The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-05-03
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.


UPPER MARLBORO, May /.
MIR. EDlroR:-Thc question of the NOM
inee for Governor is just now an absorb
ing topic, and will be given quite an I'M
petus from the present time until the meet
inc of the convention. The two most out
spoken candidates arc Messrs Hayes and
| Ravner. Mr. Ravncr commenced his cam
pagn by the great meeting that took place
in Baltimore Tuesday night, and he pro
poses to follow it up by complete canvas
Of the State. Mr.. Hayes will not. 1t Is
| said. be slow to advance his cause, so that
the people will have the opportunity of
being advised as to the issues Of the cam
pai"n long before the day of election. This
| is an unusual course and it is understood
that there will simply be 4 friendly rivalry
| between these two well-known and dis
tinguished advocates of democratic princi
pies. The people will be benefited by the
talk of two such men. both earnest and
| honest supporters of the faith that is in
them. The discussion of the affairs of the
State and the needed legislation, will be
both instructive and entertaining. 1t Is
| by no means time lost or thrown away,
and we predict that whoever may be the
| successful candidate before the conven-
! ton that these two true democrats and
| faithful workers. will be found in the fore
front of the fight for party triumph. 1t is
| Il campaign that will leave no bitterness
though it is Il novel idea, and an unusual
! custom. Yet it has its advantages and
| not the least is the education of the pOpu-
| lar mind, and an association with the pco-
| pie, who may know beforehand, the men
for whom they are expected ovotc. Now
/ for an expression of preference as to the
candidates already named, by our people,
there is none, that can be spoken of as
definite. Perhaps, because of his known
attitude upon the assessment question, Mr..
| Hayes may be said at this time to have the
| majority of supporters. 1t goes without
| saying that he Is strong i'll the counties,
| because of his known opinions upon the
law for the revaluation of the property of
the State. How far this may enter, to
| carry Mr.. Hayes successfully through it is
! difficult at this time to determine We
need a revaluation of the property of the
| State without doubt. But this is not
nearly so popular as it was four years ago.
1t is well-known that two Years ago, be
| fore the final vote was taken upon the bill
! in the legislature, it was learned that pub
| lie sentiment had undergone Il change, in
| that respect, and so we had no assessment
| law. But, Tor this very reason, the stump
ing campaign of the candidates, prior to-
| the meeting of the convention. becomes of
consequence, because the people will be
the better prepared to know and under
stand the full scope of the question. With
| our people there is a preponderance in
favor of Il rC-aSScSSmcnt law But as we
| have said the sentiment is by no means as
universal as it was four wears ago. With
out question there is great need of such Il
law. In the first place there is an abso
lutte inequality in the assessment of prop
crty. Then there is much property that
escapes taxation altogether. Then the
free list Is perhaps too generous. There
are in the consideration of such a law,
thousands of matters to be taken in ac-
count. Like Ill revenue measures, the in
terests Of the people are to be considered
because a tax law to be just must be equal
in its effects. Without doubt under our
present system the agricultural interest is
contributing far more than it's uSt pro-
portion, according to its relative value,
than any other of the great interests of the
State. The farmer and the land owner
cannot escape taxation. His effects are
visible, they are tangible and must pay.
Not so with much of the property of the
State that does not now come into the tax
able basis. This is one of the most interest
ing questions which the people can be call
ed upon to determine. 1t is vital queS-
ton. But like the framing of any revenue
law, a nice discrimination is to be eNer-
clSCu. y law Is TO be formulated tllat VIII
give the needed revenue, and ut the same
time bear with the least friction upon
property owners. Such a law is in the
nature of a tariff measure, indeed it is the
| same, differing only in name. The people
always will look with anxiety upon any
law for the creation of taxes. Agitations
of this character have created the most
widespread troubles since the beginning
| of time, and there is no question of all
political economy upon which there is "A
wider divergence of opinion. All men
agree upon Il diminished tax rate, but when
the operation for Il diminution begins to
be put in practice, then commences com
plant Some men believe in the taxation
of all kinds and character of property,
both public and private, and in their
sweeping grasp they include church prop
erty and grave yards So that the scope
of such Il law can be imagined, and the
difficulties attending its adoption under
stood. 1t is both a difficult and nice prob
lem for solution. Why is the money IN a
mans pocket, or his bank account, to be
exempted, rather than the house and lot
of the laborcr? This looks unfair, but
public policy comes to the aid of the diff
Guilty and solves it. All such questions are
to be met and are to be dealt with. H.