The Democratic advocate., 1897-12-11
MORE CHANGES In COUNTY OFFICES.
Commissioner StOner RetireS After a Ser
vice of Fourteen Years, and Makes a
Statement of Affairs During That
Time-TreaSurer Buckingham
Succeeded by Masenhimer-
Brooks Succeeds Parke.

A1Ouud1 last. DduleI DleHl, Oh Union
town district, succeeded David Stoner il.
County Commissioner; John E. Masenhimel
succeeded Alfred +. Buckingham as County
Treasurer, and Joseph d. Brooks succeeded
George NJ. Parke as Register of Wills.
MR.. STONER's REMARKS.
David Stoner, who has served continuously
as County Commissioner for fourteen years, {
term longer than any man ever served in
Maryl md, made some remarks before retiring
giving an interesting account of the condition
of the county when he first went into office
and when he retired. He spoke as follows
Having served as County Commissioner foI
the past fourteen years, | feel like making Il
few remarks before retiring. First, ! want to
express my appreciation Of the confidence
the people have repoSed in me iii eecting me
for four terms of Two years each and the fifth
term for a period Of six years. The latter
term, it Is true, was fixed by act OF the Gen
eral Assembly, but was made at the sugges-
ton of the representatives from this county.
/ feel highly complimented at my successive
elections, because never sought the office III
the first place, and when accepted, in 1883,
had no idea should be continued more
than one or two terms. was the usual Gus
tom. ] have found the duties Of the Office
very agreeable. however and not at all oner-
been cordial. and no differences of cOmse-
quence have arisen in the management ot
county affairs.
When elected in 1888 my associates were
John y. Selby, now deceased. and Eli r.,
Bennett. Mr.. Seby was chosen President.
We were all re elected in 1885, and Mr.. Selby
was again chosen President. In 1887 my
associates were Washington Reavcr and Geo.
W. Miller. My associates chose me PreSi-
dent and they have done me the honor t0 re-
elect me ever since. making a term of ten
years as President In 1889 Col. William e.
Polk, now deceased and who served as Com
missioner two terms previously, from 1879 to
1888, and Hezekiah Hahn we're my colleagues.
Elected with me in 1891 were Joshua Caltrider
and HcZekiah Hahn; at the same time a conStl-
tutiOnal amendment was adopted, fixing terms
of County Commissioners at SIX years. 1t
was thought that two year term was too
short, and the representatives OF the various
counties had local laws on the subject to best
suit their counties. The representatives from
Carroll had an act passed fixing my term at
six years, Mr.. iIAha's AT four and Mr.. Calf
riders at two =" that one commissioner
could be elected every two years and the
Board would ar ali times have two eNpcri-
enced members.
When first bera,nc Il member OF the Board
the tax rate was ~ cents. though it had been
so cents every year for II years previous. II
was raised to 80 cents in 1884, and that was the
rate until 1893, when the prcsen! road law
went into effect, giving the management OF
the roads tn district supervisors. Since then
the rate has been II cents on the SlOo, eX-
cept in 1896, when il was made ~ 10 meet
the unusual expense of new assessment and
an expensive election and registration law, and
this year, when it was fixed Ut 10 cents. The
latter rate could have been made less, but
majority of the Board had fears that, owing
to some uncertainty as 10 the basis. there
might be IL deficiency should the levy he pat
down to ~ cents.
The county debt, when came into office,
was S37, $50, and there were SIS, 3GS. So in bank
and S31 .529, ~ of uncollected taxes.
The debt at the close of the fiscal year end
ed June 80 last was but SS,675, and there was
1862. 90 in bank S1373 due from Baltimore
county, $50 due from private citizen and
the uncOllected taxes amounted to $50, 414. 40.
The county debt, it will he thus seen. has
been reduced $29, ,27j since first entered the
Board. or an average of over 81, 600 year.
Just before my incumbency iron bridges
were Introduced in the county, and the policy
of substituting iron for wooden bridges has
been continued. | do not remember the
exact number Of bridges in the county, but
there are fully one-third more now than there
were III 1888. A large number of new roads
have been opened and some others altered and
made more paSsable
In 1889 and for some years previous sd, 900
were appropriated to public schools. Several
years later the amount was increased to $26,
600 a year, and for the past four or five years
$50, 900 have been appropriated. In addition
$40, 900 were paid to the School Board under
the Bennett act.
Reform in Aims House expenses were be-
gun in 1879 when the net expense was S5,-
O47.02. and part Of the expense of that inst-
tuition was placed under the head of miSce-
laneouS expenses. The expense for 1928
was $3, 1882, and for last year was 81 224. 09.
In 1888 the County paid but $500 to the
Maryland Hospital for the Insane, for the care
and maintenance of pauper lunatics, and last
year paid $4,419.l4, the number of such
patients having gradually increased year by
year. In 1888 but S150 were paid to Mt
Hope: last year S447.02 were paid.
During my incumbenGy about 81 200, 600
were levied and collected, and so far as
know no board has been accused Of eXtrava
gance i'll appropriation or with mSmanage-
ment. My colleagues and myself have always
endeavored to keep in view the best interests
of aX-payerS, and feeling our responsibility.
have been as careful with the management Of
the public money as with our private funds
When first took up the duties of CommiS
sioner, and until 1893, when the care of the
public roads was passed over to district su
pervisors, my per diem ranged from S242 to
1886 Il year. and since then it has ranged from
Sl9S to 5000. And | am free to say that,
though the pay of County Commissioner is
less than that of any other county officer, il
is sufficient
In my fourteen years service | may have
erred in Judgment, but glance over the
career of the Boards of which have been a
member. it appears that not many mistakes
have been made. Ecsnomy has been rgidly
practiccd, and when the increased amount Of
money spent for roads and schools is con-
sidered. | think the county is to be congratu-
lated that the tax rate has not been increased,
except in the two instances noted. And the
rate. too, is and always has been the lowesti in
the State. | do not want to be miSunder
stood; am not claiming credit for the good
management for myself. A glance over the list
of my colleagues reveals the fact that all were
men of sound judgment, prudent aud care
ful-men with oapacity and independence.
In retiring assure my recent associates
and my successor, Mr.. Diehl of my high es-
teen and wish them a career of usefulness to
the county and a credit to themselves.
After concluding Mr.. Stoner was accorded
warm applause by a number of spectators
present.
THE NEW BOARD.
After finishing his remarks Mr.. Stomer re-
tired and Daniel s. Diehl, who had previous
ly sworn in, took his seat as Commissioner.
On motion of Jesse Lennon, seconded by
Daniel $. Diehl, John II. Stem was chosen
President. The first business of the board
was the examination and approval Of the fol-
lowing report:
WESTMINSTER, MD, Dee. 9th, 1897
To the Honorable the County Commissioners of
Carroll County.
GENTLEMEN: At your earnest solicitation coupled
with that of Mat Buckingham. County Treasurer
have, with his assistance examined all the books
vouchers, etc. i'll Your office, AMI find them correct
There remains to your credit in the First National
Bank ofWestminster the sun of 81, ,SS63S. There is
also i'll the Farmers and Mechanics National Bank
of Westminster income from mortgages for County
and State purposes, the sum of S55S.42 TO your
credit
Hoping my report may prove satisfactory am
with respect very truly yours, JNo J. REESE
This report was accepted, and then the
bond of Mr. Masenhlmer was examined and
approved Mr.. Masenhimer took the oath Of