Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-02-08
CoMMUEIcATED.
The Bond and Read Bills.


Messrs Editors AS the bills, proposed
liz the Senate Of Maryland by Senator VIII
kinson, for raising thirty thousand dollars
on county bonds TO put the county on q
cash basis, and for Withdrawing the pub
lie roads from the control of the Coun-
~ Commissioners, seem so inopportune
and Objectionable, l have concluded TO
ask space in your paper to state what
seems to me, and TO taxpayers gen.
orally, some good reasons why said
bills should not pass, and why property
owners and all others who feel interested
In the material prosperity Of our county
should do their utmost by petitions and by
all other honorable means to prevent the
passage of such Objectionable measures.
In the first place, the operation of these
measures, IL passed, would certainly and
undoubtedly increase the taxes of the coun-
ty and make still more onerous that bur-
den which weighs so heavily upon farm
ing in these times Of business depression,
when farm products are bringing lower
prices than were ever known-wheat net
ting about so cents per bushel, corn about
80 cents and no demand for tobacco-and
these being the products upon which the
larger number Of our people have to de-
pend 10 meet their liabilities.
In The second pace, our county tax rate
Is already near the highest in the State and
well nigh as high as our people can bear
without serious hardship and inconveni
encc Our rate for the year just passed
was 90 cents on the 800, and there were
only three counties in the State with q
higher rate, and that but slightly higher.
Add to our 90 cents the State tax rate and
we have for both rates $1.10a on the 800,
and this rate would be slightly increased by
the cost OF collecting the State tax.
1T requires but moments thought to
discern the bad effect abroad this high rate
would have in lettering persons. wishing
TO settle among US, from purchasing our
lands Any property highly taxed Is like
ly to be avoided by persons seeking invest
ments, and is never purchased by them ex-
cept al low prices. To float thirty thous.
and dollars in 5 per cent bonds would re-
quire sn addition 10 our tax levy of fifteen
hundred dollars year, and such increase
would certainly be unwise and inexpedi
ent al this time. All win ADMIT that un-
der ordinary circumstanc.sit would be bet
ter 10 pay cash as we go. II Is best to do
so in every kind Of business when practi-
cable, but IL must be clear To all who un-
derstand our situation that there could
hardly be more unsuitable time than the
present 10 make q change In our affairs
which would cost so much.
Thirdly, the proposed road law would
also add 70 our present heavy load oftaxes
one or more thousand dollars year. II
would require levy of six thousand dol
lars annually for roads, which amount
would be in excess Of the usual levy for
that purpose by one or two thousand dol
lars. II also requires an increase in the
number Of supervisors end in their daily
pay. These last requirements are very Sc
rious objections at this time when economy
and retrencament are 90 urgently demand
ed In our expenses.
In the fourth place, ! can see nothing to
b. gained by taking the roads out of the
hands Of the County Commissioners and
placing the management aud control of
them under supervisors To be elected in
each election district.
Tais plan was tried under the Cons,itu-
ton Of Maryland adopted in 1851, Int after
being in operation about IS years in was
found D, work Enthusiastically. and no pro-
vision Was made for il ia the Constitution