Montgomery County sentinel., 1888-03-16
Down With the Taxes!

The school contest, with the centre of its
arena now transferred to Annapolis, has pro-
duced an unusual degree Of interest in our
county for sometime past. Petitions and
counter petitions have been circulated, with
the voting population divided, as is usual in
such cases 1t would seem that by far the
larger number desire the appointment oil an
entire new board of commissioners, and that
of a new Examiner, as result. 1t is very
evident that this desire contains no element
of personal anim0sity against the present
worthy incumbent, allowing, always, for an
tagonism which now seems, to the shame Of
our civilization, inseparable from office hold
ing or office seeking. 1t proceeds, rather,
from the deep-seated conviction of all genu-
inc democrats, who have no axe to grind, no
prospective schemes, no blinded and aping
hero worship to prejudice conviction, that the
good old rule of "turn about is fair play" is
better than the civil service abomination, as
zealously administered agntast his party, by
the self-sufflcient ex sheriff and ex mayor.
This principle was urged and acted upon
eight years ago, when the then Examiner,
gentleman of unquestioned culture and
efficiency, was removed in favor of his sue
cessor. Even than the Jacksonian doctrine
that the dominant party should actually rule,
IS more influential the attested fact that
changes in any office work good, and only
good, To the public A life tenure generally
means indifference To public opinion, in
differently performed obligations, antago-
nism of all Tree critics, and over bearing
manners A change, now and then, teaches
office holders that they are servants, lot
lords. But what inCenses large number OF
citizens is that the salary OF that officer is so
disproportionate to the service actually rem
dered. The law provides 81 900 tor the Ex
q g.. L.
400 if both offices be filled by the same per-
son. 1t is contended, on all hands, that any
number of thoroughly qualified and edicient
men would not only be willing, but de-
lighted to accept $500 for doing the same
work; effecting saving OF $500 TO the
county. Comparisons, additionally invidi-
Gus, will, nevertheless, be made In this
country, where opinion cannot be brought
TO the block and beheaded by the common
hangman, its expression may not be easily
estopped On all hands you may hear it
asked, "Why are able and laborlous teachers
cut down to almost starvation wages, while
this particular office is made TO pay 80 well p
| Many toiling clerk must support his family
on half that sum Talented and educated as
they are, ministers say that the average pay
OF preachers of all denominations is not $4O0
per year The vast majority, who dig and
| delve from. sun TO SUI, find it impossible,
after every economy rigidly practiced, TO
save a dollar from their years hard TOLL /;
while probably half the farms in this county
are either already mortgaged or will shortly
| be Hundreds Of farmers owe fertilizer bills
for from one to three years, and, with crops
at present prices, will be paupers In few
years These are facts too well known to
| be disputed. Yet, with the stupidity OF the
asses to which we have ever been likened,
we sweat on, while with white and velvety
hands our public servants whirl by as in
their chariots OF easel To the complaint Of
the Swedes, groanng under intoerable bur-
den, Lovelace. second governor Of the prov
ince of New York under the duke of York
replied, "If there is any more murmuring
against the taxes, make them so heavy that
the people can do nothing but think how
to pay them" II looks little like we shall
some day get the same answer. The report
of an official statistician shows that cur taxes
are now about one-third higher than de-
cade Or two ago, with nsthing in sight TO
| Justify this large increase. There was rather
a lively time about ssnle tea once; and, II a
modicum of ancestral spirit should ever
] be revived, the thick-skinned, slow-moving