The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-02-10
RETALIATORY LEGISLATION.

RETALIAT0RY LEGISLATION.
Three bills introduced in the
Legislature, of which Mr.. Crothers
is the putative political iather, are
attracting local attention, in which
the tax-paying citizens ofthis county,
being intimately concerned, are
proper subjects of public discussion.
CD A bill to repeal and amend
the present County Commissioners
Law, which provides tor the election
of new member OF the Board every
two years, making the entire Board
elective every two years as formerly.
(2) A bill to make the County
Treasurer's office an elective one.
CD A bill to abolish the office Of
Clerk to the County Commissioners
by requiring the County Treasurer
to perform his duties.
The probable motive that inspired
the introduction of these bills, born
if you please Of the factionai differ
ences OF the Democratic party OF
Cecil county, it is not now our pur-
pose to notice, that being of compar
alive little importance compared to
the question whether these bills are
in the interest of the people of Cecil
county, or not.
As to the first bill, it would be
difficult, we think, to convince any
intelligent citizen, that it is not a
political move conceived in the in
terest of politicians and not OF the
people.
That it is designed TO put out one
individual to benefit another by put
ting him in.
Now the people OF Cecil County,
if we understand their tempers, are
more interested in getting good,
capable and honest men as their
public servants, than in their methods
of selection or the tenure of their
offices.
1t is no less true, that the opposi-
ton the present commissioners law
provoked, grew out of the fact that
it was an er-bost facto law. That il
extended the terms of Commission
ers after their election by the people
The other features OF the law excited
no opposition Indeed, put before
our people on their merits, we
believe the new law would be ap.
proved by large majority of our
tax paying voters, since it secures in
their most important business office,
a continuous majority of men famil.
iarized with its duties.
To the second bill referred to
making the office OF CountyTreasurer
elective-no reasonable objection can
be offered, since the abuse of the
appointing power is to be guarded
against, and the closer the officer
gets to the people, the better the
appreciation OF official responsibility
The WING believes it voices the
opinion of the people OF Cecil in
approving the policy OF making as
many offices elective as the public
interests may require.
While no reasonable objection car
be offered against making the County
Treasurer office elective, no valid
argument can be advanced, no reas.
enable excuse offered, for consolida
ting his duties with those of the Clerk
to the County Commissioners.
We are aware that politicians may
make demagoguish appeals to the
people on the ground of economy,
by the assumption that one man can
do the work OF both positions, and
the salary of one officer be saved
our taxpayers.
This assumption, we think, is
fallacious.
One man cannot do the work o
both places, and if positions of depu'
ties or assistants are to be farmea
out, the Board of County Commits.
sloners IS safer depository of the
appointing power than the politica
boss whose influence can make OF
unmake County Treasurer.
Besides, how will the interests Of
the people of Cecil county fare, when
all the responsibility OF these JONI
positions shall be consolidated in
one individual, and he the possible
creation OF county political boss7
The County Treasurer, if a com.
petent official, is very properly a
needed check upon the Clerk of the
County Commissioners.
Divided responsibility always is a
protection to the public interests.
Irregularities can be easier prac
ticed, and be better concealed by
one official, than through number,
or down line of officials.
Besidess the County Commission
ers have clean, clear and palpablc
right to select their own confidential
clerk and servant.
1t is clearly in the interest of the
public that they should select him,
with no interfering power to divide
his responsibility to them as the
appointing power.
This is the view taken by sue
icessive Legislatures, which have