Middletown transcript., 1899-10-14
RE-AssEssMENT IN MARYLAND.
THE BEST TO WIN.

The Baltimore News, an Independent
Democratic newspaper, in recent issue
strongly intimated that 1t would be found
with the Republicans in the present cam.
paign. THE denomination of the same
officials to whom the State is indebted foI
four years of excellent administration and
the adoption Of platform cotaining spe.
ciic pledge as to police reorganization have
undoubtedly checked the movement Of in
dependent Democrats towards a resump-
ton to their party relations. We are always
ready to array ourselves with either party,
or any party, to lift the plane of our politics
higher and to establish good government
more firmly. The people have learned in
the past few years the effectiveness Of inde-
pendent voting, and the parties are now
obliged to face entirely new conditions. In
this campaign there is going to be little ex-
element, and the voter will size up the two
tickets with cold-blooded calculation, and
the one which, on the whole, promises the
best for good government, and especially
for decency and wisdom in legislation, will
win."-Elkton Appeal.
One of the best and most far-reaching
laws enacted by the Republican legislature
of 1896, was that relating to the re-assess-
ment of property. A clause in that law
that appeals more particularly to the farmr
ers was introduced by Wm. J. Smith, Of
this county-an amendment exempting
from taxation farming implements to the
value Of $500. The people demand q re-
assessment, and as early as 1887, says the
New York Post German felt compelled to
promise such measure in the Democratic
platform, but the bill which was introduced
in the next legislature was never reported
from committee. In 1889 the Democrats
again pledged themselves to reassessment,
and the legislature of 1890 passed such q
measure, but 1t was vetoed. In 1891 they
once more promised it, and again bill was
passed but the Governor refused to sign 1t.
In 1893 their platform again made o re-
assessment pledge and q bill was introduced
in the legislature OF 1894, but was defeated.
In 1895 the Republicans promised the long
needed legislation, and the pledge was
promptly met the following winter in the
enactment of a law which accomplished an
equalization of the burden Of taxation. In
Baltimore alone $50 900 of stocks and
bonds were assessed under the uniform tax
of so cents on the 500. while the entire
basis in the State has been increased $sO,-
00O, ,O0O. -Elkton Appeal. u gs
BRIBERY In COURT.
Among the trials at the Kent County
Court week hencs are those of DR.. 7. G.
Moore, Frank Reiman, Peter w. Downs
and John Caldwell. the latter two colored
men who assisted during election times.
They were all excused at the last term be-
cause of q material witness" being absent.
or one of the men the Smyrna Call" says,
"a great surprise was recently given several
Democrats of Smyrna when Frank Reiman,
who is one of the indicted men for vote
buying. announced that he was now
Democrat, and asked number Of Demo- |
Gratis If they could not arrange matters 30
that the case against him would be dropped. |
Reiman has been to fen or twelve Damu.
Gratis pleading with than. he visited the |
Call offics and had i long conversation with |
! representative Of this paper What does
Reiman think the Democrats Of Smyrna |
sre2 he argues that be has not been treated /
right by the Union Republicans and hsg |