Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-03-02
The County Treasury System.

The County Treasury System.
Z Mr. Editor As the propriety OF my con-
duct in reference TO certain measures which
were brought before the last House of Dele
gates has been called publicly into question,
/ wish to say that 1t is not the matter, but
simply the manner of SO doing to which
have or properly could take exception.
As these measures pertain directly to the
material interests of the people OF this coun-
ty, and as public journalist, it is your
province 10 take cogniZance of oil such dis
cussions, trust your columns are open to
the parties to this.
Among the measures TO which | have re-
ferred was the bill, known as the County
Treasurer bill, the leading and most inn
portant feature of which was to abolish our
present mode of collecting and disbursing
taxes by district collectors, and have that
work partly performed by County Treas
urer. | say partly performed, because it
provided that after the lapse of a given
period all the tax bills remaining unpaid
should go into the hands the Sheriff for col
lection.
This bill came from the Senate to the
House, and as one of my colleagues was in
favor of its passage, suppose it may be as
sumed that it was in my power to have Sc
cured its passage, and therefore / must bear
a share of the blame for its failure, but, if
this is not sufficient to fix the responsibility,
will say that opposed it u the utmost of
my ability.
When the legislature met happened to
be present in the Executive Mansion when
the Dorchester County Delegation called to
pay their respects to the Governor. A very
interesting conversation ensued upon the
subject of finances generally, in the course Of
which his Excellency took occasion to con-
graduate them upon their admirable plan Of
gathering and dsbursing their taxes under
the auspices of the County Treasurer sys-
tenn, and spoke approvingly of the plan Of
having but one accounting officer with the
State Treasury in the county, and learned
afterwards that the treasury officers advo-
Gated the same plan, which | found to be
popular in the legislature. All this looked
very fair for our County Treasurer bill.
The discussion Of the Dorchester county
plan made an impression upon my mind
and put me on the inquiry. When the ses-
sion had considerably advanced, learned
that a Mr. Meekins was the originator of
this plan, and late in the session met him
in the House. He informed me that he was
acting MS County Treasurer and ex-officio
Clerk to the Board of County Commits
sioners that they had their district collec-
tors, and remarked that"a county could bet
ter afford TO pay them five per cent than a
| treasurer three for collecting" AT this point
we were suddenly interrupted and | had no
opportunity 10 get an explanation.
As this subject had not for several years
been mooted in our county to my knowl-
edge, and had very grave doubts from the
beginningof the expediency of this measure,
/ I x.tttI hoo, ~
intelligent and reliable gentlemen residing
in different sections of the county, request
ing them to ascertain and advise me as to
the views Of the people in their respective
districts upon the subject. After the lapse
OF period sufficient for active business
men, is most OF them were, to interview a
great many OF their fellow citizens, which
by letters now in my possession, they as
sured me they had done and, without eX-
ception, reported public sentiment TO be en-
tirely in favor Of our present plan, giving
for the same the following reasons substan-
tally; That it would be impracticable for a
treasurer to make the new assessments and
collect the small bills with the same facility
and efficiency as five collectors could do it.
having each only about one-titth Of our
large territory to canvass; that the revenue
derived from these annual assessments con-
tribute largely to paying the commissions
for collecting, and il they were overlooked
or neglected, and many more Of the small
bills than heretofore returned insolvent, rs
it was believed would be the case, it wa.
thought our present system is more eco
nomcal rs well as more convenient thar
the plan proposed, especially as by the lattel
il was not proposed to reduce the commits
sions.
+ Some of them cited the TACT which | re
membered distinctly that this was the con
clusion reached upon very thorough ex
animation, when, q few years ago, the saua'
question was agitated in the county, re
suit which had seemed TO settle the publ,
mind upon the subject, and l will say 70
myself that from that time until / Learned
that this bill had been introduced into Tn,
Senate, had no idea that any body con
tempated raising IL again.
Upon reflection, concluded that simila
views We're entertained by the people o
Dorchester, and took it for granted tina
this was an explanation of Mr.. Meekins' re
mark
Being informed by a Member OF the Hous
from Wycomico county, that they had few
years previously abolished the plan Of EN-
ploying district collectors, and were thel
having their taxes gathered by a Count,
Treasurer, but the people were dissatistie'
with the latter plan, and he felt sure th
former would soon be reinstated, conclude,
: the people OF that county had by actual ex
perlence found the views entertained by on
people upon that subject TO be correct
omitted stating in tho proper connection
, another idea some Of my correspondent
| suggested, upon the principle Of the great
, est good 10 the greatest number when n
one else is thereby injured, which had som