The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-02-19
The Egis & Intelligencer
Bel Air, Md, February 10, 1899.
county Commissioners

MR. EDITOR: The proposition to reduce the
number of county commissioners from five 10 three
is agtating this community to considerable eA
tent.
In conversing with many persons on the subject
have not yet found a single individual in favor
of the change. The whole proposed law seems u
nae to be a decided step to the rear, and reminds
me OF the militia captain, who, inidrilng MS men,
ordered them to advance three Steps backward;
really cannot see what is expected TO be gained by
this change. 1t cannot be economy Ior IL IS pro-
posed, believe. to pay the three as much or more
It has been said that with larger salaries we
could secure better men. Now this Is little
rough on our present board ana those VINO nave
preceded them. l have often thought that we had
been rather fortunate in getting good men in our
commissioners office for many years. and doubt
very much If any more money would get better
men. Experience has not always taught us that
high salaried officers have been more honest and
efficient than those whose pay is more moderate.
Would not the high salary be a tempting induce
ment for unqualified men 70 enter the scramble
for these nominations? Without any reflection
on the outs do not know that the county could
furnish better men than those who now constitute
our board of county commissioners.
l really cannot see by what rule 1t is worked out
that three men wond have more knowledge than
five. But if this is good philosophy would IL not
work still farther and make one have more know
ledge than three? We might carry out the new
programme more by giving the one commissioner
all the salary we had Intended to give the three,
and thereby get a still bigger man. Hartford coun-
ty is not very large, it is true, but it is exceedingly
varied in its topography. While the first and sec
ono a and rs S sre ecidedv rocv and hin
and a commissioner of either section could not be
expected to know the wants OF the other locality
a. well as one residing therein.
In regard to a term OF years the people appear
TO be as much opposed TO it as they are TO reduc-
ton of the number. They say that it would be
decidedly UNI Democratic and that it would be re-
moving the commissioners long way from the
people. They say that if we have good man we
can re-elect him in years. but if we should untor-
tunately get worthless one we do not wish him to
be an incubus on us for years. One argument the
friends of the change urge is that there should al
ways be one of the preceding board remaining SO
that the new members might profit by his expert
ence. Under the present system there appears TO
be but little danger of an entire change in the
board at any time. as such thing has not hap
pened for many years, and even had we an entire
new set of men, they would not probably be more
at sea than new President of the U. S., when he
first succeeds to office. But if it is really neces-
sary that some of the old board should remain it
could be easily arranged with five commissioners.
Let two of the present board be selected by lot to
remain for four years and at the end of twoyears
elect three more for four years. to be followed in
two years more by two new ones and so on every
two wears. and you will have the desired end.
If my advice to our legislators would be OF any
account and do not presume to say that it would,
l would say to move slowly in this matter and be
sure not to advance backwards.
SILAs SCARBoRo.