The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-10-15
How Promises were Kept.

The following resolution, embodied in
the Democratic State platform of 1879,
contains the promises of the. party made
to the people:
at will be the duty Of the next General
Assembly to tighten the burden of taxation
in this State by abolishing all offices not ne
cessary for the public service; by reducing all
salaries and fees subject to its control to the
limit of the compensation of persons engaged
in similar employment in private life; by COM
pelling the practice of economy IN every de-
tail of State, county and municipal expendl-
lures, and by enforcing the observance OF the
constitutional rule that every person IN the
State, or persons holding property therein,
ought to contribute his proportion OF public
taxes for the support of the government &C.
cording to his actual worth in real and per-
sonal property"
Summed up, the resolution called for
the adjustment of Offices not necessary
for the public service, the cutting down OF
fees and salaries to the limit of comPensa-
ton for similar services in private life,
the practice of economy in State, county
and municipal expenditures, and the en-
forcement of the constitutional require
ment that every person shall pay taxes ac-
cording to his actual worth in real and
personal property. Upon this platform the
Democratic party went before the people,
and was successful. The party meant ex-
actly what that resolution said, and it still
adheres to it. The last Legislature ad-
dressed itself to the work of carrying out
its promises, and while it was not success
full in doing all that could have been done,
it cannot be denied that it accomplished
much.
1t made provision for refundiOs So, OOO,-
600 Of the Defence Loan debt, which ma
lures in 1888. Tue debt now bears six
per cent. interest, and in 1888 will be re-
funded at four and half per cent. inter
est, making saving of $4,000. The
benefits of this measure cannot be reaPed,
however, for two years to come. The De-
fence Loan debt is 1926, 1906 greater
than the amount authorized to be refund
ed, and We presume the States financial
officers calculate upon paying of that
amount at its maturity.
Another act Of the Legislature was the
repeal of the Bounty Law, which, We be-
lievc, saves TO the treasury about sl2, 900
The donations TO Agricultural Societies
we're cut of, saving to the treasury 5000.
The Office ofsuperintendeut Ofthe House
Of Correction Telegraph Line was abolish
ed, saving 81 800 to the treasury.
The salaries of the weigher of live stock
adjutant general, Inspector Of coal mines,
officers and crew Of the oyster navy, and
those Of some others were reduced.
We do not profess to euumerate all that
the Legislature did, but mention the above
only to show that the Legislature did some
thing in fulfilling every requirement Of the
platform Of 1879, except in regard to
equalizing the burden of government. \
measure for that purpose was under con
sideration, but there vas such conirarie-
ty Of opinions on the manner Of the bill,
that it failed to pass. We refer to the bill
to tax mortgages, aud strange TO say, none
Of the modern reformers supported the
measure. Had bill TO tax mortgages
passed the last Legislature, the State levy
to-day would have been about 10 cents on
the 500 instead Of lsi, and the levy in
every county would have been cousidera-
bly reduced. A bin for taxing mort
Cages, we doubt not, viii be passed By the
next Legislature.