Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-02-03
Primary Elections, County Treasurer,
Marriage Licenses, &c.

IOIOMAC, january olSt, 1852.
Mr.. Editor Much is being said about
primary elections, county treasurer, chang
ing the number Of county commissioners,
marriage license fees, &C., which has the
effect OF having the matter well ventilated
at our firesides, postoffice stores, through the
columns OF our county papers, and in
various ways by various men OF various
opinions that it might be well for one in
these parts to express himself in regard
thereto.
First. Primary elections must be the sur
est, fairest and wisest way to select the best
men for the offices, provided the primary
elections are legalized. Mr.. H. Huttons
plan looks well, but would it be a success Z?
This seems doubtful. Would not the dele
gates to the convention trade off, as in times
of the past, measures for men and men for
measures, or in plain words, one office for
another, or one delegation with another and
so on; better let it remain as it is, but have
primary election law as rigid as our cleo
ton law.
Second. The number of county commits.
sioners had better remain as II is, as the in
terest of the dear people require the wisdom
OF at least five men to legisate our county
measures in manner most satisfactory. If
only three constituted board, sickness or
other unavoidable accidents might prevent
a quorum and thereby be detrimental to the
public veal.
Third. The question of marriage license
is of vast Importance. We have law that
makes 1t penal if two of the same county
procure a license and marry out of the
State. Now $3.50 don't seem much to those
who can well bear to double up, but we have
many whose incomes are so small that 81 80
amount to great consideration, particu-
larly when just launching forth in the sea
of matrimony, besides many of our colored
citizens would marry and not lead life in
violation of laws devine and of morality.
1t seems that marriage should be encour-
aged if 1t has the effect of reducing the States
revenues. Let it be remembered local op.
ton reduces the revenues, but it is said that
it increases the morals of our people. Then
why not reduce the marriage license to 81
or less? | believe if we would take into
consideration that many in this county go
to Washington, while others on the borders
go to Virginia and Pennsylvania to be tied,
the revenue from this source would make
but little difference, if any, in the present
amount.
Fourth. A county collector or treasurer
seems retrenchment; but this is doubtful
For my part / truly believe that collector
for each election district would not be an
excess, and at a salary of say $3.50 each, or
$4,000 for the ten, would increase the rev.
enues and thereby be saving to the people,
Let it be remembered that hardly one of the
five collectors returns less than $4,000
worth of assessable property each year, and
some as high as $4,000. Now how could
a treasurer secure this revenue sitting at
Rockville even if his salary was only
/ $2,400? while our present five collectors get
four or five thousand dollars. | heard gen
tleman say that he believed now, as | do,
that ten men, Zone in each distrct,) could be
procured who would gladly collect for $3.50
the taxes in his district, besides return as.
sessable property enough each year to pay
his salary, thereby the ten collectors would
cost the county nothing eventually Then
again about the funds let the collectors pay
no orders, but make weekly or monthly re-
ports to the Clerk of the County Commits
sioners, who should be bonded officer at a
small additional salary, and he pay all vouch
ers, &c
| This seems to me economy. could cite
cases where a county treasurer would be
unavailable, but will not occupy too much
space. 1t is remembered that the internal
revenue is collected by collector, and how
many cases do we hear of selling without
license, when the penalty is severe both with
| fine and confinement in the penitentiary |?
Then would our legislature pass such laws
as to enforce the collection of the State
taxes when its debtors are numbered by the
thousands and the government revenue pay
ers are few in comparison? Let the cues
tons be further ventilated
| remain yours truly,
o. S. MAUs