The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-03-03
FARMERs IN CONVENTION.
Discussion of Public Affairs at g Meet
ing in the Court House.

In answer to a call for non-partisan tax
payers convention to discuss matters pertain
| ing to the welfare of Baltimore county and for
a general interchange of views in regard to the
county's Indebtedness and the best plan to
liuuidate q good number offarmers and others
assembled at the Court House, Towson, on
Thursday Capt. Wilson G. Nicholas, of the
4th district, was made chairman, and Mr.. John
s. Wilson, of the LIST district, secretary.
The meeting at once proceeded to business
and several resolutions that had been pre-
viously prepared were handed to Mr.. Wilson
to.be read.
The first resolution considered was one recon-
mepding that the law which placed the term
of a County Commissioner at six years be re-
pealed, and that law be enacted fixing the
term at two years, and that ne De maze elglDle
for reelection.
Mr.. E. L. Painter moved the adoption of the
resolution. He said that after the Commits
sioners' terms had been increased to six years
the county debt had grown to S5OO,OOO, ana he
thought that the change had removed the Com
missioners from responsibility to the people.
Mr. Lewis NJ. Bacon also spoke in favor of
the resolution. He said that it had been ar
gued that the six-year term had taken the
Commissioners out of politics, but it had also
taken them too far from the people.
Messrs. Charles Schaffer and Alexander Y.
Dolfield argued that the six-year term had been
adopted in the interest of better government,
and that it should be given fair trial.
The resolution was adopted with but lew
dissenting voices.
The convention also adopted resolution
approving of the bill providing that the Coun-
ty Commissioners shall not expend more than
they have appropriated for any branch of the
county government.
Col d. G. Mcintosh said that he thought
that the law should be so amended so as to
provide that the Commissioners could meet
such an emergency as occurred several years
hon Nf tla 10 nf hQ
county weredamaged and number of bridges
swept away by flood.
Mr. Painter said that the law already gave
the Commissioners authority to raise money
to meet such an emergency. He said that the
proposed law was in accordance with the spirit
of the new city charter of Baltimore.
A resolution was adopted recommending to
the Commissioners that the tax-rate for 1900
be not placed higher than so cents, and that
ten per cent. of the money raised by the levy
be reserved for the purpose of paying the
county debt.
Col. Mcintosh said that he had been as
founded to hear that some of the taxpayers of
the county had advocated that tax-rate of
Sl20 be levied, and the debt be at once paid.
Such course he said would impose heavy
burden on the farmers and one which many
of them could not bear.
States Attorney Grason said that he thought
the matter was one which should be left to the
discretion of the Commissioners.
Major Thomas B. Catch and Mr.. Dolfield
advocated that bonds be issued for the pay
ment of the debt.
The convention approved of proposed law
requiring that the County Commissioners
shall publish, within sixty days after June of
each year, summary statement OF the coun-
tys finances, showing assets and liabilities.
A resolution declaring that the School Board
had been guilty of extravaganza in expending
$500, 600 per year for the maintenance of the
schools, and also that their books should be
thrown open for public inspection, was de-
feated after stormy discussion.
School Examiner Ebaugh made defense OF
the School Board. He said that the statement
that $500, 900 had been expended in year for
the schools was untrue. While the report for
1898, which Mr.. Painter had cited, had shown
expenditures amounting to S3OO,O 900, back
debt of $50, 900 had been paid that year
On motion committee of one from each
district was appointed and authorized to reas-
semble the convention if thought necessary,
and also to bring to the attention of the Legis-
lature such measures as would enure to the
benefit of the county. The following were
named on this committee:
First district-John S. Wilson 2d-R. Pierce
Choate; 3d-Charles T. Cockey 4th e. Lynn
Painter; 5th-Daniel Shamberger; 6th-Mel-
Choir Hoshall; Tho. Albert Mays Sth-E.
Cuttings Merryman; 9th--D. g. Mcintosh
10th-Edward s. Peerce; 1.-THE. +. Raphel;
12th-Charles Schlaffer; 13th-James Ritten-
house 14th-Alex. Mccormick; 15th-Ihos.
r Todd