The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-01-14
Deer Creek Farmers Club.


Mr. BENJAMIN Silver said that taxes are incrcas-
ing more rapidly than the population, and are
one-hundred-fold greater than they were thirty 15y
years ago. The levy for county expenses Tor losU
was $9So00. From this should be deducted Slb,-
OJO levied topay Indebtedness incurred by former
penses about SS2 Co., or about the same for sew
eral years past. MIR. 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 salaries OF olnclaIs
also, he thought should be cut down. me , expGm
petty cases to be tried by magistrates or by me
Judge, without the expense OF jury; Inc pun
lie schools constitute another heavy item OF ex-
pense. Taxpayers have TO pay bonds and interest
for school houses erected several years ago, which
Henry declared in his report were not required;
Notwithstanding this, the present School Board
appropriated some $500 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 @o ,d TOO
preparations for the insane cost $1,000 the past
year We ought to support the poor but TINS
pration Of $50 to Bel Air and SliOo to Iavre de
Grace might be cut off, as well us the si3o 10 Ier
ries ut Lapidum and the Narrows Inc eNpenql-
ture for roads and bridges in 1850 was s@,sl5,
which included work done in previous years. III
by not opening new roads or building new bridges.
Every new road and every new bridge requires an
INCREASED expenditure to keep it IN repair tho
taxable basis, which might be done by taxing
mortgages. a.,
cussed from the farmers standpoint alone No
money spend beyond what we spend Tor the
necessaries of life brings us as good return as
the money we pay in taxes. Farms derive thelr
value not only from their fertility, good Duaihgs'
&c, but from the public roads which give con
venient access to them, the public schools, the
churches, the protection afforded by our courts
&C.. a farmer has the same use OF the public
roads as if he owned them all. Instead OF lessen
ing our taxes we Shot ondeaVor 10 spenu the
amount raised so us to t the greatest good from
it. AS to court expenses, the trouble is notin the
1 a
engine to thresh, wood, &C., to do these
laborOus things it must necessarily possess the
capacity to split kihdling wood or turn sewing
machine; but it would be poor economyto use an
expensive engine for such purposes. The same
with our courts-the trouble is in using expensive
courts to try petty cases, and that is the faut oil
the people themselves.
increasing the basis of taxation. a report in the
last Legislature stated that from $lOO0o,UO TO
S2OO,UOO,OOO arc exempt from taxation, in mort
cages When the tax was taken on mortgages
money was scarce; the government was issuing
bonds exempt from taxation, to get money. Now
tai lying dormant should be taxed.
Finney Galbreath thought Il tax on mortgages
would bo Il double tax.
Johns II. Jannoy said he was surprised to hear
farmers advocating the taxation of mortgages, be-
cause they are the largest borrowers. If IL man
buys farm and makes partial payment on 1.-THE
Is taxed for the full value of the farm, whereas he
really owns but part of it,. If MORTGAGES, were
taxed hundreds of them would be forcclosed, and
capital would go to places where mortgages arc
not taxed Mr. Janney said he was strong ad-
basis of taxation by making perfect roads, thereby
enhancing the value of our land. He thought II
1t were practicable, the man who uses Ave or SIX
wagons on the roads should pay more tax than the
man who uses one.
John Moores was in favor of low taxes, and would
like to hear some way suggested to make them
lower than they are. He thought the 10 cents on
the 500 for State school tax should be abolished
ana each county provide for Its own pubic
schools, Then we ought to get rid of the balance
of the State tax. 1t is not right to tax the State
to keep up so many public institutions around
interest
public works ought to DO sold or given away, and
we could get along without the State Normal
ScnoOl The county affairs are honestly admins
tered and stand on a square foundation, and the
county taxes promise to be greatly reduced next
year He regarded it as a mistake for farmers to
sign petitions for outpensioners. The Commits
sloners can not refuse TO grant them, when signed
by a number OF taxpayers. saving might dc
made by providing building, at the amshouSe
ior the care of the insane. They could be kept
there at one-half the cost now paid for their sup
port at the various hospitals.
ID. +. Shure said the gradual increase Of popula-
mon VIII proportionately increase public expenses.
me common pride of the people and the contin,
ualiy growing necessity for new highways and
their maintenance in repair, must Of necessity
Other legitimate items of public expenditure
may IN ike manner, be swollen beyond their pres
ent cost in defiance of the strictesr economy. We
are called upon to say whether we shall continue
progressive in the development of our home in
terests, by judioious and liberal appropriations
Tor our pubic roads, or retroglpde, by withhold
.ng portion Of the needful sums for alterations
and repairs. In lessening county expenses Mr..
of commissioners at least as able and practical as
the present board-gentlemen whose integrity |
ana judgment is an assurance against all risks i'll
the administration of the duties OF their office.
u. ~ Allen said that as ataxpayer he is well sat
lsned with the way in which the county money is
spent. Comparing county with county taxes are
about as low in Hartford as in any county in the
state Something, but very little can be done TO
lessen county expenses. For instance, by putting
out our roads at public auction they could be as
well mended as they are now, and at lowerprice.
IL. iiarrls Archer agreed with Judge Walters
thought
county are well administered. He did not care
W Wha6 taxes e are provided al yet IN equal benefit
we DO not get much benefit from the $4,000 APP
proprated to st. Johns College, nor from the cX-
that court expenses are heavy, but farmers might
put check to that by not taking so many petty
VIM. Munnikhuysen said that as an old collcc-
tor he found more grumbng about the manner in
which tho money was spent than the amount
Iherels no TAX larmer pays us Cheerfully as
road tax and our roads are improving very much.
Thomas Lochary said that il the money is jul
diciously spent taxes are not too high, but the
main point is in handling it right.
b. Silver Jr., said he had noticed that when
people get convoniences they must pay for them
We live better than our ancestors did, and we
must pay for it, In our county affairs we have
we must pay for them. Our roads are better aud
more conveniently located than they used to be.
AS Tor the public schools, he thought the salaries
OF the teachers should be doubled, for with good
salaries we would get good teachers. He was in
favor of increasing the basis of taxation, but not
board of Commissioners should be commended
once.
Major A. NJ. Hancock said he was decidedly in
favor OF low taxes, but was also in favor of levying
every dollar necessary. We should see, however,
that the money is judiciously spent. Our object
should be not TO have roads; not to be less
charitable, not that criminals should be prosecu
ted with less vgor but to see If these things can
not be done for less money than they are. As to
the expenses of our roads the fault is not of the
Commissioners but of taxpayers who sign every
without consideration iulipiDl
penses, he said, had already been reduced, by an
order passed by Judge Waters, allowing wit
nesses before the grand jury pay for only one
days attendance. reduction in the Sheriff S
bills had also been effected by not allowing tramps
TO be fed at the Jail. Notwithstanding this change
the expenses of the almshouse have been reduced
instead OF being augmented. He thought the
The maiptenanee Of the Door BOO, costs too mueh.-
The poor rates of Hartford county are higher than
in England. This he did not think should be the
case in a prosperous agricultural county. In his
judgment the outpension list should be entirely
cut Off.
Thos. A. Hays agreed with other members He
would not reduce the taxes, but see that the money
is properly spent.
James Lee (Presdent) said he had no COM
plants to make about the taxes.
COOPERATIVE SALES OF STOCK, &C.
Mr.. Moores, chairman Of the committee in re-
under the direction and management OF the club,
reported rules and regulations, which were adopt
Cd The first sale Will take place on the last We'd
nesday in March next, at the Fair Grounds, Bel
Air, If they can be procured for the purpose
ANY one can bring stock, farming implements or
produce to these sales, by first notifying the com
mittee and paying fee to aid in detraying the
necessary expenses of the sale. The object Of
these sales is that the club may stand between the
buyer and seller, 10 secure fairness and good
faith to both sides, and to provide convenient
way by which farmers may dispose of surplus
stock, &C., with the least trouble and expense.
THE PREMISES.
The committee to inspect the premises, Messrs.
Thos. a. Hays, Lochary and VIM. ID: Lee, report
ed, through Mr.. Hays, who said he had for years
noticed the neatness of Mr. Silver's farm, and it
ia at hOugn
ings are convenient, attractive and home-like.-
The barn is convenient for unloading, the stab