The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-09-22
EOREKE COMMISSIONERS.

In 1892 a successful movement was
inaugurated, changing the number
of the county commissioners board
from five to three members. This
action was Endorsed by many of the
leading men of the county, and the
bill was exceedingly popular when it
was passed.
Since then, the taxpayers have had
a fair trial, lasting over a decade,
and we find today, an almost uni
versal sentiment, requesting a return
to the old number The reasons for
this are quite obvious. Hartford
county is divided into six districts,
five of which have public road sys-
TENS that require almost constant
attention. The people feel that a
commissioner is to a degree their
local representative, and naturally
look to him to see that the highways
are properly cared for. Complaint
been has made that no three members
ofthcboard have been able to give this
personal attention, and in conse-
qucnce, the districts without repre-
scntatives have suffered. Whether
or not this be true, the assertion has
been made as an assured fact, and
many taxpayers urge that there
should be a change.
The Democratic party was charged
with the responsibility of reducing
the number, and it is. no more than
proper that it should have equal
credit in increasing the board to five
should this be deemed an advisable
move by the majority of our people.
We learn after sounding the Demo-
cratic Executive Committee, elected
by popular vote less than two weeks
ago, that in their Judgment the party
would render valuable and at the
same time highly acceptable service
to the public if it were instrumental
in increasing the number of commits
sioners to five; and in this connection
we find in an interview with Senator
Robinson that he is prepared to
nact into law the wishes of his con-
tituents.
He states that in 1892 a law was
enacted at the request of a great
many Of the people of Hartford
county reducing the number Of coun.
ty commissioners from FIVE to three,
it being the opinion at that time
that this change would produce bet
ter results in the management of
county affairs. After twelve wears
experience in the management of the
county commissioners office it is ap-
parent that there is a widespread de-
mand that the law be changed by in
creasing the number of commits
sioners to five, because it has been
found that with this number, one
from each Of five districts in the coun-
ty, the board will be better equipped
to deal with the local affairs in the
different sections so far as roads and
bridges are concerned, and in that
way it is believed that taxpayers
would be better served and the roads
and bridges more Systematically i'm
proved. In this view Mr. Robin
son says that he fully concurs, and
If, as he believes, the sentiment of the
people of this county indicates a de-
sire for change to five commission
crs he will advocate the passage of
such bill at the next Legislature,
with the provision, that the tenure
of office and the compensation of the
commissioners now holding office,
and to be elected in the fall OF 1905,
shall not be thereby affected.
Speaking Of what can be accom-
plished by the Legislature for the
taxpayers, Mr. Robinson went on
to say, that the most important
measure for the relief of the tax
PAYERS of this county, as we'll as the
other counties of the state, would be
the enactment of a law providing tor
the cultivation of the barren bottoms
of the Chesapeake Bay, popularity
known as the Hannah Oyster Bill,
and the application of the revenue
derived therefrom to the improve
Inent of the public roads of the coun-
ties. He further states, that, based
on heresults that have been obtained
in Virginia, New Jersey, Connecticut
and Rhode Island, tits reasonable to
ultimately expect a yearly revenue
from this source of $4,000 that
would be applicable to the improve
ment of the public roads Of Hartford
county alone and this being in excess
of the amount at present levied by
the county commissioners of Har-
ford county for road purposes, it
is apparent to any one who will stop |
to think that this important legisla-