Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1885-07-31
The Insane Paupers.

appeared in the TIMES, SAYS:
"The Polt Tobacco TINES takes issue upo7
the legal proposition involved in the erection Of
a JOINT Hospital by the four lower counties tol
insane pauperS. The Beacon follows near in it>
footsteps. With all due Difference to the lega
ability of the editor of the TINES, we respect
fully submit, that he has entirely miSuuder
stood the object of the joint conference. -
The object. as we understand it, is to dis
cuSS the feasibility of the erection of such
hospital. and to ascertain how many of the foul
lower counties are willing to enter into a com
pact. AS TO the way in which the building is
to be erected, or by what authority or power, i.
4 question to be considered afterward."
To any on9 who has read what tina,
paper has been saying for the past month
or two upon this matter The position which
it now assumes will be regarded as rather
remarkable to say the least 1t was only
in its last issue that it recommended the
early convention of the commissioners ol
the four counties under republican rule in
order to fix upon the site for the proposed
Institution and make all necessary arrange
ments. Any one who has kept pace with
its repeated harping on this question, Will
be astonished at the apparent tergiyersa-
ton by which it nov brings itse to say
that it was only to discuss the feasibility
of tue erection of suth hospital and to as
certain how many of the four lower coun-
ties are willing to enter into the compact. "
The casual observer would be apt to re-
gard that paper as journalistic acrobat
of no mean lretensions.
1t now says, however, that it has been
a l this time urging this convention OF the
commissioners of the four counties merely
to discuss the feasibility &c, and 10
ascertain how many of the four lower
counties are willing to enter into the cons-
pact.' We are bound to assume that il is
sincere in what it now says and so we ask,
cin 60n09 How in the name Of common
sense can a convention of the present
boards OF these commissioners ascertain
how many of the counties will enter into a
compact TO build hospital? Does our
W SsAN h'liI titS iAtSSHt
boards ef commissioners can bind their
counties and their successors in office by
compact 60 do thing which is now IN
lawtul and which in all probability will
continue TO be sol In oul humble judg
ment the only purpose tha; could be ac-
complished by such a convention would
be to ascertain whether these boards are
willing to be burdeued with additional
patronage to the tuae of tcon $4,000 10
100000 the first year and from $4,000 to
$4,000 annua ly lheraaf or, provided the
Legis ature should think lit . confer il
willingness to accept this responsibility
might safely be assumed, or that, at any
rate, it might be ascertained by CORES
pondence, wi hout the expense of con
vention. But if there really be doubt
upon this question and a conven' ion is
necessary to sweep them away, then we
submit that it is not the Jres-nt boar 5
that shuu be coave3ed. but heir s4ccsS-
sors, who viii be elected IN the coming
November: because no legislative action
can by any possibility be secured during
the term of the present boards. 1t is little
singular hat our en- erprising comtempur-
airy al The while i; has been urging a con
ven tien of The present buardsvit hout de
lay for the mere purpose Of informing he
Legislature tha, like B.rkiS, they are viii
ling, las overlooked these important
facts.
1t may be due to the fact that we are
living away back in the world of twenty
years ago and are not able to get a fair
grip on the diving issues of the day" but
it does seem to our simple understanding
that the Legislature, before conterring this
unprecedented power and patronage upon
these boards Of county commissioners,
would prefer to hear from the tar payers
OF these counties. who are TO pay the money
required, rather than from the parties who
desire to spend 1t ); and that if any conven-
WIN 10 ~ bI hN4'i, ~ ob'0lt pC u INIlNtA-
tion Of the tar payers. Besides it seems %
US that it would appear little ia{s'icats
to the sensibili;ies of such refined, highly
edncated and representative men as the
"Ehterpri=e" says their board of commits
sioners and those who support them are,
to be thus putting themselves forward as
willing to take charge OF this mltter.-
Might it not be that the Legislature, in
the event that it saw fit 10 establish such
an institution, might prefer to put the Gus
tody Of the property and the disbursement
of the money in The hands of board OF
trustees to be appointed by the Governor,
or in some way entirely independent OF
The commissioners
We believe it is well established and
generally accepted fact that governments
always succeed in running all kinds OF
scientific, Industrial and other institutions
upon moro economical basis than private
capital can do. This is especially true OF
the governments of the lower counties
No one who has observed the admirable
economy with which our public road sys-
tenn in this county is conducted and the
careful and conscientious manner in which
those employed in the service are selected
solely on account of their fitness and eff
cheney, cou'd entertain any doubt upon
that point. But if there be any doubling
Thomas who would not be convinced by
this example, we would refer him to the
wise, impartial and economic action OF
the refined, educated and representative
commissioners of St Mary's county. taken
a few days ago, in which the Eatarprise
was paid $500 tor doing an amount OF
p; hitting which the Beacon, the democratic
cOuntv paper offered to do tor G315 A.