Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1899-03-17
Taxation of the Farmer.

National Grange Grand Master Aaron
Jones, of Indiana, was before the Industrial
Commission at Washington city on Tues
day. He expressed the opinion that trans
portation was the most important question
with which the farmer had to deal, and he
believed rates should be made by an indie.
pendent commission, and that the railroad
companies should not be allowed to aroitra
rily fix rates. He also asserted that the trusts
should be controlled, and expressed the
hope that the commission would devise leg
islation to that end. He thought our Con.
suls abroad should interest themselves in
the agricultural products of the country as
much as in its manufacturing interests.
Another reform suggested was the lower.
ing OF the salaries of government officials.
VI remember" he said, "when the salaries of
congressman were increased from $3, 900 to
$4,000. This increase was made on the plea
that the purchasing power of the dollar had
decreased. Now that there has been an In
crease in the purchasing power, we hear of
no agitation for reduction of salaries"
Mr.. Jones asserted that the farmer is un.
fairly and inequitably taxed, one.fourth to
one,third of the income of the average farm
in Indiana being necessary to pay the taxes
levied upon it. He suggested legislation
looking to uniformity in taxation in the
different States He was favorable to a uni
form income tax, but opposed to the inner.
itance tax.
Mr.. N, j. Batchelder, of New Hampshire,
for many years master of the State Grange
of that State, occupied the attention of the
commission at its afternoon session. He
explained the tendency of the wealthy to
purchase abandoned farms in New Eng
land for summer residences, saying that the
rural residents of the New England States
were disposed to encourage this practice, as
it gave them better local markets. He also
said the abandonment of farm lands in that
section had been checked, and he attributed
this change to the influence of the Grange
Business In the Orphans Court
The following business was transacted in
the Orphans Court:
The last will and testament of Henry A.
Humphrey, deceased, was admitted to pro-
bate and record. Letters were granted to
Robert II. and VIM. F. Humphrey, execu-
tors named in the will Bond $1,000.
The last will and testament OF William L..
Cole, deceased, was admitted to probate and
record. Letters were granted to Clarence
Hoskinson, executor named in the will.
Bond 1900.
Letters were granted Emma B. Williams
on the personal estate of Elizabeth b. Wal
lace, deceased Bond $500.
Letters were granted Rufus X. King on
the personal estate of William II. Bowman,
deceased. Bond $1,000.
Letters were granted to James S. Holland
on the personal estate of Nathan b Holland,
deceased. Bond $1,000.
Letters were granted Charles +. and
Elizabeth Hanshew on the personal estate
OF Henry L. Hanshew, deceased. Bond
$4,000.
K. E. Stonestreet, executor of Adelaide
A. Stonestreet, filed inventory of personal
estate of said deceased.
Second and final account of John Cuff,
executor of Patrick Cuff, ST., was passed
and ordered to be recorded.
The last will and testament of Mary A..
NARROW, deceased, was admitted to probate
and record.
Contract Awarded The Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia, who
purchased the iron stone rock quarries at
Dickerson, this county, several months ago,
have awarded the contract for quarrying
and crushing the stone to the Standard
Lime and Stone Company, OF Buckeystown,
Frederick county, at 70 cents a cubic yard
on the ground and cents additional on
board cars.
The officials OF the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad are now arranging to put in a
siding nearly 1000 feet in length. As soon
as this is finished the Standard Lime and
Stone Company intend placing two or three
crushers in position at once for business.
This stone is to be used in making asphalt
pavements in the District of Columbia. The
consideration paid for this quarry was 1925
for six acres of rock, or land containing this
rock. This will call for a large force of
hands.