Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1903-04-11
Hurt.
Joseph Arnold, of this place, had a
finger mashed in Union mine Thursday.
Hurt.
LOCAL CORRESPONDENTS.
An old Taxpayer Voices an Extensive
TaN-Paying Sentiment.

FEosTBuRG, Nh, April &, 1909.
To the MINING JOURNAL.
As we citizens of Frostburg are on
the eve of another election of authorities
to control our town affairs, and as it
seems that some at least of our incum-
bent administrators are eager to be re-
tanned i'll office, not forgetting new as
pirants, all of whom are anxious to get
and retain office, it has occurred to me
to inquire whether all this itch for
place is for the honor of official distinc-
ton, or for the pleasure of imbibing and
digesting the salaries and accompany
ing emOlumentS.
| confess do not know which, but if
both the successful and unsuccessful
gentlemen will excuse me, l believe it is
pretty nearly altogether for the latter.
enclose Il slip taken from current
newspaper concerning the good future
of model city in having Mayor and
Council who serve the people for nomi-
nal salaries. | do so i'll order to make
it basis for asking-how many of our
citizens would take pride in holding the
several offices on the same terms:
| believe our town really needs such
patriotic self-sacrifice, but it is evil
dent that of late years each office has
become popular excuse for a salary
grab. For instance, if | am rightly in
formed, our Councilmen We're paid 81 :.
for a few evening hours of service ; now
it is $2l, or about 81 an hour. The
Mayors salary was 500 II year now it
is $50. This is not all \ short time
ago a number of Councilmen had claims
for COMMITTEE work from 6 to 40
days at - :, day.
Now, as Il stakeholder in this com
pany we call "town" l desire to learn
what constitutes a per diem, and what
was the nature of the work done for
| these extra charges and eXtravaSant
payments:
And L am frank to admit beforehand
that do not believe that, as one of the
stockholders, | can be satisfied that any
answer returned, no matter what it is,
will be founded i'll justice or right,
much less in patriotism or public spirit.
[ am sure of one thing-my dividend as
il taX-payinS stakeholder in the town
seems to grow smaller and smaller each
year, while that of Il few who pay
little seems to grow bigger and bigger
as the sum of revenue increases. | do
not expect my money, or any of 1t, to
come back directly, but | do think l am
entitled to see and feel some substantial
benefit in return for the annual invest
ment am comprIi'd to make.
Now, then, | believe it is high time
the taxpayers should take their own af-
fairs in their own hands the sooner
the better. If allowed to go on as now
they will be sorry for it. Each one
should be willing to make some per-
sonal and .fnonci"I sacrifice for the sake
of his own interest in the town. Each
does it, sometimes in "Mrrn"0"s" de-
gree for his interest in other matters
why not i'll this?
Referring to your quotation from the
Somerset (PaD Ur.uM and comments
thereon, let me ask-are there not some
Mr.. Welfleys" i'll Frostburg? If one
was enough to do so much for Somer-
set, haven't we several of like business
disposition and patriotic generosity? If
here, we need their services and that
quickly.
Your commentator of Mr.. Welfey
was very just to him and, considering
the situation here, very timely.
WILLIAM MCLUCKIE SIR