The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1903-02-07
THE TAXPAYERS CONVENTION.
A Large Body of Representative Citizens
Meet to Consider Matters Concerning
the County's Best Interests.

The annual taxpayers convention was held in
the Court House on Tuesday last, with large
attendance of representative citizens, all OF
ings. Col. d. G. Mcintosh, member of the COM
mittee of fifteen. called the meeting to order,
and on motion, Mr.. e. s. w. Choate: of The "a
district, was made chairman, and Mr.. Samuel
M. Shoemaker, of the Sd district secretary.
The late John s. Wilson, of Catonsville, who
since the meeting of the last convention and
the committee adopted resolutions OF respect TO
his memory. The following report of this COM
mittee was then read by the secretary:
Meeting only once year as we do. your COM
mittee feels that it should call attention to some
of the splendid results of the work of these
taxpayers conventions, and especially to the
following three acts of the Legislature OF l9OO,
which originated in these conventions and are
unquestionably in the front rank of reform
laws:
A law returning to the short-term system of
electing County Commissioners.
An act directing the County Commissioners to
publish annually statement of the assets and
liabilities of the county.
An act to prohibit the County Commissioners
expanding more money than the levy for fiscal
year.
The result of our recommendation in regard
to the Fire Department is not as pronounced as
it might have been, but the County Commission
ers have shown themselves in accord Herewith
by encouraging the formation of new volunteer
companies, as well as by giving financial aid to
The road law is not yet what it might be, but
the work done under it has gained the conf
dence of all classes and the results are begin
ming to show what may be accomplished by up
to-date methods and intelligent CO cooperation.
Some legislation is necessary to make the law
what its trainers intended and what everyone
supposed it to be until the recent decision of
the Court of Appeals. Your committee, there
fore, recommends such an amendment as will
give to our County Commissioners the general
supervision of and responsibility for the county
roads.
The committee recommends the endorsement
of the action of the State Board of Education
in recommending legislation authorizing the
consolidation of rural schools.
1t is our privilege to commend as we'll as con-
denim; we, therefore, call to your attention the
marked improvement in the management OF our
county affairs. The published statements show
that at the end OF the present fiscal year there
should be balance in the treasury of over
SIZE, 900. This is most admirable showing, and
great credit is due our County Commissioners.
That these statements are made from books
kept in clear, concise way is scarcely less
cause for congratulation.
The report of the legislative committee was
acts were passed after suggestions of the tax
payers convention by the Legislature of 1902
Franchises legalized and regulated.
Providing for a Jail warden to care for Jail in
place of the sheriff.
Permanent tenure of police officers during
good behavior, until retired or removed for
cause after public hearing.
Primary elections regulated and penalties
provided, and also providing for party utilization
60
materials or teams to the county in their dis
tricts.
Failed to pass the last sesson-The proposed
TEN.
The item in reference to the road law and con-
solidation of public schools, as reported by the
committee of fifteen, ELECTED some discussion,
but the entire report was adopted. Colonel
Mcintosh argued in favor of passing resolutions
to carry out recommendations of the commit
tee, if acceptable, and not to let them pass I'M
noticed
Mr.. John S. Ensor thought that matters to be
6CA ta0O fnd ffo0
and reported back to the convention for action.
Mr.. Lewis NJ. Bacon made vigorous argument
in favor of the consolidation of schools.
Secretary Cook, of the School Board, explain
ed what was anticipated in the matter of con-
solidation.
Several others spoke on the question and re-
commentator was finally carried by vote of
failing to vote.
Col. Mcintosh offered the following resolu-
tions which, after some discussion, were
adopted:
ResolUed, That the policy of our county gov
ton as will insure the payment of all necessary
appropriations for the current year and keep
the county on cash paying basis, and that any
taxation beyond such necessary sum for the
current year is unwise because il encourages
extravaganza and unnecessary expenditures:
Resol0ed, secondly That we recommend that
the County Commissioners shall not exceed the
sum of 70 cents on the 500 in making the next
annual levy, provided the same will be sufficient
to meet the estimates and appropriations for
the ensuing year.
Major Yellott offered resolution, which was
adopted, providing for the appointment of q
committee of five taxpayers to consider and
formulate such changes in the road law as are
deemed wise and to report the same. together
with their reasons therefor, to the next meeting
of the convention. He also offered a series of
resolutions, which were adopted, suggesting
changes in the road law, which were referred
to the committee of five taxpayers provided
for in the previous resolution.
Mr.. A. Y. Dolfleld offered resolution, which
was adopted, indorsing the Hannah oyster bill,
which has been before the General Assembly,
but failed to pass, and requesting the members
of the Legislature to urge its adoption.
Among those who attended were the following