The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-05-02
Misrule in Frederick County.
i Meehnnicatornn CLnrion.

From the MechGnicstoUn Clarion:
There can be no questioning the now patent
fact that in this county of Frederick there are
methods regularly observed by those who
control its affairs directly, the officials, and
to those who control them indirectly, the po-
litical leaders and bosses, which result in a
waste, misapplication and worse than unintel
lgent directing of the revenue of the county.
Year after year we see an enormous tax
levied and collected, upon the second largest
assessment in all the counties of Maryland !;
we do not recognize seemingly crushing
debt for so wealthy county, and we certainly
have examined each recurring statement,
eagerly and closely, to find where large invest
ments are being made in valuable and per-
manent improvements, yet without having
been rewarded by the discovery of aught suf-
icient even to attract attention.
The last levy published, accounts readily
for the expenditure of $4,000, of which,
saving the matter of few thousand for bridges
and new roads, not dollar invested in per-
manent improvements. OF this enormous
sum of money, the bulk goes out in salaries
and as salaries imply official holdings, it means
simply this, that Frederick County is so diff
cult to govern, that it requires the expendi-
ture of this large sum of money to insure sta
BILE government and the upholding of the
citizens rights against his neighbor. Such
an assumption is of course the merest nonsense
and the expenditure of such large sums annu-
ally, must be otherwise explained
The false and vicious methods, employed
against and submitted to by the people of
this county, have their foundation in the in
tense partisanship displayed by the people
themselves in the first instance. 1t has come
to be recognized, that the party will uphold
the hands of each and every official by them
elected, or appointed, hence every office
holder in the county feels perfectly safe in
securing the very largest possible income for
himself and runs no risk in aiding all of his
personal friends in this same direction.
To sum up; we charge the intense partisan
backing of elective and appointive officers, as
being the real foundation upon which our
present magistrates and constables in Freder-
lex outrage the taxpayer in their tramp"
business; as a standing menace to those, who
would attempt a regeneration of the methods
in vogue in the Office of the County Commits
sioners, whereby contingent funds, notorious
ly unfair assessments, compromises outside
the pale of any known law, unblushing favor
itism and the assumption of being "a law unto
themselves" becomes possible; as being a
shield to members of the Board of Charities
and Corrections, who openly violate the law
of advertising for supplies, and who are guilty
of the direct coEtravention Of law that for
bids them to purchase of themselves; it is d.
rectly chargeable with such enormities as the
Sheriff's charges during recent years and
will account for the shutting off of as many
avenues of information, as has been noted in
the refusal to publish the Statement in more
than two newspapers in the entire county