The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-01-22
Ghe &armer.
FARMERS IN COUNCIL.
D.sCUssING TAXES AND ECONOMY.


the residence of Benjamin Silver, ST., on
Saturday, January 9th. The subject for
discussion was "County Taxes; how can
they be lessened?"
Mr.. Benjamin Silver said that taxes are
increased more rapidly than the popula-
ton, and are one-hundred-fold greater
than they were thirty years ago. The
levy for county purposes for 1880 was
$4,000. From this should be deducted
$4,000, levied to pay Indebtedness incur
red by former boards, which would leave
the actual county expenses about So, 900,
or about the same as for several years past.
Mr.. Silver thought the amount could be
abated. We are now paying for many
things at war prices, while the prices OF
farm products have come down. The sal
aries of officials, also, he thought should
be cut down. The expenses of our courts
might be lessened by allowing petty cases
to be tried by magistrates or by the Judge,
without the expense of a jury. The pub
lie schools constitute another heavy item
of expense. Taxpayers have to pay bonds
and interest for school houses erected sew
eral years ago, which the then secretary
to the School Board (Mr. Henry declared
in his report were not required. Not.
withstanding this, the present School
Board appropriated some $4,000 for four
new school houses last year. Taxation
might be lessened by not building any
more school houses until they are needed.
The public printing, also, cost too much.
The Almshouse, outpensioners and appro-
priations for the insane cost $4,000 the
past year. We ought to support the poor,
but this seems to be large item OF ex-
pense. The appropriation of $500 to Bel
Air and 81 100 to Havre de Grace might
be cut off, as we'll as the $3.50 to ferries
at Lapidum and the Narrows. The ex-
penditure for roads and bridges in 1880
was $50, 815, which included work done
in previous years. 1t seems there could
be some retrenchment there, by not opening
new roads or building new bridges Every
new road and every new bridge requires
an increased expenditure to keep it In re-
pair.
The taxes could be lessened by increas-
ing the taxable basis, which might BE- done
by taxing mortgages.
Judge Waters said the ubject should
be discussed from the farmers standpoint
alone No money we spend beyond what
we spend for the necessaries OF life brings
us as good a return as the money we pay
in taxes Farms derive their value not
only from their fertility, good buildings,
&C., but from the public roads which give
convenient access to them, the public
schools, the churches, the protection at
forded by our courts, &c. A farmer has
the same use of the public roads as if he
owned them all Instead of lessening our
taxes We should endeavor to spend the
amount raised so as to get the greatest
good from it. As to court expenses, the
trouble is not in the system, but in our
seIces. Ifa farmer has a steam engine to
thresh, saw wood, &C., to do these labor
ious things it must necessarily possess the
capacity to split kindling wood or turn a
sewing machine; but it would be pcol
economy to use an expensive engine fol
such purposes. The same with our courts
the trouble is in using expensive courts
to try petty cases, and that is the fault OF
the people themselves.
Dir. S. B. Silver said taxes could be les
sened by increasing the basis of taxation
A report in the last Legislature statec
that from $1OO,OOO,00O to 5000, 900, OOC
are exempt from taxation, in mortgages
When the tax was taken off mortgages
money was scarce; the government was
Issuing bonds exempt from taxation, to ge
money. Now money is plentiful, and thu
great amount of capital lying dorman
should be taxed.
Finney Galbreath thought tax Oh
mortgages would be double tax.
John II. Janney said he was surprised
to hear farmers advocating the taxation o
mortgages, because they are the larges
borrowers. If man buys farm ant
makes partial payment on it he is taxe'
for the full value Of the farm where
as he really owns but part of it. L
mortgages were taxed hundreds OF then
would be foreclosed, and capital would g
to places where mortgages arc not taxed
Mr.. Janey said he was strong advocat
Of good roads, and We can increase tn
basis of taxation by making perfect roads
thereby enhancing the value Of our land
He thought if it were practicable, the ma
who uses five or six wagons on the road
should pay more tax than the man VIII
uses one.
John Moores was in favor Of low taxes
and would like to hear some way suggest
ed to make them lower than they are
He thought the 10 cents on the 500 TO
State school tax should be abolished, an
each county provide for its own publ
schools. Then we ought to get rid of tn
balance of the State tax. 1t is not RICH
to tax the State to keep up so many pub
lie institutions around Baltimore. Th
State interest in some Of our public work
ought to be sold or given away, and W
could get along without the State Norma
School The county affairs are honestl
administered and stand on square touu
dation, and the county taxes promise to b
greatly reduced next year. He regards
it as a mistake for farmers to sign petition
for outpensioners The Commissioner
cannot refuse to grant them when signle
by number of taxpayers. a savln
might be made by providing building
the almshouse for the care of the insane
They could be kept there at one-half tn
cost now pald 1Or their suPpoi' ~ '"o ~
rious hospitals.
D.F. Shure said the gradual increas
of population will propOrtionately increas
nnblic expenses. The common pride o
the people and the continually GROWN
necessity for new highways and thei
maintenance in repair, must of necessit
greatly increase the cost of the publ
roads. Other legitimate items of publ
expenditure may, in like manner, be swol
len beyond their present cost, in defiance
of the strictest economy. We are calico
upon to say wether we shall continue pro
gressive in the development of our hom
interests, by judicious and liberal apprO
priations for our public roads, or retro
grade, by Withholding a portion OF tn
q L .:a..., nd raIaairs