The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-03-08
GOVERNOR BROWNS VIEWb

GOVERNOR BROWNS vIEW}.
What He Says on the Assessment
I and the PARTY Caucus.
The following interview th
Governor Brown appears in the n
napolis correspondence of the al
tlmore Sun Of Saturday:
Governor Brown spoke very frd "
this morning on his position on be
assessment question and the m b.
ner in which be has tried to fulfil
the pledges of the party. E1r
since his Inauguration his uttE-
ances on this matter have been if
the most open and candid chA-
acter. He said: "Recognizlng tie
demand for revolution and asseJ-
ment when went into office. adE
knowing of the veto of the bill "
Governor Jackson in the spring ii
1890. | determined 10 leave the pW
visions of an assessment bill Ell
tirelv in the hands of the Generd
Assembly, free and untrammeledl
The course of this measure through
the Legislature of 1892 is wei
known. When the bill reached thu
Governor it was after the adlourI
ment of the session, and went bt
fore HIM altogether with owe. k9
otller-aeettee All H Of THESE >oTIt1s y.rc
was required to approve, il at ap,
within six days. The examination
of all these acts devolved upon the
executive the most careful and con-
siderate thought. In Withholding
his signature from the assessment
bill he gave a statement Of his rea-
sons for doing so.
"After this it was determined to
procure general expression Of the
people of the State, regardless OF
party or faction, on this important
question. The result of this was
the well-known convention in the
winter of 1898. This convention
was brought to sudden termina-
ton owing to the illness Of the Gov
ernor due to his participation in
Presi dent Cleveland Inauguration.
The convention being informed of
the Governors serious illness and
the doubt as to his recovery, it adj
iourned without having reached any
specific conclusions. !"
The Governor says he had earn
estly hoped to obtain from this con-
vention some we'll digested plan
and principles upon which revalu-
atlon should be based. He also
states that his action IN failing to
approve the assessment bill was
criticised generally, yet, he did not
hesitate to call into consultation
this body composed of men of all
opinions on the subject. They had
full opportunity to censure or
commend. At the opening of the
convention he made a formal state
ment of his objections to the pro-
visions of the bill and the pU-tvr
he took at the time, be added, Il
stall MAINTAIN.
The Governor then went on to
refer 10 the views embodied in his
message. He showed that he rec
commended only the enQctment of
conservative legislation, the separ-
alton Of the question, one bill pro-
yjding the machinery for revalu-
alton and another bill for revenue.
His idea was that if 10y any posi-
billty the revenue bill should fail
retaliation would go on. Finding
that there were some objections on
the part of the Senate more particu-
larry to his plan of action. he deter
mined, if possible. to harmonic
the differences and Of his own voh-
ton sought an interview with the
principal opponents in the Senate.
The result of this was the we'll
known Rennert Hotel conference,
where q compromise measure was
agreed upon, removing to very
great extent the bill of 1892. The
Governor says it was thought that
this compromise measure would
pass without serious opposition, but
the ink was scarcely dry on the bill
before there were murmprings of
discomfort, brought about largely
by the sentiment that was brewing
against any assessment whatever.
This was augmented by the grow
ing doubt IN the minds of the peo-
pie as to our increase in the asses
sable basis under any act. Some
mem bers, recognizing this danger,
determined to go for lew prnpeas,,
which might under rigid provisiohs
be added to the basis and thereby
prevent an increased levy. Hence
the proposition to tax mortgages
was offered and adopted as an
amendment to the bill. After
much discussion and delay an addl-
tlonal amendment was introduced
providing for the scaling of corpor-
alton bonds, Notwithstanding the
distinct understanding ut tho Ron.