Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-08-31
Thursday, Aug. 81, 1905.

isERNG INF kluhl i H INV
JUDGES PENSION LAW.
Explained ny Associate Judge
Geo. l.. Van Blbber.
Associate Judge George L. Van Bib
Der, of Hartford county, in explaining
the Wilson bill, known az Chapter 23t
of the Acts of 1904, relating to the pay
ment of salaries to certain judges after
their retirement from office, popularity
known as the Judges Pension bill, says
There seems to be an impression
that this bill was gotten up by one Of
the members of the General Assembly
from Hartford county, but. as a matter
of fact, it was prepared by committee
Of the State Bar Association and intro.
duced by Senator Wilson from Prince
Georges county.
Another error seems to prevail In
that statement is made that the tax
payers of Hartford county contribute
something toward the payment Of the
amount raised for this purpose, but
this also is al error, for no part of the
county tax or State tax levied and paid
by the taxpayers of this county is APP
piled in that way. The 233 cents on
the 500 levied by the County Commits
sioners as State tax Is appropriated as
follows:
Fifteen cents on each 800 for the
public schools. One and three-fcurths
Of one per cent. on each 500 to pay
the cost Of supplying books for the use
of the children in the public schools OF
this State, and the balance of the State
tax collected is turned into the treasury
to pay the interest and create sinking
fund for the redemption of the loans
issued by the State for the purpose OF
building the addition to the peniten-
tiary. the insane asylum loan, the State
building and improvement loan, the
consolidated loan of 1899 and the pub
lie building loan, all Of which Ia fully
and plainly ret forth in Chapter 343 OF
the Acts Of 1904.
"It is therefore apparent to anyone
who takes the trouble to look into the
matter that every cent of the revenue
raised in this State by direct taxation
is appropriated by the act authorizing
the levy and cannot be used any other
way.
"In addition the amount raised by
the 234 cents paid as State taxes there
is received by the State Treasury Of
Maryland large sum OF money annual
ly from the tax on gross receipts OF
railroads, from liquor and other Licenses
issued in the city Of Baltimore and
other parts Of the State aud from other
taxes on corporations, ETC., known as
the indirect tax fund, and it is out Of
this fund that all appropriations tol
the salaries of State officers, expenses
of the General Assembly and the
amount appropriated to provide a pen
sion for retired judges are paid, and the
impression that exists with some of our
people that this appropriation is all
additional burden upon the taxpayers
of this county is entirely erroneous fol
the reason above stated"
No doubt some Of the citizens Of
Hartford county have been speaking
ont in meetln," about the Judges Pen
sion Law passed at the last session o.
the General Assembly 80 that the judge
has been smoked OUT and has given
the explanation above quoted. 1t will
take more than the explanation of Judge
Van Bibber to take the "bad taste out
of the mouths of the taxpayers as re-
CARDS this most remarkable Of all pen =
sions. The people have not forgotten
the fact that it has been but very few
years ago when all the judges of the
State had their salaries raised, and not
deeming it wise to have another raise
in salary. the only thing to do was to
get pension. Some taxpayer of Hartford
county thought one of their members
of the Legislature was the author OF
the bill, but the Judge comes to his res
cue, and tells the people that lit was
prepared by a committee of the State
Bar Association and introduced by
Senator Wilson of Prince George 8
county" Oh yes. the State Bar Asso-
citation was very proper author for
this bill, composed as it is OF all the pres
ent judges and those who hope to be
when those on the bench are retired.
1t would be interesting reading to know
how this bill was passed and who were
its champions; We may give this some
time in the future.
As for the Judges Pension we are
unalterably opposed to it, and if we
should ever have the opportunity OF
having it repealed, we most certainly
would do all in our power to accom-
plish this end.
Chamberlain's Cough Remedy Acts on
Natures Plan.