Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-06-12
COUNTY ECONOMY.

nent of public opinion and, therefore,
claiming to represent the interests of
the tax paying people Of Anne Arun-
del county, it desires to now call the
attention Of our Board of County
Commissioners, individually and col
lectively, to what it deems to be the
most important matter upon which
they are called to exercise their best
judgment, and that is relative to the
making up of the tax levy for the
present year.
An eminent jurist has said that
"the right to tax is the highest power
known to sovereignty" and therefore
it should be the duty of those in whom
such power is reposed, to exercise
wisdom and discretion in levying the
necessary tax for the support of good
government-always avoiding ex-
travagance and holding fast to the
hue OI True eCOnOmy.
1t is but too painful fact that the
Taxpayers ofour county have been for
long time uttering hostile complaints
against what they believe and know
to be excessive taxation. None can
deny but that there has been waste
full extravaganza in our county affairs
in a pecuniary point Of view There
is for instance very large expense
attending the keeping of our public
roads in proper repair. Thousands
and thousands of dollars have apn-...l'
ally, for years past been levied and
appropriated for this purpose, and to
day they present such pitiable con-
dition, until our farmers, throughout
the different districts of the county are
complaining because they see that
the money levied for such has not
been wisely expended thereon. That
our present system of public road SUI
pervision requires change for the
better, cannot be gainsaid.
We support an Almshouse at an
average annual expense of about
$4,000, and it would seem for such
large outlay of money, it subserves no
substantially good purpose, when it is
considered that there is seldom but
four or FIVE paupers to be maintained.
Some years ago the extravagant
abuses with which that institution
was the victim, are notorious and
still fresh in the minds of our readers. I
Our pension list requires to be over
hauled and the pruning knife applied
it. 1t is fact notorious and one
which causes frequent comment, that
there are at the present time many
persons on that list drawing pensions
who cannot be considered paupers
nor in the least deserving the bounty
of the county, and who should be
stricken therefrom. We belle re in
extending charity wherein it is needed
but let it be equitable in the bestowal
of it, if it is to be at the expense of
the tax payer. In this respect sys.
tenn of economy might be inaugurated.
Then, too, there is the very large
expense to the county growing out of
the jury terms Of our Circuit Court.
The large number of witnesses that
are subp@ned at each term, resulting
in q corresponding heavy expense,
bears heavily upon the tax payer.
Instead of summoning only few wit
nesses before the Court and grandjury,
to testify to the charges brought to
their attention, horde of subpmnas
are sent out, acting like a dragnet
upon the unwary, entailing fearful
and unnecessary expense. which the
honest farmer. the tOiling, Iaborer and
che already overburdened taxpayer
10 assume and to pay. And this wit
ness system has even found its way