Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-08-14

meantime let the Balltf appoint some
one to act as policeman during the
time between this and the acceptance
of his resignation.
The Mayor started to say something
about the appointment of policeman
when Mr.. Nickel interrupted him by
saying
Let the Mayor appoint him, then"
Mayor-Mr Nickel, | have the floor
Nichel-All right
Mayor-without you want to speak.
In that case l will yield.
Nichel-No, | have spoken.
The Mayor went on to say that he
could not see why there should be any
delay in accepting the Bailiff's resig-
nation and appointing his successor.
The Finance committee could not find
anything out about the Bailiff's &C
counts until his successor had been
appointed and had taken around the
tax bills. They could not tell who
had paid or who had not until that had
been done.
Mr.. Nickel asked -''is the Mayor
through? If so, | would like to
make few remarks" Being assured
that the coast was clear he said he did
not believe in rushing this matter
through. He wanted to be sure that
he was right before going too far.
He argued that there was enough
funds on hand to meet all expenses
during the time the accounts were
being audited, and that there was no
chance for the town to lose anything
by the taxes not being collected dur
ing the next two weeks. He did not
know who would get the appointment,
if the Mayor did, but thought the
people ought to be given a chance to
express themselves on the subject.
The Mayor said that he did not see
that Mr.. Nickel had advanced any
argument, and if the present Bailiff
was any authority payday was a
large factor in the collection of the
taxes. In which event Council had no
right to deprive the people of chan Sc
to avail themselves of the discounts.
He again argued that the committee
could not find out anything by audit
ing the Bailiff's accounts, as they
could not tell who had paid or who
had not until the new Bailiff could
take the bills around.
Mr.. Nickel asked if Council had not
recently procured new set of books
in which was kept an account of all
those who had paid. (The Mayor
wanted to make an explanation at
this point, but Mr.. Nickel insisted
that he had the foor) and went on to
explain that there had to be book
prepared by the Clerk with a list of
taxpayers who had not paid this years
taxes, with warrant attached author
izing whoever might be appointed to
collect the same.
j. B. Crouch, editor of the Frost
burg Meas, then asked permission to
speak.
Mayor said if he wanted to ask a
question he could do so if there were
no objections by the Council.
Mr.. Crouch said that he wanted to
make a statement, and as citizen
and a taxpayer he was particularly
interested in this matter. He could
not see why this body wanted to re-
tain the Bailiff. BY their action it
would appear that he was a robber,
and if so why should they want to
hold him FOR two weeks longer to give
him a chance to rob more ? The At
torney had explained the situation to
them fully and he did not see why they
could not proceed with the business.
He would like to see business done
more expeditiously.
Mr.. Nickel, replying. said that he
was surprised at the gentleman who
had just been allowed to speak. 81
understood that he only wanted to ask
question or make statement, but
he had overstepped his mark. There
was no question of robbing." He
thought it was due the people and Mr..
Bowen himself that time should be
taken to consider this matter. He
was opposed to hasty action; there
had been other questions before this