The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-10-19

CANT and the result of misconduct
and mismanagement, for which the
commissioners should be indicted, as
alleged by the Democrat. are we not
to infer then that the enormous levy
of $4,000 80 and exorbitant rate of
81 58& in 1884 was caused by the
greater extravaganza. the outrageous
misconduct and gross mismanage-
ment of the Democratic board for
that year?
If the lower levy and rate imposed
by Republicans in 1889 is chargable
to indictable causes, have we not
greater reason to suppose criminal
misconduct the cause for the larger
levy and rate in 1881?
Will the Democrat answer and ex.
plain without fear, favor, partlality
or prejudice?
AS we judge the future to certain
extent by the past, and this being
our experience with the two parties
in the management of county finan.
ces, are the people of Garrett county
again willing to try the experiment
of electing Democratic board of
county commissioners. and risk
repetition of the levy and rate of
1884?
AT the ballot box the answer must
be given.
SCHOOL BOARD.
AS another test of the administra-
tive capacity of the Democrats and of
their regard for the rights and prop.
erty of the people, let US examine the
School Board record, made by the
Democrats exclusively.
For II years the county school
affairs have been controlled by the
Democrats, and without reviewing
the past in relation thereto at length,
it is we'll known how they have been
managed and mismanaged, conduc-
ted and miscorducted. to the great
damage and detriment of the public.
both by loss and misapplicatinn Of
the school funds, as well as by loss of
valuable time and instruction to the
children. 1t thus continued from
year to year, expenses increasing.
obligations arising, terms shortening
and debt accumulating until it ex-
ceeded S20,000-a debt contracted and
incurred unauthoriz d, without legal
or moral right. eliminating in 1884,
when bonds were issued and the
debt to the extent of $4,000 fund
ed, to be paid and now being
paid by the people the tax. payers
of the county. Here on the score of
extravaganza. we would call atten,
ton to the item of $3.50, in the levy
list for 1889, "Garrett County School
Debt" and say that this the monu-
ment of Democratic extravaganza
and misconduct, is one of the items
which in part makes up the levy for
that year and by the Democrat said
to he excessive and one of the items
which, while decreasing at the rate
of $50 per annum, will appear an
nualIy in the levy list for thirteen
years
Why and under what circum-
stances was this debt saddled upon
the county? Experience teaches us
that the democrat will explain none
of these matters, but we will. We
wish the people to be enlightened on
all the issues! In 1882. the School
Commissioners then In office desired
to have the debt funded. and had
prepared and presented to Mr.. Getty.
then State Senator. a bill for that
purpose. He at first approved the
bill, but the commissioners not being
in accord with and submissive to
"the big four" and their following.
he subsequently, declared that he
could not conscientiously endorse the
bill as presented without an amend
ment submitting the matter to vote
of the people. which amendment he
tackled to it, and so amended it be-
came law chapter 299. Acts of 1882.
At the election in November, 1892, it
was voted upon, "the big four" be.
ing perniciously active in their efforts
to defeat the measure, and as result
majority of ATT votes were boiled
against the issuing of bonds. But in
1884, the School Commissioners hav-
ing been changed AMI those more
subservient to the ruling powers APP
pointed, Mr.. Getty's conscientious
scruples disappeared. and he had
passed a law. chapter 1853, Acts of
1884, authorizing and empowering.
at their discretion, the County Com
missioners to issue bonds to the
amount of $4,000 for the funding of
the debt. and the Mullen Democratic
board of County Commissioners un-
der and by virtue of the discretion
conferred upon them by that law,
! issued those bonds. and thus was an