Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-02-10

with the oystermen of Worcester wheth-
or or not they will be able to remain in
the business, and at every discussion Of
the situation they conclude that they
will not.
have taken the position to show Mr..
Haman that his bill will be Of no value
to US as a planting measure. will now
endeavor to show that it will be equally
as valueless as protective one. Mr..
Hannah says: Ii would be great thing
il General Seth could get his friends at
Oxford and st. Michaels to see that
there is nothing injurious to the oyster
men in leasing bill, but on the con-
lection of this kind" You will note
that Mr.. Hannah slightly intimates that
they will have some protection of this
kind. But no one seems to know what
kind he means, and furthermore he
does not promise any protection. He
merely says that their interests demand
it, have read copy of Mr.. Humans
bill very carefully and have failed to find
one word about protecting the oysters
after being planted. Now, what may
we suppose the result will be? We
learn that past experience is the surest
and best method of determining future
results. Our experience is that the
1 l....s 20 .f lao
sort. does not stop thieves from steal
ing oysters. We plant not far from
the Virginia line. and while there few
weeks ago we could count half q dozen
or more watch houses in sight all kept at
the expense of the planters to protect
their oysters. In Worcester, where we
have no tax law on oyster ground, we
have only two such houses in the county.
and they nave not been occupied for
the purpose of watching oysters for
three years or more. We seem to get
along better without it than our Vir-
lginia neghbors do with it.
Mr.. Haman says that 1--WE ought, all
of us, Eastern Shoreman and Western
Shoremen, to get together in an annie
able spirit for the purpose of doing the
very best thing possible for the State
of Maryland. The question is, What
is the very best thing possible for the
State of Maryland? | am unfamiliar
with the conditions on the Chesapeake.
What may be the best thing there may
be the worst thing here. Therefore,
the question Of what is the best thing
for the State is only a question with me
as concerns the oysters grounds of Wor-
cester county. think the best thing
to do for the State in place like this.
where there is is an abundance of good
oyster ground lying idle. is to encourage
the people in every way possible to
take up the ground and plant it. and
then place the tax on the oysters.
as is the case now, and If the planters
are successful they are apt to make
improvements, such as building homes
for themselves and in various other
ways. Then the State taxes the inn
. provemcnts as they are made from time
, to time. I'll venture To say that had
the Hannah bill been in effect here
90 years ago there would not be in Wor-
cester county to-day one-half Of the
taxable property put here by the oyster
, men. because il would have bluired the
: planters Off at thestart. II people will
not take up the ground when they can
get il without price they surely will not
with tax on IT, The thing To do is Ia
, encourage the business and increase
values. and taxables will increase in pro
portion.
To show the absurdity Of Mr.. Humans
proposed tax per acre. il would be much
, cheaper for us could we purchase oyster
} ground at $50 an acre and be compelled
: to borrow the money to pay for il. The
} interest and taxes at the present rate
on the cost would only amount to $3.6l
year. while he proposes to tax US s.,
! providing We could dispose Of our hold
, ings when we desire To discontinue the
business. which we could easily do were
J il farmland. But it is oyster ground,
, and were we to offer il for sale il would
, not bring one penny. Then we would
see that we had paid $50 for nothing. a
, thing that would not bring one penny
| when offered for sale. for land is her,
: in abundance and without price.
} trust Mr.. Hannah will be able 10 see
that his proposed bill as applied to this
: county would be a plain case Of taxa
/ ton without valuation. We desire that