The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-11-02
TO THE TAXPAYERS OF
CECIL COUNTY.

In a short time it will be necessary to make the
annual levy for the county expenses. On assum-
| ing the Office OF Commissioners we found the
| finances of the county in very unsatisfactory
condition, and the county Indebtedness fully as
| large as had been predicted, and amounting to at
least eighty thousand dollars.
In view OF the depressed condition of the farm
| ing interest espeelaliy-which pays taxes upon
| eleven million dollars of the fourteen millions
| aSsessed-and with the knowledge that few farm
| ers of late years have succeeded in realizing
| sufficient to keep them out OF debt, the Commits
sioners thought it would be wise step to apply
| to the late Legislature Tor law funding the
| county indebtedness not already provided for, in
order to avoid the necessity OF levying an amount
sufficient to pay the deficiency Indebtedness.
We believe the new loan could have been dis
tributed over the space Of ten years. and portion
paid each year, and the money procured at a rate
| much less than what the county has had to pay
upon sums Illegally borrowed to meet the demands
upon the county, securing at the same time an
equitable and fairly moderate assessment of
taxes.
1t is hardly necessary to remind you that
although our application 10 the Legislature for
law funding the amount OF the Indebtedness was
recommended by many OF the best citizens and
heaviest taxpayers OF the county, irrespective of
party our appeal met with disfavor for the reason
no doubt, that the political affiliations of your
Commissioners and their views were at variance
with the views OF the gentlemen who shape
matters in their own party as well as outside,
simply for their own personal ends.
1t Is our Intention to fairly, honestly and
economically administer the business of our Office
but, We are sorry to say, little encouragement is
given us and little desire manifested in some
quarters to relieve you of the onerous taxes by
which you are burdened. The taxes this year will
necessarily be heavy.
When we appealed to the opponents of our
measure to ioIbear opposition they replied that it
was our duty TO levy Tor the present deficiency
and not to seek legislation, and as we failed to
obtain relief from the Legislature, we are obliged
TO resort to the only legal means left US, and at
our next meeting must Of necessity levy for
sufficient sum to pay the county's floating indebt-
edness, amounting to thirty-ive forty Thousand
dollars, as also the amount required for county
expenses Tor the coming year.
We deplure this condition OF affairs, but beg
you TO remember the debts are not Of our con-
tracing, and ii in endeavoring to pay item the
levy is beyond what it has been, remember it is to
meet outstanding liabilities not created by U.s. but
Oy our predecessors IN ONCE.
THOMAS g. BOND,
JOINT. WILLIAMS,
JAMES G. CRoTHERs
County Commissioners.
County Commissioners Office, June b. 1855.
Now why was this simple and sensi-
Bile business proposition to fund all or
at least portion of the floating lndebt-
edness, as desired by the Commission
ers and as had been done by the pre-
vious Legislature to smooth the path OF
of Democratic Board, refused by the
legislature Simply because it would
have enabled the present Board of
Commissioners to have made low
rate of levy, thereby commencing them
to our taxpayers, the object of the
partizan Democrats who defeated the
funding bill, being to emEarrass and
hinder the new Board as much as pos
sible.
To use the language of prominent
partizan, "H you find that indebted
ness that Board of Commissioners
mil haze tile rate of taxation dozOn
to sixty cents before their term ee-
biyes, and they aOiU be their ozOn sue
ceSSoyS certain"
Partzan Democratic delegates at
Annapolis headed by Messrs. Caldwell
and Moore, having for the purpose
stated defeated the funding bill, and
the debts of the County being pressing,
the Commissioners were perforce COM
PEELED to add to the annual levy an
amount sufficient to meet these out
standing obligations.
Now, the Cecil Democrat voices the
cry of these same partizan gentlemen