The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1916-02-04
TAxAHON AND RtpRtSfNTATiON

TAXAH0N AND RtPRtSE non.
1t has been just seven hundred years
since the English people from whom We
acquired our principles Of civil liberty
fixed for all time the proposition that
taxation and representation 80 hand in
hand
During these seven centuries the ten
dency to resist excessive taxation has
been 20 strong that the converse propG-
sition the right Of the people to de
mHnd that n tax be imposed upon them
has seldom doomed up. yet it il none the
less Just and true.
Such an issue has just been raised
between the substantial taxpayers Of
Hartford and their representatives. We
hre satisfied beyond doubt that these
gentlemen will all admit that during
the past three months the wisdom Of
making thousand dollar levy for tn,
universal benefit Of our people has beer
fully and intelligently discussed by Il
large proportion of our people; that the
outspOken sentiment in these open dir.
cussions has been strongly in its favor
that an invitation to all citizens to b,
present before the County Board on lasl
Monday and openly express their view,
was extended last week through thu
three papers published in Bel Air. 3,
that decisive public opinion might b,
voiced; that n remarkably hearty IL,
Spouse from widely divergent section.
was the result; that the intelligence OF
these visitors was unusually high. then
reasons for advocating the appropriA
ton were practically unanswered an,
unanswerable, and that this modest
tax would have fallen almost entirel,
upon them and for those for whom the,
spoke; and that practically no opposi
ton to the proposition was presented
yet in the face of these facts majority
of the Board refused 10 make the levy
We respectfully submit that unde
these circumstances the burdenof proc
IL on the opposing Commissioners /.
show that they are really representa-,
and not incorporating their constitu
ents. and that this vast body of tax
payers is not capable Of deciding wha
is best for themselves
The principle involved in n purel,
financial proposition OF this kind il en-
tirely different from one which involve
the personal rights and personal libert
Of every citizen. In this latter case tn
personal wish of each and every vote
might well be calculated in advance
but when question purely financial
involved, those required to bear III
burden should carry the preponderanc
of influence. Nor need the political ei
feet of the demagogue have been feared
the same loafer who has one vote wit
which to threaten an oiliceholder is nc
going to use 1t against him because h
made it possible for larger crops to b
raised with resulting higher wages an
lower cost Of his ordinary food.stuifs.
We are more than glad to learr
as has been lntlmated. that a desire l
keep down the tax rate influenced tn
action of those who cast negativ
vote. from which we may infer ths
close economy. with resulting redu,
ton of the tax rate. is to be the watch
word of the Board For such an en-
we hereby tender our heartiest supper,
several times the recent appropriations
volyed may be at once saved without /
any way impairing the service. Re
duction of the tax rate is not the higl
est deslderatum to be sought (probsbl
none would advocate u forty cent dro
in the tax rate hv making no levy fo
public schools next year,. what is trul
desired is TO levy where true wisdur
dictates, and to get the fullest possibl
value for all public monies spent.
We congratulate the people of tn
county that the School Commissioner
Of Hartford have recently taken II dia
metrically opposite view Of the possible
benefits of this Smith Lever law. an,
have selected female county agent l.
give aid to the women in their home
similar to that intended to be furnishe,
the men on their farms.