Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-12-09
Does This Interest The
Taxpayers?

Much has been said and great
deal written about the County Com
missioners during the past six or eight
months, and while it was generally
accepted as fact that the old methods
and customs of the Commissioners
were obsolete and frequently abused
to the extent that it materily affected
the welfare of the taxpayers, we DO
not believe that the matter has been
given as serious thought as it should.
For instance it was alleged and
charged by H. Dorsey Etchison IN
one of his articles that Commissioner
]. Stewart Amman had drawn mileage
for over 10000 miles. This was
passed by with the thought that it
was an extravagant statement, but
our attention was drawn to it in a
way that we set to work to verify this
charge and we were utterly astonnd-
ed that the last Auditors report shows
that he has charged up and received
pay for travelling Ten thousand
three hundred and eighty miles
for the twelve months ending June
80, 1915.
We have not checked up the other
commissioners, but from a casual
glance we do not believe that any
other one travelled such amount OF
miles as did Mr.. AMMAN. At the
same time we believe that the mile
age of all the commissioners is much
greater than some other Boards OF
Commissioners have made under a
different Interpretation of the law.
We interviewed Mr.. Maurice j.
Albaugh who was commissioner for
two years and he informed us that
his Salary and Mileage for the two
wears was but few dollars in excess
of One thousand dollars, and he at
tended every regular and every extra
session of the board during that time.
When asked as to the interpreta-
ton put upon the law that allowed
them mileage, he said that the Com
missioners received mileage but one
gag; for instance, if the Commission
ers had session of three days, mile
age was charged one way for only one
trip even tho he returned home each
day and returned to Frederick the
next day. The law is now interpret
ed, SO we understand, that a Com
missioner is entitled to mileage each
way and for each trip that he makes;
that he is not even precluded from
making very long detour and charg-
ing for it just the same as if he pro-
ceeded the shortest possible route.
The law governing the charging of
mileage needs recasting, for it can be
given a very liberal Interpretation and
in the case of the Commissioners with
the law standing as it is they are the
interpreters of the law without re-
view by anyone. Here is the law:
Section IA of Article Is of the Code
of Public General Laws of Maryland,
says:
1.-THE County Commissioners of the
several Counties shall each receive three
dollars per day for each day they shall
be engaged in the discharge of their du-
ties and mileage at the rate of ten cents
for every mile over fve miles from their
place Of residence.
One of the Auditors stated that
they checked up the law as it was in
terpreted by County Commissioners
in other counties, and the replies be-
ing in effect that they interpreted the
law to mean mileage for the round
trip and for each round trip whenever
and wherever made in the county.
Suppose Mr.. Stevens, Of near Creag-
erstown, in attending session should
come to Thurmont. then go to Fox
vile, and from there to Wolfsville
and on to Frederick, spending the
remainder of the day in session and
then return home in the evening,
making an approximate Of 80 miles.
Would this come within the meaning
of the above law? We think it would.
If such construction should be placed
on it, and there is no other construc-
ton to place on it except that if his
trip was so miles, under the law he
would have to deduct 5 miles and
only charge for 45 miles.