The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-01-15

panies offer, as a general thing, the best Sc
curity TO the public from loss by dishonest
officials. These companies, for their own
protection, have those for whom they have
given bond constantly under surveillance.
No feeling of sentiment, personal or political,
restraints them from calling attention to the
slightest dereliction from duty, and as con-
sequence no official, however crafty or dis
honest, can misappropriate public funds
without the crime being almost instantly de-
tected and brought to light. The Security
Companies enable honest men to take posi-
tions OF trust for which they could not, ordi-
narily, furnish the requisite bond, and they
should be aided and protected by law.
Powers OF County Commissioners.
The Farmers Convention which met in
Bel Air last Friday adopted, without dis
senting voice, draft of a law embodying
their views with regard to a change in the
number. terms of office, &C., of the County
Commissioners. The bill, which was to be
presented to the State Farmers Convention.
provides that the present Commissioners
shall hold office for two years.
At the end of that time. in 1898, the num-
Der is to be reduced to three, one of whom is
to serve six years, one four years and one
two years. At the end of every two years
thereafter, beginning in 1895, one Commits
sioner would have to be elected, to serve six
years. The Commissioners to be ineligible
for re. election. The salary suggested is 81 600
with no allowance for extra duties.
The Deer Creek Farmers Club. at its
meeting on Saturday evening, also favored
the plan of having three Commissioners, but
the members thought salary of 5000 would
be large enough to secure the services of
good men.
Senator Robinson, it is said, is engaged in
preparing general bill, on the subject of
which the Baltimore Sun says:
/ Senator Robinson has in hand one of the
most important and difficult problems of the
session, namely, a bill to regulate the term
of office, duties, power, nums--, and compen-
sation, of county commissioners. This work
is no less required by the amendment to the
constitution dealing with that subject than
by the exigencies of the case. 1t is likely
that the approaching convention of commits
sioners will make some valuable suggestions
for his guidance. The Senator appears to
favor a reduction in the number of commits
sioners in each county 10 three and an in
crease in compensation commensurate with
the arduous and important duties of the posi-
ton. These commissioners he is inclined to
think should be elected for six years and so
arranged that one should be elected bi-enni-
ally. Those now serving, if this plan is
adopted, would have to be selected for the
respective classes by ballot. 1t is also pro-
posed to enlarge the powers of county com.
missioners by RELOCATING to them all local
matters, which can be SO treated without
violation of the constitution, which imposes
upon the General Assembly the legislative
function. Subjects which can be left to the
commissioners are the laying out of election
districts, changes of district lines, control of
roads and bridges, hawk and owl matters,
&c. 1t is also suggested that it will be well
to make the commissioners ineligible for a
second term Immediately succeeding the first,
30 that official action may not be influenced
or controlled by the desire for reelection.
This is a big subject and Mr.. Robinson is one
of the best men in either house to deal with
it, as he has given great thought and study to
the subject.