Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1885-04-23
An EniUuitOUs system.

l'ur readers VIII recall INC lacI t'iat
the tax basis Of this county has been
reduced in the last two statements 81
UO0,OQO below that reported in the
statement published in 1888.
One wear ago We noticed the unac-
countab.e reduction and took occasion
TO learn as far as we could, whether Or
not there had boon general reduction
in the assessment. The result Of our
.nquiry in specific cases "a number Of
them) was that there had been no gen
cral reduction that conclusion having
been arrived at by the direct method
G: examining large number of tax
bills Of the two years. We then ap-
piled to gentleman in Frederick city,
Who is thoroughly acquainted with
Court House matters, asking him to
secure for us the totals for the different
districts for the two years: this he
kindly consented to do, sending Us the
fgures, but at the same time advised
Us Of tae impossibility of proving any
thing inasruch as the various footings
were inaccurate and worse than mixed;
this being the unQuesiionablc fact, We
torego our attempt TO locate or account
for III. lesscnins OF the tax basis, al.
though, Ut the time, we had a strong
fusp!cion 0: the truth, with at least one
ease il point 10 Justify our belief, W e
now are prepared to assert that a sys-
TEN Of tuvoritisn has been practised
in this county that is not only dis
graceful but criminal add inasmuch as
it is the intention Of this article only to
make such a statement and to make it
uneouiyocally and further to give war
rant therefor only by stating an in
stance, illustrating this system, We,
!asipg made the statement, strengthen
it 10y asserting that at this present
time and under the present manage
fnent Of the tax system of Frederick
County, there is one owner and holder
o; a certain issue Of taxable stock
worth upwards Of 5000 for which
stock he is assessed less than $25 900
When we say it is worth upwards OF
100000, we mean to say that the
holder would refuse to sell it for that
amount, cash. This excellent citizen
Of Frederick City thus is permitted tc
evade payment OF tax on property, in
value equal to one third Of the real es
tate Of Mechanicstown.
In contrast with this instance o.
criminal favortism We quote that OF &
lady in this town who took possession
ola property April lst and who has
since employed carpenters to build iol
her porch, summer kitchen and sta
be before any one of which was com
pletad. she received Il letter from the
Office Of the county commissioners re-
curing that she give them full list o.
the improvements IN progress, In the
latter Instance q most earnest and com
lnendab!e spirit Of watchfalness over
the interests Of all the other taxpayers
in the county was evlnced.
In the former instance, We see dis
regard Of interests under the promise
OF the protection Of an oath.
In the latter we recognize a strained
sense o; duty, but the very idsal Of q
perfect system in the former, broken
faith but none the less an aggravated
instance Of the existing system.
~ the name Of common honesty, cit.
i4cns, is it not possible that Frederick
County should place its affairs in the
lands Of men capable Of rising super
ior to influences which would perpctU-
ate such system