The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1914-03-28
WE HAVE TO DISAGREE.

THE BILL, carrying requirement
that this county should issue bonds to
the amount of 100000 for a new
Court House, was not introduced in
the House of Delegates last week, as
we had anticipated The members of
the House of Delegates felt that the
Bill should have a referendum clause,
permitting the submission OF the mat
ter to the people for vote. Senator
Williams had already announced that
he would not support the Bill in the
Senate without such a provision for
submitting the matter to the people.
The gentlemen in charge of the Bill
object to this course of procedure.
But why? They say it will delay
the WORK too long. That objection is
more spe yiouS than convincing. The
nest election is only few months off.
Has the Old Ccurt House. that mas
stood the storms Of years and the
strain OF thousands, become dangerous
so suddenly that a few months delay
is not toierable? We have our own
doubts as to whether it has become
dangerous At all, but are perfectly will
ling to have these doubts resolved,
when the good and sufficient evidence
is forth coming. But granting thar
the old building is becoming danger
Gus. do these gentlemen want US to be-
lievc that the danger has become so
suddenly and seriously aggravated as
that it would be highly unWise to defer
action a few months while the people
are permitted to deliberate upon the
matter?
Precisely the same line OF reasoning,
we think. is permissible in reioinder,
when the cry is raised that the old
Court House is not fire proof and is
thereby jeopardiZing muititudes of
property titles, etc, etc. To be sure.
We all live-but overshadowed by the
daily uncertainty of life, simply using
reasonable and proper precautions
against untimely death.
We all own prOperty-more or less
but subject to the risks of food. or
fire, or hurricane, or what not, simply
using what precautions are wise and
proper against unnecessary risk.
We should do so in this case Of the
Court House. But one cannot forbear
smiling a little indulgently at the
frantic fear of fire that so possesses
some of our good neighbors today as
that a few months seem to them as a
thousand years, whereas they have
slept soundly and we'll through long.
useful lifetime without any troubled
dreams Of wild alarm from flaming
archives. That is no reason at all
why proper and wise precaution
should not be taken. But it is a rea-
son why we should not be hurried be-
yond deliberatiOn by frantic cries of
sudden alarm. 1t is reason we think
why a delay of few months for dis
cussion with the people is no improper
request.
3. But that brings US to the real
milk in the cocoanut, to the real meat
of the matter. When the opponents
of the reference of the question to a
vote of the people are forced to a
showdown of their real reason for
such opposition, they frankly con-
fess that they believe the people
would defeat at the polls the 100000
bond issue.
We do not think this position is well
taken. For ourselves, we frankly
confess that we would not vote to-day
for such bond issue, knowing how
burdened this county is financially and
how many things that ought to be
done are left undone because we are
so burdened. But if, upon proper eX-
animation and consideration, we shall
find that a new Court House were ne
cessary, we would vote for it. We would
deeply regret the necessity, regret the
expenditure of money entailed by such
necessity, but if necessity demanded
it, we would have to do it and would
do it, just as we find ourselves doing
many things in life that we do not
like to do, simply because we find it
necessary to do them. We give our
fellow citizens of this county credit
for the same honest Judgment which
we demand for ourselves Much as
they might and would regret spending
money for this purpose at this time.
we believe they would do it if shown
the necessity therefor. But are they
not entitled to be shown? 1t is their
money that will build the Court
House? The Editor of the WING,
who is likewise the State Senator
from this county, certainly does not
feel willing to impose upon them this
expenditure of money, which is not
his, but theirs, without first engaging