The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1894-06-29
FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 90, 1894.

DEL ALr5, MD
FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 90, 1894.
LET EVERY TUE STAND ON ITS
OWN BOTTOM.
In the political campaign last fall
the advocates of the independent
County Commissioners ticket promis-
ed that if their candidates were elect
ed the county taxes would be reduced
to so cents on the 800. OF course, no
sensible man believed for Il moment
that our admirable public schools, our
good roads, our court expenses or the
maintenance of our poor could be
provided for with n tax rate so low
but the promise served its purpose
and many Democrats believing it vot-
ed for change. The change was
made, but instead of Il lower tax rate
we find the rate increased from 70 to
SO cents. We do not charge extrav-
agance or carelessness in the admins
tration of county affairs by the new
board, but refer to the fact merely
to show that what was asserted by
The 1Egis last fall was true, namely,
that if we would have good schools,
good roads and provide for other legiti-
mate county expenses, taxpayers must
pay for their privileges.
The present board, however, has not
escaped adverse criticism for increas-
ing the tax rate, and impelled by this,
at its meeting this week it ordered an
amendment of the minutes, in which
it is sought to shift the responsibility
for increased taxes upon the preced-
ing board. We have authority for
saying that the last board, in the
levy of 1898, which was 70 cents on the
800, levied for every account then
due by the county and did not leave
legacy of debts to be paid by the in
coming board. The present levy, SO
cents, is mainly for county expenses
incurred from June 80, 1893, to June
30, 1894. The present board went
into Office on December 1st, 1898. OF
course they had to levy for county ex-
penses incurred by the late board
from June 80, 1898, to December list,
1893 Since that time they are them
selves responsible for appropriations.
According to their own explanation
about II cents of the SO cents they
have levied is to pay for work done on
the roads up to the time the present
board assumed charge. The latter
state they have levied % cents on the
$10Ofo roads. Deducting the amount
needed to pay road checks, &C., issued
by the preceding board, it will be seen
that they had cents on the 500 of
the amount levied by their predeces-
sors to pay for road work during the
winter months and until they made
new levy. So that il is fair to deduce
that the present board, while doubt
less doing their duty honestly, are I'M
just to the preceding board in init
mating, by their explanations, that
the increased county tax rate is due TO
the actions of their predecessors.
The fact is not lost sight of, too,
that the county roads are not being
kept up to the standard set by the
preceding board. No doubt that
board spent too much money upon
the roads, but they did SO in obedience
to universal demand for better roads.
Better roads were provided but the re-
suit naturally, was increased taxation.
We do not censure the County Com
missioners for an increased tax rate,
which may have been necessary, but
it is manifestly unjust in county
boards as in individuals to shirk re-
sponsibility and say sit was the other
fellows fault The 1Egis defended
the late board because it believed the
members thereof were uniustly accus-
ed, and for the same reason it stands
ready to defend the present board
from false accusations.
THE FRENCH PRESIDENT 1SSAS-
SINATED.
NJ. Marie Francois Sadi Carnot,
President of the republic of France,
was stabbed III the breast last Satur-
day night by an Italian named Cesare
Giovanni Santo and died from the eff
fects of the wound few hours after
ward. The police had hard work to
prevent the assassin from being torn to
pieces by the enraged populace, but
finally got him safely locked up. He
refused to answer any questions as to
his motive for the deed, declaring that
he would only speak on. that subject
before q tribunal.
The dead President came into Office
January /, 1888, being elected for
period of seven years. He was per-
haps not brilliant man, but his pub
lie life showed great devotion to duty,
combined with firmness and conscien-
tiousness. The Senate and Chamber
of Deputies assembled in Versailles on
Wednesday, to elect his successor and
chose N. Jean Casimir Perier on the
first ballot, he receiving 451 votes out
of a total of S53. The new President
is a man OF strong mind and an adVo-
cate of repressive measures against
anarchy.
The feeling against Italians is run
ming high in France and many shops
and cafes kept by them have been at
tackled. The Italian government was
prompt however, to condemn the muir
der and to send the strongest express
sions of sorrow. All the nations of the
world sent kilograms of coincidence
and the American Congress on Mon
day adjourned through sympathy
with France in her bereavement.
TO SUPPRESS ANARCHY.
Congressman William A. Stone on
last Monday introduced bill in the
House defining anarchy and provid-
;nar for oh TTn1ar tho