The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-03-23


body, seek any other employment at less
wages, rather than work on a farm. Many
tramps beg or steal or do all these things In
preference. They like neither Cincinnatus or
his calling. Machinery has a tendency to, in
fact does, destroy the small farmer. BY its
use one man can control and crop 1000 or
more acres, thus taking from 500 ord nary
farmers living for themselves and families
The vast area of cultivated land being contin-
ually enlarged, produces crops to such
an extent that they fail to realize the
cost. Farmers having no organization, no
personal sympathy, no system of business, 90
upon the principle of every man for himself
and commenting he who lags to the keeping
OF his Satanic majesty. Any wonder that
disaster and suffering follow?
Many will argue that machinery has vastly
increased the comforts of life as well as
cheapened them. True, but if those who
desire these comforts have no employment,
and being without inherited means, necessar-
lily having no money, how are they to pur-
chase them? Nothing is cheap if you have
not the power of obtaining it. Wherein then
are the masses benefited, like Tantalus,
whilst that which he Graves touches the lips.
yet are they condemned to suffer on. Machin-
cry created the manufacturer, and the manu-
facturer is the author of the policy of protec-
tion, which protects all save the farmer. and
is the great modern disturber of political
parties. Protection to protect against foreign
manufacturers and industries may be wise,
but protection to monopoly is class legislation
IN the worst form. and a legalized system of
plumber of the masses. Machinery has also
made the surplus man: the surplus man that
wondrous creature the tramp,who with every
recurring year. increases in number until he
threatens to become dangerous menace to
the well-beng and peace of this country.
Wherein is the remedy? There may be
several. Two present themselves. One,
peaceful; the other, not to mince words,
revolution. A community of interests and
cooperation in all productions however
made, and in all the occupations of life,
wherein labor, mental or manual. is the
factor, equitable distribution of gains or
losses, the disabled. from whatever cause, to
be cared for. and the worthless and lawIess
dispensed with. This is the peaceful one.
nice picture. hut as man is constituted YOU
may say, a picture it will remain. Who
knows! Now look at the other one. When
thousands seeking employment and finding
none. houselcss, homeless, lily clad and
starving, seeing around them others who
extend no helping hand. surrounded by and
having all that makes life enjoyable. do you
think, taught as they have been that this is
a free land. that they will quietly submit to
perish without struggle for life? To use in
part, the words of one Of Americas greatest
orators and statesmen, we may see confla-
grated cities, devastated fields, rapine and
murder stalking throughout the land, to be
quelied only by some future Napoleon with
the loss of our boasted freedom. Not pleasant
to look upon, and only picture of the brain:
may it ever he.
Why pursue the subject? These thoughts
are crude outlines and are intended to be
merely suggestive. At your leisure you may
amuse yourselves with them and find them
digestible or indigestible. as you list. one
consolation has the writer and that is, out
side OF this club few or none will read them.
Dinner will console all. It's to be hoped for
this trial OF your patience.
Comment on the essay being in order. Col.
Bond moved and the club adopted the
motion, that the usual comment on the ESSAY
be postponed until later in the meeting, and
that Senator Hayes be asked to address the
club on the subject of "Taxation and Re-
assessment
Senator Hayes was then formally intro
duced to the club by Col. Bond and in part
said:
The narration Of the facts which make up
the history of the efforts and failures in
Maryland to obtain fair taxation through n
proper assessment law, would make a volume
replete with broken promises, deceptions and
"the jingling of the guinea which helps the
hurt that Honor feels"
BY the Act 1856. Chapter 4SS the Legisla-
ture of Maryland passed a law in which il
was declared us the deliberate judgment of
the General Assembly that taxation in Mary
land was unequal, oppressive and unjust:
that personal property escaped taxation and
that the burdens of heavy local, as well as
State taxes We're borne by the land and visible
property. This Act erected the Governor
to appoint II Tax Commission to take under
consideration the whole subject of taxation,
and to report to the next Legislature the best
methods to give the necessary relief. The
Governor appointed on that Tax Commission
Mr.. John p. Poe, the present Attorney
General, Judge James McSherry. of our
Court of Appeals, one of the ablest Judges or
jurists in any land Mr.. James Alfred Pearce,
one of the leading and most distinguished
citizens of Kent county, Prof. Ely of the Johns
Hopkins University. and Mr.. c. NJ. Armstrong
from Baltimore City, gentleman who had
given special study to taxation. That com
mission prepared an able and elaborate report
to which there was attached an assessment
bill which was intended to remedy the exist
ing evils. This report and assessment bill
was presented to the General Assembly of
1883, with the recommendation that the bill
attached be at once passed. This bill was
offered to the Legislature of 1888, but so late
in the session as to prevent it ever reaching a
vote in either branch of the General Assembly
The distinguishing features of the report
and attached assessment bill were three
First, Taxation of bonds and stocks: Second