The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-03-20
Mr.. John smitl,-..pitto! Dido n

Mr.. John Smith-ssDitto! .Dittol"
Voice from the rear-'Me, too"
The first resolutions were then put upon
their passage, being taken up seriatim. The
| first was adopted without dissent. When the
second was read Col. Mckellip asked IT he
might be heard. Permission was given, and
| he advanced up the aisle, removed his over
coat, and said he had in good faith come te
| talk on the resolution. He began speaking
of the city being entitled to the road tax paid
in the corporate limits. Col. Maulsby called
him to order, saying that his remarks were
not pertinent to the subject.
Col. McKellip disclaimed discourtesy, and
announced himself in favor of the resolution.
| He had been given permission to present his
views. said he, and then began speaking oil
having the city exempted from road tax. He
called upon all present in favor OF the Propo-
sition to rise, and quite number DID so.
| Col. Maulsby here said
| "Col. McKellip, you are out OF order.
Your conduct is very disrespectful. l never
knew Won to act so discourteously before.
Col. McKellip continued speaking, and his
remarks-for everybody seemed to be IN favor
of having the city exempted from the county
road tax-caused some applause.
Col. Maulsby then came down from the
stage. His manner was earnest, and the
audience thought he intended to take Col.
McKellip in hand. He passed the latter,
however. and advancing to where his cane
Law. nicked it up and asked if there were any
officers present. He then went to the rear
seats, and pointing with his cane, said,
''You, Mr.. Charles Wantz, and you, Mr.
Reifsnider, Jr., are behaving discourteousiy.
You were not invited here, and your presence
is not desired"
Here a considerable confusion and babel
n
their feet, and a row seemed imminent. MI.
Reifsnider o. Milton) made reply to Col.
Maulsby. that was unheard by the ADVOCATE
representative. Mr.. L. l.. Billingslea, who
was sitting beside him, became involved IN
the wrangle, whereupon Col. Maulsby told
him that if he sympathized with the others
MS presence was not desired. The two young
men 20. up to leave. Col. Maulsby was talk
ing to them as they were leaving their seats,
and Mr.. Billingslea, becoming excited, ana
pointing his finger at Col. Maulsby, exclalm-
ed-"Col. Maulsby, pay. as much taxes as
you, and get less benefit.
While all this was going on Col. Mcheihp
was continuing his speech in the front part OF
the hall.
Messrs. Reifsnider and Billingslea started
to leave. Mr.. John Smith came down the
aisle to induce Col. Maulsby to go back to the
stage. Col. McKellip had stopped speaking
and started to leave the hall also, and met
Col. Maulsby and Mr.. Smith about midway
the aisle. As he moved toward the door he
remarked that the proceedings were very dis
graceful. and that a full report ought to be
About twenty-five or thirty persons left the
hall. and then silence reigned. Col. Maulsby
took the platform and read the resolutions one
by one, and each was unanimously adopted;
A committee of three-Col. Maulsby and
Messrs. Emanuel Mackley and John Bern
stine-were chosen to go to Annapolis to
present the resolutions, present petitions and
enter a protest, on behalf of the meeting,
against the passage of the bills.
The second set of resolutions were also
adopted. :,
Col. Maulsby, the business being over, said
that he regretted that there had been any
confusion and disorder, and, in order to avoid
any. the call for the meeting had been so
worded that only those opposed to the passage
of the bills pending in the Legislature and to
increase of taxation were invited. The pres
ence of all others was unsolicited and unde-
sired. He spoke in kind terms OF Col. Nc,
Kellip, and said that Messrs. Billingslea and
Reifsnider were as modest and gentlemanly
young men as any in the town, as was also
Mr.. Wantz; Mr. Wantz and Mr.. Reifsnider
ever. ON this occasion, which he could not
tolerate, and he had to ask them to retire.
Mr.. Wantz, who had not left the hall, here
incurred why he should have been singled out;
that he was unconscious of having done any
thing wrong. Col Maulsby replied that he
had stood up to vote on question put by
Col. McKellip, which was out of order, &C.,
and Mr.. Reifsnider had made a noise with
his cane. A colloquy then ensued between
Col. Maulsby and Mr.. Wantz, in which the
former said that Mr.. Wantz was not in sym
pathy with their meeting, and had refused to
sign a petition against an increase in taxation.
How do you know?" said Mr. Wantz.
'Mr. Smith said you had" replied Col.
Maulsby.
tition was presented to me-" said Mr.. Wantz.
Mr.. John Smith here arose and said that,
upon his existence, he would state that he
called upon Mr.. Wantz and asked him how
he stood on the question of taxation. He
said Mr.. Wantz hesitated moment and then
remarked he was in favor of high taxes and
improvements He took this answer to be in
effect a refusal, and as he did not wish to
argue the question, left.
MIR. Wantz-"That is right; but you did not
present petition to me. l pay good deal
taxes and am in favor of paying more for the
improvement of the town. l came here to-
night to listen to the proceedings, and not to
interfere, and | don't like being singled out
in the manner l was"
COL Maulsby-"Well, you can take that or
do anything you choose.
Mr.. Wantz-"Well, l have to take it."
Col. McKellip, who had come into the
meeting again, said he would like to explain
what he wanted to say before. No objection
being made, he began speaking The sub
stance of his remarks were that Westminster
should be exempted from road tax, and if the
Senator and Delegates from Carroll would
not present bill to that effect, he would be
in favor of getting other members, of intelli-
gence, to do so. He thought this could be
done, and if the Carroll representatives OPP
posed the bills by speeches, he wanted YER
batim reports, and would contribute SIC
toward the expense of having them reported.
COL Maulsby said that was impracticable,
and that the Legislature would not pass any
local bill opposed by the local representatives.
In the early part of the proceedings the
question of the town debt was spoken of, and
an offer of official figures was made. 1t was
not matter pertinent to the object OF the
meeting, and the report was not received.
Mr.. John Smith said that he was pledged not
to make speech, and if unpledged he could
not make one; but he would say that he was
semi. officially informed that the debt was
only about $500, and that he would give one
hundred dollars if other citizens would raise
the balance, provided there was no increase
in the rate of taxation.
"And no bonds" added Col. Maulsby.
The meeting adjourned about 9.15, to meet
again at the call of the chairman.
Col. Maulsby and Mr.. E. Mackley went tc
Annapolis on Tuesday morning to carry out
the instructions of the meeting.
FMKsBURG ITEMS.
Leg Broken-Death of an Aged Lady-Personal
Items.