Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-06-20
Collectors Assessments.

Mr. Editor The reduction of seventeen
cents in the county tax for the current year is
some relief to the Taxpayers, for which they
will doubtless feel grateful, provided when
the tax bills come around they do not find
the tax basis so increased us to neu tralize the
relief from the reduction in rate. This fea-
ture of reviews aud re-assessments every year
under the present tax law is likely to create
inequality and Injustice, and in many cases the
double tax, objected 10 by some under the
mortgage tax. For instance, when the as
sessment was made farmers were required I'M
der oath to return the NUMBER OF cattle on
hand. These when fat were sold TO the butch
er, their places supplied with stock-cattle.-
The collector acting MS assessor comes around
in the spring TO demand the number Of stock
cattle on hand. To the statement that those
cattle only supply the place of those assessed
under the ger eral assessment, you are cody
told, 'You must go TO the Comm isSioners
about that; ! have no authority TO give cred
it for what has been sold" Now ifuot conven-
lent for you TO ride to Rock willie to submit 10
another interrogation under oath, you will
find yourselves paying double tax. Paying
upon cattle sold as well as cattle on hand. II
this is not an unequal and unjust tax, do
not know what is The truth is that our Leg
islators depended upon city lawyer to re-
view and adjust the present lax law, and he
has made it sufficiently complex and absurd
in many of its features 10 keep the lawyers
and the Courts busy in constituting and adjust
ing it, and the people annoyed and dissatisfied
with the result
But Z cents is certainly less than 88i the
county tax for last year. Sui II cents is a
pretty heavy county tax. II is Il cents more
than the caunty tax of Frederick county for
1878, with large bonded debt in addition TO
current county expenses, aud The same more
than Howard county paid last year, and 46i
more than was sufficient for this county for
an average of ten years before the war;
The report of the Trustees OF the Poor is a
step in the right direction, but it does not
seem to me to be full and complete. For in
stance, under the head of expenses, I fail to
find any figures by which to ascertain the cost
to the county of the hive overseers Of the
overseer of the poor.
The code authorizes these gentlemen TO
charge three ($3) dollars per day and milage
for their services. Perhaps, these gentlemen,
Trustees, inspired by sense of true benevo-
lence, do not make any charge for their SER
vices TO the poor, but if others Of legs human
and benevolent disposition should follow them
in Office and avail of the authority of the law,
that item of expense surely ought to appear
in its proper place SO that the people can see
and understand the entire cost and working
of the Aims House of the county. AS this
report is made for the information Of the peo-
pie it would doubtless be Interesting to them
to know the value of the property, both real
and personal. The inventory, doubtless on
hand, would easily furnish the necessary data,
also the cost per capita Of maintaining the
poor. They could then by comparison see
which system, that Of ont-pension or the
aims house proper, was the best and most
economical for the county. A. b. d.