Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-05-21
The County Levy.

the proposed change in the manner OF
making the county levy to which we re-
ferred editerially in the last issue of the
TINES. We are glad of the opportunity
OF presenting the views of those who hold
an opinion adverse to that expressed oy
the TIMES. We have no pride of opinion
in the matter and in this as in all other
public questions Especially Of local
character) our only aim is to promote the
public welfare. We are glad, therefore,
to have the question freely discussed and
desire only that correct conclusion may
be reached before action Is taken in so i'm
portant matter.
We believe that if our correspondent
will construe US more carefully he will
agree that now as heretofore the TINES is
ready to espouss the progressive idea and
advocate any improvement or advance
ment in the public affairs and that it is
our we'll grounded doubts as to the obso-
eteness or absurdity of the old notion as
t. the county levy and net any Partially
to its antiquity that prompts the objec-
tons We have advanced as to precipi-
tate change in so important matter
With all Difference we believe that our
friend assumes little too much when he
asserts without any proof or argument
that under the present system of making
the levy sit is simply impossible to con-
duct the business of the commissioners
court correctly and in compliance with
| the law" nor do we believe that the cha
otto state of the county affairs when the
present board took charge was due chiefly
or even largely to that cause. 1t has been
said, We know, that it is not practicable
| for the commissioners to take vouchers in
compliance with the law for deb's paid
| by levy on the books of the collectors but
to any one familiar with the methods of
men Of business this objection will be
readily seen to be untenable. 1t is a very
common practice among business men to
receipt for bills paid by deferred note or
drafts merely indicating the manner of
settlement; aud 1t would certainly be no
serious irregularity fer the creditor of the
county, when his account was approved
and entered to his use in the levy, to give
to the commissioners a proper voucher for
such disbursement; or it could DO easily
arranged that collectors should take such
vouchers from the creditors when the
money was actually paid and file them
with the clerk from time to time. We be-
lieve that the sweeping objections which
have been made to the present system Of
making the levy will be found to result
from hastily formed conclusions and that
the true cause Of the present mixed state
of the county affairs is due to negligent
bookkeeping and management rather than
any grave inherent defects in the present
system.
We are willing to admit, however, that
. direct disbursement of the county ex-
penses by the commissioners themselves
or their treasurer, while probably not 20
convenient to the tax-paying creditor,
might simplify to some extent the book
there any existing legal regulations war
rahting such An innovation, the TIMES
would not feel justified in raising any OBJ
lection. Our correspondent concurs with
the TINES as to the force of the objection
that there is no illegally bonded officer
except the collectors to receive and dis
burse the money collected as taxes" We
differ only in this: He thinks that the
present system is so radically defective
that the cart should be placed before the
horse and The change made at once and
trust chances to Obtaining the proper safe
guards in the way of legislation tive years
hence while the TINES, falling to see the
radical effectiveness OF the present sys-
tenn, simply suggests that it would he
wiser to have the legislative safeguards
first and then nuke the change In thi.
connection our correspondent makes an
error Of fact. The personnel of the presen
board may be changed before the
State Legislature shall again convene, be-
cause another election Of these officers will
intervene and the people might call some
other servants to these trusts; although we
sincerely hope and believe that no mate
sial change uiu be made by the people at
the next election. But even concedizg
that the personnel of the board will remain
the same, have we any assurance as TO the
pcrsonnel of the next delegation in the
Legislature Suppose we should have q
politically hostile delegation in the next
Legislature, might they not make such
combinations among tn. delegates as to
defeat any local measure to which they
did not give their approval2
1t would be wise. we think, to maturely
consider these matters before precipi'ately
making such an important innovation
which is admitted to he in violation of all
analogies OF law and, in the absence of
legislative safeguards to be fra ught with
danger to the public interests in future
years. 1t is not safe, we think, to assume
in such an important matter, that pros
pective legislation by the General Assem-
bly, Is one of those certainties like death
and taxes" because past experience. even
with a united local delegation, tends TO
rebuff any such presumption.
Hon. Barnes Compton has written a let
ter to Col. Victor, Baughman's Republican