Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-01-12
BOSNELL'S change Of VIEW
TAXPAYERS MEETING ENDS
SENSATIONALLY.
Anne Arundel Roads Cost $40, 600
Last Year, But Secretary Is
Not Sure There Is
Need of Change.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY DELEGA
TIoN THINKS OTHERWISE.


Taxpayers Association of Anne
Arundel county was the surprising
speech made too late for last evening"
issue of the Capital, by Mr.. w. K.
Boswell, secretary 20 the Association,
in which he rather minimized the
value TO be derived should the pro.
posed new road law go ON the statute
books, and in face of the amazing com.
parison of road expenses in Anne
Arundel and Caroline, was inclined to
suggest that tthe present system was
possibly good enough or at least
might be worse.
Mr.. Crosby returned to the meeting
after the remarks of Judge Magruder,
having stayed over until later train
than the one he bad intended leaving
Annapolis on, in order to answer any
further questions which the members
cared TO ask. 1t was following this
that Mr.. Boswell took the floor
Interest attaches to the matter, by
reason of the fact that the secretary
TO the Taxpayers Association has al
ways been prominently identified with
the reform and retrenchment element
in this county, and until lately never
held office. He was recently appointed
one Of the three supervisors of roads
for his district, with a merely nominal
salary, but that he had from any
cause changed his well understood
views was not made perfectly plain
until yesterday evening. 1t is stated
that he characterized the engineer
bill as a "new proposition and "un-
tried" that he questioned whether
the people of Anne Arundel wanted
such measure damned down their
throats," 4" and thought the present sys-
tenn at least of some advantage; he
was inclined to doubt the wisdom of
abandoning it hastily.
President Melvin placed Mr.. Adam
A. Shipley in the chair and attacked
this sentiment vigorously on the floor
Of the meeting, recalling to Mr.. Bos.
wells recollection the fact that the
proposed law has been under discussion
for nearly year; that the Association
has had before it several distinguished
engineers who gave it their unquali-
fed approval, and that final action at
the last meeting was only deferred
because it was thought wise to leave
the subject open until the last mo-
ment in case the members develop
new and valuable ideas to Incorporate
in the plan. He further pointed ont
that the bill will not do away with
any good feature of the present method
tho engineer feature is the bill
and the act, if made part of the local
laws, will only repeal where ii con-
hicts. Mr.. Crosby supported the
President in this presentation of the
case, repeating and bringing out still
more clearly arguments which he had
already advanced.
Mr.. Boswell here stated that he did
not wish to be understood as actually
opposing the bill. but thought il
should be thoroughly considered in all
it's phases before any action is taken,
especially as il takes out of the
hands of the county control of the
reads and vests this power in a State
official" 1"
Judge MagTuder Immediately want.
ed to know if the same criticism might
not, with equal force, be directed at
almost every branch of the county
government, inasmuch as many OF
the county officials hold their posi- tions
by vistue of Executive appointment.
1t was generally agreed that the Asso.
citation was not acting hastily IN the
premises whatever might be said of it.
On motion of Judge Tydings a reso-
luton was adopted, directing the
President to appoint a committee, OF
which the President is chairman, con.
sisting of three from each district, tc
draw up bills along the several lines
discussed before the Association, fol-
approval or disapprovaI at the next
meeting (Tuesday week., that those
o. Ked may Immediately be submitted
to the Anne Arundel representative
in the General Assembly. This com.
mittee is a follows:
First District-John H. WaySon,
Frank H. Duckett, James Cheston.
Second District-Julian NJ Beard,
W. b. Finkbine. w. X. Boswell.
Third District-harry A. Wook,
John E. Pettebone, John W. Meek.
Fourth District-Adam a. Shipley,
William a. Ray, Isaac Silver.
Fifth District-James S. Smith, II.
L. Shipley, DR.. Charles H. Brooke.
Sixth District-Grafton d. Ridout,
Henry B. Myers, Frank A Munroe.
Eighth District-Percy Lyles, w.
w. Webb, Frank II Darnall
The President was also authorized
to appoint three lawyers as an advisory
board TO the committee. This three
will be selected from the following
list which had been suggested bv the
members of the Association james
w. Owens, James NJ. Munroe. James
r. Brashears, Frank II. Stockett and
Ridgley p Melvin.
The Association viii urge upon Sen.
ator Gadd and the members of thS
House from this county their earnest
effort in behalf of about dozen meas.
ures, of which the enigneer road bill
and the proposed higher license act fol
Brooklyn. suggested by Mr.. Owens
will be of most Importance. Col. Gado
expressed himself last night as in en-
tire sympathy with these reforms anC
promised their passage in the Senate.
The delegation in the House is be-
lieved TO STARE the same view DR.
Wells is known to be in favor of then
and if the organization people do not
find them altogether to their liking
the drubbing received last fall com
bined W ith the recognized strength OF
pnblic opinion on the subject, is be
lieved to be sufficient TO quiet any
feeling of hostility they may enter
tain.
1t seems that the Capitals report o
the cost OF roads in Anne Arundel a
compared with those in Caroline, pub
lishei in last nights issue, was al
under rather thap an over statement