The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-01-27
A New Assessment.


ffOh fTeuerlck bAaLilt'ef.
Seven-tenths of the people of Frederick
county are in favor of taxing mortgages.
From Chestertown Transcript.
Ninety nine per cent. of the taxpayers of
Kent county are favorable to reassessment.
Opinion, however, relative to the listing
feature is somewhat divided. A carefully
graded schedule of reassessment is one of the
most urgent demands which the people will
make upon the present Legislature.
From Rockville Sentinel.
In considering the general principles that
underlie the subject of taxation the Sentinel
said, last week. possessions protected by
the law should sustain the law" This dictum,
we take it, furnishes key for the solution of
many problems that tax evaders busy them
selves propoundng with more vehemenee
than ingenuousness. More than half the
usual effort seems to be to beiog. Why
things should not be taxed is full often con-
sidered with more sollcitude than why things
should be taxed. With many legislators aud
with quite as many legislature makers, the
quest is for rule that will provide plausible
exemptions, rather than rule that will make
exemptions difficult. Strict observance of
the rule we lay down would not foster such
enterprise, but would nevertheless discover it
about as near the golden rule as finite man is
apt to climb. 1t might not please the bond
holder, but it would please all beside him,
when bonds came up for consideration. 1t
would not be savory plum for the monopO-
list. but it would find earnest advocates in
those who have monopoly of poverty. 1t
might disgust the absentee landlord who poses
as u millionaire mortgage, but il would be
grateful to the palate of the weary deliver in
the the earth bowels for treasure that only
ever present effort can secure. And, withal,
h., II h.
correctness be doing to others what We would
that others in like circumstances should do to
you.
From the Centreville Observer.
Mr.. Field, of Baltimore city, introduced
bill in the House of Delegates last week pro
viding for a reassessment of property in the
State, which is framed in conformity with
Governor Browns views. This gives the
Legislature two measures, the Hayes Bill vs. the
Field Bill Which shall we have? We want
the one which contains the most equitable
provisions, and reaches the largest class of
property. The farmers are opposed to ex
emptions or any bill which smacks of favor
tsm Or privileged classes. They only ask
fair play and equality before the law.
From the Eilicott City Times.
Do not demonstrate your inability to meet
the lawyers in dealing with assessment legis
III OlHtI hOIuS NO HOl indht an as
sessment law which will do violence to the
constitution, particularly Article 10, OF the
Bill of Rights, and consequently be broken
down by the courts. That would mean a
repetition of history, and no assessment at all.
From the Kent News.
We do not profess to know what is best in
the way Of an assessment bill, but We do know
that the people-almOst univerSally-demand
a new assessment. We trust to the Legisla
ture to give us good law. l. the represent
atives OF the people fail IN this, then good
bye to any political aspirations they may have!
If they are guided by this one paramount aud
proper principle-that every man shall pay
taxes according to his worth in real aud per-
sonal property-they can frame law to ac
complish the best end desired. Nothing more
should be aimed at. Is it IA reflection upon
anyone to desire to tax unnecessarily or i'm
properly any class OF character Of men
holdings, simply to relieve some other class !?
1t really ought not to be such difficult mat
ter to get at a proper assessment bill. If
fairness and justice to all concerned is the aim
it will not be difficult. The ignorant should
take counsel of the wise, and the venal should
be kicked out OF the halls of justice altogether.
One suggestion we make: The measure
should be as simple as possible. The ma
chinery should not be cumbersome Don't
make details and load up the thing with
Boards and officers simply to give pay and
place to partisans. We believe in rewardiug
1.-THE faithful especially when they are at
the same time efficient. We'd do it every
time when the proper opportunity offered.
But certainly these distressing times caution
us against any unnecessary expenditure.
One feature of most of the bills yet reported
we object to. That is, the Independent
boards of control and review This feature
will nearly double the cost of new assess
ment, when they are worse than useless. The
courts, already instituted in every county,
are better qualified than any new board is
likely to be, and their work would not be
perceptibly increased by this new duty. Then,
why should such an unnecessary expense be
laid upon the people?