The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-10-13

the finished city on the first Wednes-
day of January, 1884, the Democratic
members from Garrett had glad It'd
ings of great joy for their brother
Democrats from the other counties.
Garrett county had almost gone
Democratic. They had elected ma
jority to the Legislature. They had
elected the Sheriff, they had elected
county surveyor, Il majority of the
county commissioners and of the
judges Of the orphans court. They
had, in short, the lions share of the
offices, and fair opportunity to
demonstrate the advantages to be
derived from Democratic success at
the polls.
Now your average Democratic
politician cYoaks great deal about
unnecessary taxes, about economy
and reform, ana about turning the
rascals out, and all that, but watch
| him. What was the result of the
change from Republican to Demo-
cratic rule in the county? Scan the
levy lists for the two years of Demo-
cratic control and see what they say.
The very first year of Democratic
management the tax rate went up
from 81 ,07 to S1.5S on the hundred of
the assessible basis. The change
from Republican to Democratic con-
troll cost the tax payers an increase
of nearly so per cent. on their taxes.
From S1,07 to S1,58, or fifty-one cents
on the hundred dollars worth of
property added to the taxpayers
burden the moment the pure, i'm
maculate, white = sOuled refCrmerS
touched the county finances. Why
could not the business of the county
be conducted as economically under
Democratic as under Republican
rule?
| said in former communication
that when a Democratic laW-maker
legiSlates on the subject of salaries,
the Democrats salary always goes
up, or the Republicans salary down,
and this years work but proved the
COrreCtr ess Of the rule. They simply
legislated the money out of the
pockets Of the tax payers, regardless
of party, and into the pockets of the
Democratic Office holders.
When the board of county COM
misSioners was a Republican body
81 80 day was considered a sufficient
remuneration for their services, but
as soon as their political complexion
was changed four dollars a day be.
came economy.
For the services of a county sur
! veyOr four dollars a day was cOnsid-
! cred an ample remuneration. but
as a Democrat was elected it was
promptly changed TO five dollars a
day.
When we had a Republican Sheriff
S25 90 was fixed as his compensation
| for taking a prisoner to the Peniten-
tiary, but when a Democrat was sub
Stituted the Democratic law. maker
said it should be $4,000 instead Of
/ $500. He said also that he should
have more for boarding prisoners,
and a thousand or so dollars more
was thrown in as official perquisites.
The per dunn of the Democratic
Judges of the orphans court was also
highly increased as soon as that body
became Democratic.
Now / have briefly outlined a few
things that have happened in our
midst; in our own county, directly
under our own observation things
with which everybody is familiar
and that everybody knows to be
literally true.
Now can there be a Democrat in
the limits of the county. calling him
self an honest man, who can or will,
by his vote and influence, encourage
the system OF speculation and plum
der as uniformly practiced by his
party in the county and State.
The common people, Democrats
and Republicans, have been robbed
unnecessarily, and the proceeds lavish
ed on Democratic officials as rewards
for political services. And as in our
county and State affairs so on the
broader plain of national politics, the
Democrat party is bundle of shams
and false pretenses, who, from Presi-
dent down, have all been tarred with
the same stick.
In my next may have something
to say about the legislation of last
winters session, which must linger
as a sweet SAVIOR in the nOstrils of the
citizens of Garrett.