Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-10-19
3l3,7OO 0O
By orde~ of the Board
WILLIAM II. BLENTv NIGER
PRESIDENT.
CLEMENT g. AU4HERMAN, Clerk.
Remarks.

Remarks.
The state tax rate for the year 1905 is % ~
cents. and the county tax rate is 50 cents, on
each 500 worth of taxable property, the for
mer being an increase of one cent over the
previous year. and the latter DECREASE Of
three cents for the same period, The state
rate is an increase of nearly 5 per cent over
the previous year and the county rate Is u
decrease of over B per cent. Comparing with
the year 1909, the state rate is an increase of
IL cents, or over rs per cent, and the county
rate an increase OF only a little over2 per cent
Further, comparing with the year 1897 the
first year under the last assessment. the state
tax rat Us Jcdr Is an increase of over 81 ped
cent, and the county tax rate an increase of
only a little over per cent.
1t will be seen. therefore, that whatever
comparison is made. the increase in the coun-
ty tax rate in recent years has been very much
less propOrtonally than the increase in the
state tax rate. 1t will be further seen that
the entire increase in the county rate il due
to circumstances beyond the control OF the
County Commissioners in other words, due
to stare Legislation, as few figures viii DEM
onstrate.
The approximation for public schools this
year is Sh5,OM, being an increase of Sl3OO0since
1897, due partly to the new Educational Law
and partly to the requirements Of the schools
otherwise, both causes having originated out
side OF the County Commissioners ONCE.
Under the New Road Law there is an ap
preparation Of over s 1850 on this years levy,
and while there is measure of discretion in
vested in the County Commits sioners, if no
appropriation were made by them for inn
proved rOrdS under this law. the sum OF nearly
$4,000 of state money, now available for Fred
erck County, would go to other counties OF
the state for roads, the greater part of which
Is paid into the state treasury by the taxpay
ers OF this county Therefore, partly in order
to save portion Of this sum to the county and
partly in Difference to the demands of many
taxpayers, the above appropriate ion was made
The law has number of objectionable feat
ures, hut in connection with the circumstan
ces referred to, whether an appropriation is
made by the county or not, the Commission
ers do not feel that satisfactory solution Of
the problem can be made. In other words the
law places the Commissioners In such posi-
ton that they find it impossible, to take any
course of action that they would consider to
be to the best interests of the taxpayers,
which difficulty can be obviated only by chang
ing tho law.
The most unsatisfactory increase In expen
SEES is the cost of elections, which during the
past few years, on account OF the new cleo
ton law, has been more than $1,000 above
what it was under the previous law, that is |
nearly double. Formerly the cost was $4,000
per annum now 1t ia from 1000 to 1850. |
And instead OF taxpayers receiving any ben |
eft from the heavier taxes they are COMPEL |
ed to paw on this account, they must submit |
TO being worried with the greatest possible |
dificulties thrown around the right Of fran |
chise The County Commissioners certainly |
cannot be blamed for increasing the tax rate |
on this account; they are Just as helpless asthe
taxpayers themselves and deplOre 1t as much |
as any one, and sincerely sympathize with the !
people In these unfortunate circumstances