should be carefully examined and re-
stored as far as may be deemed advisable to
what they previously were.
W. rcComHtuu n ItftStOu W our
County Commissioners Of oil county expcndi-
lures with a view TO their reduction.
That the delegation 10 the next Legislature
be and they are hereby requested to procure
suitable legislation. or II necessary, Consiitu-
tioual amendments to enlarge the jurisdic-
ton Of Magistrates.
We do not recommend any change Ia tho
compensation Of the Register of Wills.
That approving the call proposed by the
Howard county convention OF State tax con-
vention to be held in Baltimore, on the 18th
ofAugust next, we hereby request the chair
man Of this meeting 70 appoint n delegation
OF Is members to said convention which in
clude the President aud Clerk OF our Board
efCounty Commissioners, the President and
secretary of.our County School Commission.
ers and tho States Attorney.
The following named gentlemen were up.
pointed delegates to the State convention
Charles Albert, e. J. Hall, James s. Halo
well, John II. Gassaway, DR.. G. W. Bowler
David Griffith, Jos. A. fancy, Samuel Jones
James Anderson. Spencer G. Jones, A. b
Davis, Alfred Ray, F. A. Tsehffely, lsaa,
Young, Jos, T. Moore.
On motion the Chair and Secretary Of thi,
meeting, Hon Jos. II. Bradley and Capt, Jno
Mcdonald, were placed on the above com'
mitiee.
y Davis moved 10 repeal the law au.
thorizing the County Commissioners 10 in.
prove the Court House. This was adopted.