The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1912-07-27
TIME TO TAKE ACTION

YOU may have noticed the chunks Of
silence that have characterized the col
umns Of the local Democratic papers,
since the new tax rate or SI.25 was an
nounced. Some years ago a Republican
Board of County Commissioners was
forced to put the tax rate at 81 20 TO
meet an old indebtedness. These Demo-
cratic papers have never ceased TO harp
on that sl.20 tax rate, as a desperate ex-
ample Of Republican incompereicy. Shall
We now return in kind? Shall We de.
clare that tax rate OF 1926 is ample
proof that a Democratic administration
Is utterly unfit for the conduct of county
affairs? That would, of course, be the
purely political way of handling the mat
ter. But, in our judgment, the matter of
county administration and the consequent
tax rate is of TOO much importance for a
mere effort 10 manufacture political
therefrom, one way or the other. Men
are not constructed differently because
of their different political affiliations.
Being a Republican or Democrat does
not fit, or unfit, a man for the proper
handling Of administrative affairs. We
are all the same human kind, in what
ever political camp our tent may be
pitched. A tax. therefore, does not be-
come exorDitant because county officials
are Democratic or Republican. Back of
all these party names is something far
more serious. Back of the present fact
of an oppressively high tax rate lies the
fact that something is radically wrong
with the conduct Of our county affairs
We are building no public buildings
erecting no large and expensive bridges,
doing no unusual work of repair or i'm
provement 10 our dirt roads And yet
We have levy Of $4,000 to SIS 900 more
than was the levy of few years ago;
and We have tax rate of 1875, when
but a few years back a tax rate OF 50 TO
80 cents was considered sufficient. These
facts AFFORD of themselves sufficient evil
ISiSt mat SO4IIflIIiS lHuSl DE N4DDs III
the way things are done in the matter Of
county government. AND 1T Is FOR
THE TAXPAYERS OF THE COUNTY
TO FIND OUT WHERE The WRONG IS.
The mere turning Of the whole subject
over to the realm of political contgo-
versy is not satisfactory. Our own idea
l.
convention, without respect to party, for
the purpose OF considering the subject
of county government and TO take steps
toward proper information and relief
We confess that we are not hall as
much aroused over presidential candi-
dacies as We are over Cecil countys local
government; because here is whore We
live most-and suffer or prosper most
We cannot, for the life OF US, understand
the make up of man, who will get all
wrought up over the discussion OF ma
tional politics; but will listen with a
bored and weary air 10 any recital OF
our intimate, local conditions. When
you go TO pay your tax bill this year you
will find it amounting County and State
to about $3.50 on the hunIred dollars.
That is such tax rate as no agricultu-
raj community can endure and prosper,
When you pay that tax bill, you will
groan-and swear some OF you, perhaps.
But neither grooming nor swearing will
help any. We believe the people of this
county need TO come together for thor
ough discussion of this grave situation
in the hope of effecting something prac
tical and worth while for future relief.