Evening capital. [volume] (Annapolis, Md.) 1922-1981, 1922-11-02
The Three Commissioner Bill
To the Voters of Anne Arundel County:

10 the Voters OF Anne Arundel County:
There has been good deal of papers of
the last few weeks in regard the Referred Bill known
Chapter 52f OF the Acts OF 1899 which be passed by
the Voters OF this County, on Tuesday, November :.
As the Il one Member who voted against this bill at the
last session OF the Legislature wish make
my reasons for that vote and also my for hoping
that the law will defeat the approaching election
Most OF the writer's have made the claim that three
nissoners will give better service than seven contend
that the change will make for efficiency light past
and present conditions have difficulty in following their
conclusions Seven Commissioners receive total salaries
Of $1,000. Three Commissioners will $4,000
Anne Arundel county has OF 425 Square Miles with
six hundred miles OF roads after Will any
OF the writers take the office with the understanding that
he to look alter the road work OF the county pay his
travelling expenses?
Ny principal objection law is that as there is no
provision commissioner districts and as the larger pro-
portion of the population Annapolis and its Immediate
vicinity the chances that if all three will
from that neghborhood Annapolis is less interested in Com
mssoners than any district, and has less need OF
one as her streets cared for by the local
OF Annapolis.
At the very last election Annapolis elected the Treasurer
the Sheriff and three OF five members of the House Are
you trying to concentrate all power in Annapolis do not
believe Annapolis unfair enough power Why
should curb Baltimore City in the matter OF State
Government and yet cenralze power in Annapolis in our
County Government
1t has always seemed that the most important
office in county that OF County Commissioner. The
Commissioners spends the taxpayers money and has charge
OF the roads; the two subjects important all OF
who have no selfish plans.
oners would in all probability, from Annapolis, its
immediate vicinity How many commissioners thus elected
roads How much time would they be expected give for
that $1,000 salary? local knows his section
what his people want e naturally travels those roads He
sees ~hee 'ne money goes inc people can get at him. Un-
der the law certainly four of the districts will be
Commissioners. probably five and possibly six Is that fair
representations that representation at all? Is
OF economy twelve hundred dollars the expense
better for thousand dollars than we get now? Ny
opinion IS that the taxpayers OF given rural district would
rather have home than any one or even two
OF the other Offices to be filled at election.
Some OF the writers contend that there will be greater eff
cheney with three commissioners Some OF are con-
nected with local banks The reassessment going
this county will in all probability bring the basis up thirty
five millions Think OF that There four banks in Anna
polls with combined resources of only about ONE-FIFTH OF
that amount with expense accounts that will look like thirty
cents as compared with the county expenses How they
run Has any of them board of three directors The
oldest oneone that has been for years
has board OF SEVEN Increased from FIVE within the last
few years The oldest has board of TEN The next in
years has board of SEVENTEEN The youngest has
Nine They are all prosperous and economically
and eeisnty Why should the county need only three
industries of the county combined? The whole proposition
looks as If it would be most acceptable the politicians.
Anne Arundel has already tried
pan and very glad rid OF it. Most of men
the county remember when had that law and how glad
the people get rid OF it. Why go back quarter OF
century simply because politicians it. This county
less under boss control than has years Why
The who could be expected to handle the countys
affairs with ability and that the work properly done are
for patry of thousand dollars annually and nav
their own expenses The public has right expect
" ecINe lor tnat sum, and
sar neglect his business will be hard indeed to pe
the right men for such positions
Great stress is laid the fact that the Commissioners are
expected to meet in Annapolis twice week There is nothing
in that Meeting in Annapolis the important thing 1t
very necessary that Commissioners acquant themselves
with the roads and knoo what is being dope, and that
money IS properly spent 1t easy enough 10 pass bills
when the work is known to be properly DONE that nor
nation will not be gotten by meetings in Annapolis.
Another Referred Law Chapter 40 Acts OF 1922 This
law Repeats the primary election law which requires dis
ict vote on County Commissioners. Before that law was
passed several districts represented commissioners
who had never carried their districts either primary or gen
era elections They had gotten their nominations bv making
combinations with politicians the thickv settled com
munities. I'm
Hartford county which of the progressive counties
IN the State had treecommissioner which proved very
unsatisfactory and ago the law changed to
i've There six districts in Hartford Havre de Grace
shares commissioner along with the Second dsc lea;n
each other district commissioner of its own -
Having published a uewspaDer in Anne A-,,do, e.