The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-01-18
THE TAXPAYERS CONVENTION
A Large Attendance of Representative
Citizens to Consider the Needs of the.
County-The Resolutions-Pres-
ent Road Law Commended
Some of Those Who
Attended Etc

Some of Those Who
Attended, ETC.
The annual non partisan taxpayers conven-
ton, arranged by the committee of fifteen,
composed of Messrs. John s. Wilson, R. Pierce
Choate G. I. Cockey, w. G. Nicholas, Daniel
Shamberger, Melchor Hoshal, G. Albert
Mays, b: q. Merryman, d. G. Mcintosh, Ed
ward 5: Peerce E. f. Raphel, Gottlieb Stengle,
James Rittenhouse, Alexander Mccormick and
Thomas B. Todd, met in the Court House at
Towson, on Wednesday morning last, with
large attendance, showing that much interest
is being taken in this annual meeting, and
which has heretofore resulted in much good to
the county, it being purely non-partisan
gathering.
Mr.. John S. Wilson, of the 1st district, chair
man OF the committee of fifteen, was made
chairman of the meeting, and Mr.. Samuel NJ
Shoemaker, OF the Sd district secretary. Upon
taking the chair Mr.. Wilson made an address
in which be reviewed at length the affairs of
the county and among other things said:
The County Commissioners deserve great
credit for the manner in which the finances of
the county have been managed, and the clerk
to the Board is entitled to the thanks of the
citizens of the county for the efficient manner
IN which the law, passed through the eff
forts OF committee from this convention,
requiring the publishing of the statement of
assets and liabilities of the county, has been
complied with. 1t is not necessary now to
the condition of the county finances, for the
capable gentleman referred to has made it so
plain and busnesslike that anyone who de-
slres can IN very short time ascertain to a
cent the Indebtedness of the county. The fl
nanclal condition of the county should be a
source of satisfaction to the taxpayers. In
this connection, let me observe, that the money
deposited in the banks TO the credit of the
county can be made the source of enough in
come to almost defray the cost of the salaries
(OT1arf nd o1o 8
the Office
The recommendations submitted by the
committee were discussed at some length and
finally adopted in form as follows:
:, lst That we now renew our recommendation
that the chemical fire engines be replaced as
soon as practicable by volunteer companies,
aided by the County Commissioners and pro-
Vided with such equipment as may be suitable
and proper for hook and ladder and salvage
companies, and that as soon as possible the
chemical engines now in use be disposed of and
the expense of the department be curtailed.
I'd. That in the appointment of police and
special officers paid as such, the rules of civil
service be applied as far as practical; that
standard of physical and moral qualification be
established which shall be applied to all appli-
cants for position, and determined by previous
examination upon the certificate of a board duly
appointed for that purpose and that appointees
come from localities where they are to serve.
3d. That the Road Commissioners should under
no circumstances be allowed to have any pc
cuniary interest in the work done on the county
roads, or in the furnishing of materials or carts
4th. That primary election law is desirable
in Baltimore county, and that we respectfully
urge our delegation in the General Assembly to
exert themselves to procure the passage of
such a law.
5th. That the present law making the pay of
the Sheriff and his deputies wholly Independent
of the fees collected by the office be repealed,
and the Sheriff and his deputies be paid out of
the fees collected by his Office.
9th. That the offices of Sheriff and keeper of
the Jail should be divorced that the Sheriff
should not be interested either in arrests or in
failures to arrest when his pay is affected by
the number of inmates of the Jail.
18th. That the granting of franchises to corpo-
rations should be only upon the corporation
paying proper compensation for the same which
should be authorized and regulated by legisla-
tive enactment.
8th That school teachers hereafter employed
in Baltimore county shall be residents Of the
county two years previous to appointment or
one or both parents of the applicant shall have
two years. residence in tie county.
9th. That Legislative Committee be appoint
ed by the chairman, of which he shall be chair
man, to draft laws as directed by the convention
and present them to our representatives in the
10th. That the chairman of this meeting APP
point committee of thirty to incorporate a
Taxpayers Association, with suitable constitu-
ton and bylaws, to carry out the recommends
lions of the Committee of Fifteen, and to adopt
such measures as will cause the Association to
be generally subscribed to by taxpayers through
out the county.
The sentiment of the meeting was undoubt-
edly favorable to the retention of the pres
ent ROAD law ana Wnen MAJOR 1ellott, IN the
course of his remarks said ''let us have full,
fair trial of the law as it is, his words ELECTED
applause from all parts of the room.
Just before the adjournment of the conven-
ton resolution was passed that lit is the
sense of this convention that the members of
the Legislature from this county shall have a
law enacted which will prohibit the use in our
public schools of any textbook which does
not give Admiral Schley credit for the naval
victory at Santiago"
SOME OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.
In addition TO members of the bar county