The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-04-27
FINANCES VERSUS MATRIMoNY.

FINANCES VERSUS MATRIMONY.
If our good neighbor, the Hartford
Democrat, would only devote a little
more of its time in informing itself as
to the exact condition of Hartford
county's finances instead of devoting
its valuable space exploiting on the
matrimonial prospects of its less for
tunate neighbors, it would not make
the blunder it did in its last issue
about there being n surplus in the
County Treasury, when in point of
fact there will be deficit before June
list, when the lexy of 1900 will be avail.
able.
On the 10th of April the county re-
sources from all sources including cash
on hand, bank balances and collect
able taxes, also the corporation taxes
for the years 1S97-9S and 90, as furnish
ed us by Treasurer Allen and his assist
ant, Mr.. Charles F. Harry, and which
we gathered from the books of the
County Commissioners was $32, 929.
In this amount are included the
National Bank taxes which have been
levied annually, and although carried
in suspense were counted in the assets
for each years business.
The liabilities are as follows !:
Public School funds yet un-
paid, $1,000, due to Hospitals, So, $50,
outstanding certificates issued by
the Commissioners, but not yet pre-.
sented to the Treasurer, $1,000, insol.
vencies, commissions on State taxes
and mortgage taxes in litigation
$2,702, estimate of expenses and sal.
aries from now until June 1st., when
the new levy is available, including
expenses OF May term Of Court (same
as for corresponding period Of last
year,, 5000, amount levied by the
Commissioners for work on the
roads, and yet unexpended $14,-
O55, estimate for insolvencies and
probable losses in settling up the
business of the old tax collectors,
$4,000, showing a probable shortage
on June LIST of $1,s2S. The Commits
sioners have also issued certificates
amounting to about 1000 payable il
the next levy, but this amount is not
herein considered in these figures.
AS the foundation of the whole
statement which our esteemed con,
temporary based his argument OH, is
wrong, why of course the whole
structure falls to the ground. There
is no question but what it would be al
excellent idea to have an addition
built to the present Court House
There are many things we all would
like to have if we only had the money
to purchase them with. No one
doubts the fact that the present
quarters of the Court House are be
coming somewhat cramped, but it i:
much wiser to make out with thing:
as they are than to go into debt al
this time, when the County Commits,
sioners have deficit staring them in
the face.
The taxpayers, we think, will, wher
they read the statement we have
given above, enter q most vigorous
protest against raising their taxes. II
is all any farmer can do, with produce
at the present prices, to keep from
having his farm advertised at public
sale, without having added to him the
additional burden of paying for ar
addition to our temple of justice.
1t does not seem that this is the OPP
perfume time to talk Improvements
especially when the increased cost Of
building materials is taken into con
sideration. Under the present wave
of prosperity" everything has ad
vanced from one-third to one-haI
over the cost two years ago. At tina
time conservative men estimated the
cost at from $4,000 to $4,000. Ado
one-third more on this and the Coun
ty Commissioners would be compelled
to increase the tax rate very material
ly to pay for it. This would cause
much hardship and suffering on the
class of people who bear the burden
of the taxes, as we all know that tn.
poor are compelled to stand more
than their just proportion and i
would be luxury that they would
reap no benefit from.
We think that it would be the wises
thing for Brother STREET. and hi
building commission to wait for some
future TINA when the people can
better afford to stand it.