The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-11-05
OAKLAND, MD, Oct. 9th. 1881.


EDITOR REPUBLICAN An ex.
animation Of the books of the COM
missoners' office will show that Mr..
Gilmore S. Hamill, Democratic at
torney, then acting for the County
Commissioners, now Chairman of
the Democrat State Central Commit
tee, sold court house bonds for 93c.
a0tlen they a0ere anGiously sought after
at par, thus losing for the county
S725 in discounts. The following re-
ceipt is also on file in the Office. 1t
will be observed that it was given to
a Democratic clerk by Democratic
lawyer:
Oakland, Nd, July Is, 1876.
"s2, 247.89.
Received for colIec-
ton of G. w. Merrill, clerk to COM
missioners, delinquent tax bills for
the years 1873 and 1874, to the amount
of two thousand two hundred and
forty-seVen and $1,000 dollars.
GILMoR S. HAMILL,
Attorney"
Nowhere upon said books can you
find that any portion of said amount
has been accounted for in anyway,
either by return of tax bills or report
of collection. We do not say that
Shere is anything wrong in the trans
action, but it looks bad, and we are
surprised that "Subscriber" did not
unearth it in his delving among the
past records of the office. We do
not, Of course, attribute this omission
on the part of Subscriber" to fear,
favor or affection, but rather to his
disposition to show up only what APP
pears wrong on the part of Republic
can officials. Since it is the order of
the campaign as conducted by Mr..
Hamill to work by casting imputa.
tons upon the character and honesty
of good citizens, let him now rise
and explain, as we have no doubt he
can, the true state of facts respecting
the above transaction. There is no
question as to the authenticy of the
receipt and it is certain that the books
in the commissioners Office do not
show any settlement Oft in whole or
in part.
The books also show that Mr..
Hamil! appeared before the board
and claimed, and was paid, the sum
of $50 for collecting a single tax bill
on the Fort Pendleton property.
Messrs. Hamill and Veitch were paid
about 5000 for collecting the Franklin
Coal Company taxes, so that the many
fees paid for single cases amounts to
more than the salary to counsel by
this board.
The whole campaign thus far on
the part of the Democracy seems to
be an attack upon the commissioners
and their attorneys, and the assertion
lis made by their speakers, among
whom is Revernd Editor, that
more taxes are collected in this than
lcounties with populations of 100000.
This is so utterly false that it does
not require an answer. A great cry
is made because the retiring board oil
commissioners paid their clerk and
attorneys $1,000, and the assertion is
made that it is more than paid in
Allegany county. Reference to the
published levy list of Allegany coun-
ty for 1881, will show this to be false,
as it will be seen that attorneys and
clerk receive S1400, and treasurer
$50, or total of $3.50 in AllegaDy
against $1,000 in Garrett.
The retiring board of commission
ers is the first full board of Republi-
cans, with Republican clerk and
counsel, and it will be observed that
the rate of taxation has been reduced
very materially, notwithstanding the
fact that unexpected expenditures
were necessary by reason of high
floods washing away bridges, &c.
So far as the commissioners and
their counsel are concerned, their
work speaks for them, and they will
stand by their record, and the Re.
publicans of Garrett county will elect
their full ticket despite the efforts Of
recently imported mud-slinging ma
chimes.
ONE OF THE COUNSEL TO RETIRING
BOARD OF Co. CONS.