The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-04-05
GOOD

GOOD.
Nothing will be more gratifying to
the good citizens of Hartford IRE
spective of party than to learn that
our County Commissioners have in
augurated new policy in the man
agement of our county poor farm,
which demonstrates their desire to
respond to intelligent public opinion
and carry out the wishes of their
constituents.
While freely acknowledging the i'm
proved and generally attractive con-
dition of the farm, it has for some
time been a subject of common COM
ment that the property is costing
too much money, and that the sys-
tenn of farming in vogue is not in &C
cord with the purposes to which
poor farm should be put.
After careful consideration, week
ago the Board passed certain regula-
tions for its future management
which have in view, first, greater
economy; and, secondly, closer per-
sonal supervision on the part of the
Board.
As the first important step in this
movement the Board a few days
later went in body to the farm and
made themselves familiar with exist
ing conditions. They found there
certain stock which it is desirable to
dispose of at an early day, and prov
ender and grain which just now are
commanding more than city prices
to satisfy local demands. The
Board has therefore decided to put
these on the market; and, to leave no
question as to the sales, they will be
made by public auction, as indicated
elsewhere in our advertising col
umns.
We are credibly advised that the
labor and fertilizer expenses in the
future will be heavily curtailed byre-
ducing the acreage of cereals grown,
that large portion of the farm will
be devoted to hay and pasture, and
that cattle will be substituted for
COWS and Improbable young stock.
The land will be kept free from
filth, however, so that thrifty condi-
tions will be in no way impaired by
substantially reducing running ex-
penses.
We congratulate the Commission
ers and the public upon the wisdom
of this change. tits extremely agree
able to know that the Board is not
only responsive to public sentiment,
but that it is ready to change meth
DDS where old ones have proven I'M
wise. Such course is in accord with
the accepted views of the proper rela-
ton to exist between those govern
ing and those governed.
And now we cannot forbear from
saying that there is also heavy re-
sponsibility resting on that large
body of good citizens throughout
the county who go so far to create
healthy public sentiment on subjects
of administrative government. To
such we suggest that no office in the
county government is nearly so hard
to efficiently administer as that of
County Commissioner: the moneyed
demands on them far exceed their re-
sources; their work is done by large
number of servants about many of
whom they know very little except
by representation; the character of
work done in many cases is not and
cannot be personally known to them
dividual members; they are compelled
to make many disbursements under
provisions of law over which they |
have no control, and for which they |
should not therefore be held respon-
sible. We therefore suggest that by
getting in touch with the Board they |
be aided by information, by sugges-
ton and by cooperation, and when
they fail to respond to these that they
then be held responsible for their own
subsequent plumbers.
Let the policy of our best people be
constructive, not destructive, and we
predict they will enjoy just as good
administration as they can reason
ably ask for.
BALTIMORE CITY POLITICS.
The mayora1tv contest came to a