The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-02-24
STATE TAX CONVENTION.
Gov. Brown Makes an Address and the

Gov. Brown Makes an Address and the
Convention AdJourns for Week.
The tax convention called by Gov. Brown
met in Sutro Hall, Baltimore, on Tuesday
evening. Nearly all the delegates as named
were present together with large number
of interested spectators. The convention was
called to order by Gov. Brown, who read an
address in which he gave his reasons for not
signing the Hayes assessment bill. 4 tenn
porary organization was then made with Hon.
Frank T. Shaw, of Carroll Co., Chairman, and
Mr. George A. Pearre, OF Allegany county,
Secretary.
A motion by Mr.. John S. Writ, of Cecil,
that the chair appoint committee OF Two
from each congressional district to prepare
an order of business, with rules OF procedure,
&C., so that the business OF the body could
be conducted in an orderly and systematic
manner, the committee to report on Wednes-
day, March list, at 7.30 p. NJ, created a little
discussion. Some members were in favor OF
proceeding Immediately with the affair in
hand, while others thought more good could
accomplished by proceeding orderly, slowly
and thoughtfully vote being taken Mr.
Wirt's motion was adopted and the conven-
ton adjourned until next Wednesday even
ing.
The Governor in his address welcomed the
delegates and reviewed the condition OF at
fairs in Maryland siRce the last general as
sessment was MAIDEN 1876. He argues that
if the 18th article of the Bill Of Rights had
been amended as was proposed in 1891 the
Legislature could have formed just and
equitable assessment bill. The Hayes bill,
he saws, was not passed until the closing days
of the session and came to him along with
four hundred other bills all requiring car
nest, careful attention. Besides, supple
mentary bill WAS hurriedly passed, an hour be-
fore adjournment, and made part of the as
sessment law. A vast number OF protests
from representative citizens were made, Of
feriug numerous objections and urging him
to withhold his signature.
His grounds for not signing the Hayes bill
are that it was unconstitutional IN that 1t pro
yided tax rate for the 2lst and I'D wards OF
Baltimore city different from that OF the
other twenty wards, giving special exemp-
ton to property holders in this belt from
increased taxation or increased assessment I'M
til the year 1900, and unusual privileges after
wards that the scaling Of the assessment OF
6 per cent. bonds at $50 on the 800; per
cent. bonds at $780, and SO on, is uncon-
stitutional, being in violation Of the Bill Of
Rights, which requires that all persons shall
be taxed according to their actual worth in
real and personal property. Gov. Brown al
so thinks that the repeal by the Hayes bill
of all acts inconsistent Herewith might have
led to the exemption Of much property that
ought to be taxed. The cost of a new assess
ment under this bill would have been several
hundred thousands of dollars, with the strong
probability of the act being set aside by the
Court of Appeals.
Having given his reasons for vetoing the
Hayes bill Governor Brown called upon the
convention to discuss the constitutionality OF
certain provisions of the Hayes bill, such as
ha snaaial IN hnlt
more city the assessment OF bonds at an
arbitrary valuation, the exemption OF manu-
featuring plants, &c. Also, whether in the
Judgment of the convention a proper and
Just assessment law can be enacted under the
18th article Of the Bill of Rights; whether it
would be advisable to amend the Constitu-
ton to enable the Legislature to provide for
a general assessment for State purposes, al
lowing the city of Baltimore and the several
counties to arrange their own assessment for
local tax purposes. Likewise, whether the
convention would recommend such an amend
mert and ask the General Assembly to adopt
it if convened in special session In the early
summer for the sole purpose of discussing
and adopting a constitutional amendment to
be voted on next fall.
Gov Brown read statistics showing that
six counties, namely, Calvert, Charles, Gar
rett, st Mary's, Somerset and Worcester re-
ceive FROM the State for their public schools
more tudu buCl III tcedtC tdACS. llai1Oiu
pays into the State Treasury $34, 907.1l, and
gets back $16,679.19, making the actual tax
paid by the people of Hartford for State pur-
poses about IA cents on the 800.
The Governor thinks that with a new as
sessment and under the general reduction in
values Of farm lands tax rates would have to
be higher in the counties than they now are.
In raising taxes it is better, in his judgment,
to . ave high valuation and II low tax rate,
because, we suppose investors consider the
tax rate not the valuation upon which it is
based. We Of Maryland, he says, should turn
our attention to encouraging the manufac-
turing interests and additional railway facili-
ties. He deprecates any legislation which
would retard the rapidly growing prosperity
of Baltimore city and appeals for fairness to-
wards corporations. 1t is the capital OF the
latter, he says, which has developed our State.
The Governors address was listened to with
earnest attention, and in view Of the argu-
ments he brings to sustain his position with
reference to the Hayes bill it seems pity he
did not give the people of the State these
reasons some time ago. He would have been
spared much adverse criticism thereby.