The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1913-01-11
THE FIGHT DRAWS ON


Maryland Legislature next fall the most
importar. light confronting the people of
this State is one that concerns our pol
icy of public appropriations and expen-
ditures In other words, shall other and
further appropriations for what are call
ed Cor mis- called public improvements
continue to be the policy of the State,
with consequent increase in an al
ready burdensome tax rate, or shall we
declare that this thing has gone far
enough (much too far, indeed and some
consideration must henceforth be given
to the burdened taxi payer. Our people
are not of one mind on this matter. For
example, Comptroller Harrington has
just made his annual report to the Gov
ernor, as to the States financial condi-
ton; in which report he does not hesi-
tate to say that in the face of the fact
that the States tax rate has doubled
within a few years, not only should econ
omy be the watchword in the near flu
ture, but further burdens in the way of
special appropriations should be avoided.
This declaration on the Comptroller's
part is met by Chairman Weller, of the
State Roads Commission, with a prompt
rejoinder that there must De additional
bond issues for State roads in the near
future If the Improvement of State Roads
is to continue and if State roads already
built are to be maintained and extend
ed"
THERE is a clash of opinion at once.
One man says 1--WE must call a halt, the
State is going too heavily in debt, the
tax rate is mounting too high" The
other man says, debt or no debt, high
tax rate or not, these roads are going to
be built, and in order to build them the
State has got to keep on appropriating
money therefor"
1t is hardly necessary for us to say
that we agree with Comptroller Harring-
ton. His utterance is exacrry what we
have been saying in these columns for
months But EVERYBODY does not
agree with him. There are always peo-
pie aplenty in the world, in this State
likewise, who are for the policy or spend
ing; it looks like progress; it is in the
line of public Improvements. They
either do not consider, or do not sym
pathize with, the burdeneG TAX payer.
They have little or no regard for the
encouragement of thrift, the dishearten-
ment of enterprise which always comes
to a people who are overtaXed. And
these people will be aggressive, and pose
as the upto- date progressive element
of the State Those of us who oppose
their spendthrift policy will be charged
with "a prudence that amounts to in
efficiency" That is the charge, in the
words quoted, recently made by the Bal
timore American-that admirable advo-
cate of all public Improvements $50 long
as said imp ovements improve the
Americans own bank accounD. We shall
have to be prepared to stand such char
ges. And OUGHT to stand them gladly,
when we are convinced that our fight is
to rave the State from a bankrupt policy
and the taxpayers from an intolerable
burden.
Let us say again the fight is on
Chairman Weller's declaration, quoted
above, is an unmistakable notice that
despite the States financial condition
more loans land an increased taxrate)
for the State road work (to say nothing
of other possible appropriations will be
asked from the next Legislature. Are
YOU going to vote for men for that Leg
is,ature, who will not PLEDGE THEM
SELVES TO OPPOSE, WITH VOICE AMI
VOTE. ANY SUCH POLICY
This subject cannot be agdated to-
soon. The gauntlet has been throw
down in our faces Are we not ready tc
pick it up and offer battle? AND WITH.
OUT REFERENCE TO PARTY. Person
ally, we here and now declare that W.
will vote for no man, Republican, Demo
,rat, Progressive, Prohibition, or wha
lot, for the Maryland Legislature this
Fall who will not give us definite an
satisfactory statement of his position oil
this matter. The U. S. Senatorsnip ques
ton, the Anti-Saloon League question
nor any other question is going to con
fuse us or compromise US. We belev
that in our local affairs THIS is tn
most important question that confront
us. We believe the happiness and pros
perity OF our people is vitality involve
therein. And so believing, we call upol
every man who believes likewise TT
LINE UP AGAINST THE ELECTION OF
ANOTHER MARYLAND LEGISLATURE
WHICH IS NOT AVOWEDLY AGAINS'
uUurprIJEp pJIpnENS IN TIE MEAL