Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1882-03-09

Messrs. Editors I'm your last Is
sue appeared communication signed,
Progress. questioning the propriety
and feasibility Of the bill now pending
before the Maryland Legislature, au-
thorizing the County Commissioners
to issue bonds to the amount Of TWEEN
ty thousand dollars.
Without wishing to reflect upon
Progress in any manner, we do think
that it would have been better for him
to have acquainted himself with what
he would criticise before attempting
any calculation on the subject
We are >authoritatively informed
that the bill empowers the County
Commissioners to issue bonds to the
amount of twenty thousand dollars,
10 be redeemed in twenty years or at
pleasure. It further provides, that
the Clerk to the County Commissioners
shall be Clerk and County Treasurer
at a salary Of $500 year, a sufficient
bond to be given.
This is'to be accompanied bv asup-
Elementary act. which viii require
the collectors to make monthly re-
ports. and pay over all moneys to the
Treasurer, beginning, Feb. 1st., next
succeeding the date upon which the
taxes fall due, but if said collectors
fail to collect and pay over to the
Treasurer all taxes placed in his hands
for collection by Sept. lst., of same
year on which said taxes fall due, then
the county Treasurer, under heavy
penalty, Is directed and required to
institute proceedings against said coll
lectOrs to force the payment ofamount
due the county.
These acts will place the county
upon q cash basis, and the pay Of all
officers, ETC., will be reduced 10 that
rate which exists between o cash
and credit system. Will not this be an
immense saving to the people and more
satisfactory to them? 1t does appear
10 us clearly so.
Besides, the Treasurer must give
bond-the collectors must give bond.
Can any greater security than this be
thrown around the public moneys.
Not only bond, but sufficient bond
must be given-a bond for twice the
amount that the Treasurer will, at any
time, be likely to have in his hands
The farmer taxpayer, il viii be seen,
viii have time to ship al his crops
and ample opportunity to pay his
taxes By the first of September. Ifhe
can't pay them that time. he will not
likely ever be able to settle his in
debtedness to the county, except by
some inconvenience or sacrifice.
We might admit, for the sake of
pacifving Progress, that there could
be better measures brought forward,
but we do not believe it. These are
not measures involving question Of
politics. It In. in our Judgment. leg
islation for the ashoIe people without
regard to party.
Permit Us to say TO Progress" and
to the people of our native county
that the Treasurer to Commissioner
Court is not required to give bond.
the Clerk Ia not required to give bond,
and in many instances, he does not
take an oath Of Office.
Again, allow us to suggest to "Pro-
gress that he 20 to the Commission
er,s Office and hnd out how many ex-
Treasurers are in arrears to the coun-
" without theleast possibility Of them
ever owing less. ascertain how many
clerks have failed in the discharge Of
their duties-the reasons for same
and calculate particularly the amounts
in the hands Of ex-collectors remain
ing uncollected and unc0llectible, and
he will not be disposed to question
the feasibility Of any measure which
looks to the Substitution of cash for
credit, security for insecurity, and
. faithfully discharge Of duty for me-
glect and malfeasance in Office. We
make this reference without regard 10
party.
There can Be- no harm in having
money. It i useful and advantageous
90 long - directed IN the right chan
mel and projected BY proper safe
guards. Let n wait and see; ii mis-
applied, then censare. blame. con-
delnn, but il Ne cant suggest some
thing better than that which We would
aasail, lee III remain silent. remember
ing It il easier 70 destroy than to
build up.
MEASURES, Nor MKE.
49, uaa1ss rs.sas. NJ. sss..sls.n Fyesr ns~azr