The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-10-02
Our County Affairs.

llarlOru county Is COuCeIHeu tneie 10 nv iSe"oh
why any Democrat should vote for any candi-
date for any office on the Republican ticket
Notwithstanding reckless assertions to the
contrary the public business ofHarford coun-
ty has been prudently, correctly and econ
omicaly administered by Democratic county
commissioners since 1867, when the reign of
force and disregard of laws ceased in the
State of Maryland.
The rate of taxation in Hartford county
seems HIGH but it is not as high as in several
of the counties of the State in which the
Republicans have complete control, and it is
no greater than the absolute necessities of
the public require.
The County Commissioners have no con-
troll over the expenses of the courts, the pay
of the clerk of court, the register of wills,
the sheriff, attorneys, magistrates and consta-
bles, and many other matters. These are
regulated by law and the Commissioners can
only examine the accounts and see that no
unwarranted or illegal charges are made.
The public schools absorb large amount
of the sums raised by taxation, but few tax
payers would consent to any reduction which
would involve the closing of the schools
portion of the year or the reduction of teach.
ers' salaries. 1t is true that during the last
few years a number of new school houses
have been built and their construction has
increased the tax bills. The amounts for
these school houses were appropriated upon
the recommendation of the School Commits
sioners and in compliance with the earnest
demands of many taxpayers The patrons of
these schools know whether they were need
ed or not.
County roads and bridges have also cost
large sums, and the expenditures for them
have necessarily increased with the amount
of travel upon them. These expenditures
have as rule, been properly applied, and
the public roads of Hartford county are in ex-
cellent condition. They will compare favor
ably with the roads of any county in the
State. The public demand and are willing
to pay for good roads. In fact it would be
poor economy TO neglect repairing the roads,
in lower the tax rate cent or two. The
travel upon our roads is ten times greater
than it was twenty-five years ago and in
creased use involves increased expense in
keeping them in repair.
1t would be extremely difficult for any fair
minded man to point to many items in the
levy.lst that in his judgment might have
been saved without detriment to the welfare
Of the public.
In contrasting the rate of taxation in Har-
ford county with that in other counties of
the State taxpayers should bear in mind that
property, especially real estate, is assessed
very low here, and that the basis of tax
alton, also, has been reduced, from various
causes, chiefly on account of the great de-
preston in the price of farm products and
the failure of the canning industry during
the past few years. Consequently higher
rate was necessary 10 raise the amount requir-
ed for county expenses.
The charge that the books Of the County
Commissioners Office are not properly kept
is trifiing and absurd. Any one competent
to understand accounts who will take the
trouble TO examine them, will see that every
expenditure is properly accounted for. The
Commissioners, we admit, might make
more detailed statement than they do, but
they have followed the same plan of state
ment made by County Commissioners for
thirty years or more, and it has been deemed
sufficient compliance with the law. To
print the name of every person to whom
n five-cent piece has been paid would be a de.
tailed statement, but it would take many col.
umns in the newspapers to publish it
whereas now they are appropriately group
ed under certain general accounts. 1t would,
however, be more satisfactory to taxpayers if
the Commissioners would publish condens-
ed statement OF the account oftheir Treasurer
The books of the County Commissioners,
as far as we have had occasion to examine
them, are accurately and carefully kept, and
we have had no difficulty in obtaining infor-
nation in relation to anything connected
with the county's affairs.
For several years past the books have been
examined annually by committees of citizens
of experience and well-known high charac-
ter, and they have uniformly certified TO the
correctness of the accounts kept in the Com.
missioners' office.
In 1881 Messrs. Henry w. Archer, Jr.,
VIM. II. Harlan aud Noble L. Mitchell certi
fled that they thoroughly examined the Com
missioners' accounts and found them correct,
In 1882 the same committee performed the
same duty and found only one error.
namely, one cent in an addition, and with
this exception they certified that they found
the books "well kept and entirely correct"
Again in 1888 Messrs Ohio s. Lee, Henry
w. Archer, Jr., and r. T. Martin examined
the books and accounts ofthe Commissioners
and certified to their correctness.
In 1884, Messrs. A Preston Gilbert, Geo.
Il. Cairnes and VIM. Fl. Harlan also certified
to the correctness of the books and accounts.
In February, 1885, Messrs VIM. Young
A. Preston Gilbert and w. w. Preston, "after
careful and laborious examination" found
the books and accounts correct and vouchers
for everything excepta few small items in
which it would be impossible to procure
them. They added
"Your committee found the books of the of.
lice IN excellent condition, well-kept, and the
system much improved and more in keeping