Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-03-19
Mr.. E. H. TAYLOR
TO THE PEOPLE
He Recommends a New System
Of Collecting State and
County Taxes,
To the Taxpayers

~ the taxpayers
According to my judgment a bill
should be introduced in this Legisla-
ture changing our system of collecting
taxes. We are about the last county
in the State to retain the old system of
tax collectors, and we are considered by
these counties as using out-of-date
methods. They have all adopted the
method Of collecting the whole taxes Of
the county in one Office, that is the COM
missioners' office. under what is known
as the Treasurer's System. In this way
the Board of County Commissioners can
at all times of the year readily acquaint
itself with just how much has been col
lected on the books. They can more
easily keep general supervision over
all the books and collections. If same
are not being collected as promptly as
should be done. then the Commissioners
themselves will be able to give their
attention to the matter.
In the second place. it is the expert
ence of other counties, and we have
talked with great many of the officials,
that the taxes are mneh more promptly
collected under the Treasurer's system
than under the Tax Collectors system.
Each collector is bound to have a num-
Der of friends, who impose upon him
and make him wait sometimes years
before settling their taxes. They re-
alize under the other system that the
Treasurer is only in their town at stated
intervals, and that the taxes must be
paid. 1t is also the experience of other
counties that the insolvency list and err
ronous tax is smaller under the Treasur-
er's system. The Treasurer and assist
ant have nothing else to do the entire
year but collect the taxes and keep the
books and property transfers straight.
They realize the necessity of keeping up
transfers, and in the obtaining new prop
erty to be placed on the books, and are
continually at it. Under the present
system the tax collectors have nothing
whatever to do with these matters. 1t
is done entirely by the County Commits
sioners themselves and the clerk to the
| Board.
1t is almost impossible to bond the
tax collectors, and very often in our
county the bonds have not been placed
until some time after the books under
the law should have been in the hands
of the collectors in order to allow tax
payers the proper discont on their taxes
paid in August. Wicomico County had
to adopt the Treasurer collection
system, because there wasn't bonding
company in the State who would accept
their tax collectors. 1t is also our judg-
ment that the Treasurer should be APP
pointed by the Board of County
Commissioners instead of elected, and
be responsible to the Board alone. If
elected he is under no obligation to the
Board of County Commissioners. but
is under obligation to certain political
friends in different parts of the county.
who will not hesitate, on account of the
assistance rendered him in his election,
TO demand certain favors and considera-
tions, which might to certain extent
impair the effectiveness of the work.
| He should be under no restraint from
any source in any prompt collection and
disbursement of the taxes of the county.
Nothing tends more toward economy
and good business interest than prompt
ness in both collecting and paying the
debts of Il concern or county which you
are representing.
We now come to the most important
part for the interest," of the tax payers.
II will cost much less than under the
present system. | am taking as a
basis for this argument last years
books or levy. Naturally, under the
present arrangement this cost would
increase from year to year with the
growth of the county. and increase
in value of property and expense. The
different collectors last year had on their
books for collection for county purposes
| $TI, l5i.37. per cent. commission on
this amount will be So, 707. 60. There
was about Sl2, 10000 collections for
state purposes. on which it cost the
county 5 per cent. commission amount
ing to $500 90. The expense of collect
| ing the mortgage tax amounts TO about
5000. 90. A total Of $5747. 62 on the last
years books, or levy. A bill has been
drawn up almost identical with the law
now in use in Wicomico County and
other counties, which places the Treas
urer's salary at $500 90, a Clerk at
100000. and makes provision for a
stenographer at certain times of the
year. or during the whole year in the
discretion of the County Commissioners
at $4,000. Taking this maximum cost
for both running the Commissioners
office and the collecting of taxes. il
would only be S32O000. A saving over
last year of $2547.62. Some people
might ask why not make the Treasurer
salay $1,000 90, as is the case in several
of the other counties, and let him en-
ploy the necessary assistance. In that
case the inclination would be to secure
help as cheaply as possible. In our
judgment the place needs and demands
a good and efficient man for clerk. and
his salary should be designated and suf-
fcient 10 secure good man. ! am
simply setting forth my views and the
views Of great many of the large tax
payers with whom have tllked on the
subject, and am submitting it for a care
full consideration Of the people. If it
meets with the approval of majority
of our taxpayers, then it ought be sub
mitted TO our representatives in the
Legislature and passed. IL it does not
meet with the approval of a large major
ity Of the taxpayers, it ought TO be drop
ped. OF course the bill, IL presented.
L ab not swN tut, afFa.t s. e..r..