Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-02-24

WHERE In llS issue. carrying, DIS IL Goes, "a
bonded debt Of $l50,000, ii merits the very
serious consideration Of our taxpayers.
The FIRST consideration, therefore, is to de-
termine whether or not the taxpayers are will
ing, at this time when financial conditions in
the state and county necessltate the greatest
economy, to assume SO great an obligation. he
view expressed, in no uncertain terms, by the
taxpay ers assembled for the purpose Of discuss
ing the question, at Morganza on Saturday
last, was most emphatcally opposed to any
bonded debt at present. The $4,000 reve-
nue. from the liquor franchise tax. being no
longer available and the uncertainty Of our be-
ing able to meet an advance Of any considerable
amount in taxes, until we are in position to do
SO, without serious inconvenience, are among
J the reasons assigned by some Of our taxpayers
for opposing the measure.
from practically all quarters is the insstent
demand that should the bill be passed by the
Legislature a referendum be attached, enabling
the taxpayers to accept or reject it. This de-
mand seems in keeping with the view Of great
majority, that on questions OF SO vital import
ance the people should have direct say. The
power OF life and death over all the roads,
where they shall be built or repaired, and what
amount each section shall have allotted, is con-
sldered by some, as leaving safeguard to all
! sections, in the hands Of too few, and who, un-
der the bill, could be chosen from one section,
or with view Of spending an unequal amount
in some special section, TO the exclusion Of other
sections
We don't pretend to assume that such a
condition will arse, but under the provisions Of
the bill, as is stands, such condition could pre-
vafr There are those who are opposed to the
multiplicity 81 Offices, who rather incline to the
suggestion, that as many departments as posi-
bic should be abolished and the work where
ever feasible, be attended to in one department
The expense Of the proposed commission could
be very large. The chairmans salary of
$500 90. plus the compensation to the secre-
tary, who must keep the roads commission office
open from 9 in the morning until 3 In the after
noon, could not be much less than 100000
the year and the stationary, fuel and light would
amount 10 not much less than $4,000 then
add to these charges whatever number Of days
the two associates would make at $3.50 per
day each, and the engineers salary Of $780,,
besides the compensation Of legal adviser,
authorized by the bill, the expenses Of the com
mission could be nearly $4,000 year. Some
y ia people consider the expenditure Of sol
Or an amount unadvlsabie
the bonds are issued as they can be
und the provisions Of the bill and remain on
intel st for period Of 20 years before redemp-
ton he total principal and interest will amount
to q 100000, and if this sum is spent in 81
yea as il can be under the provisions Of the
billy the proportion for one year Of the six would
represent fifty thousand dollar expenditure,
twenty-five thousand dollars Of which would
Be an interest charge and approximately four
thousand dollars commission expenses Twenty
nine thousand dollars Of costs to do twenty one
thousand dollars Of work is a rather big under
taking.
The power Of the commission to fill vacan-
cies, should any occur, insures the policy Of the