Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1923-09-29
NTCHIE'S ACHIEVEMENTS
As BUSINESS GOVERNOR
Reductions In Tax Rate Made Possible
Dy His Management OF States
Affairs.

Affairs.
Since the Democratic convention
adopted its platform, the promises Tor
the future, no less than the achieve
ments of the Richie administration
In the past four years have been the
subject of comment among NO small
number of the voters throughout the
State.
Undoubtedly taxation is the problem
that creates the most concern. That
concern 10 emphasized by the fact
that the growing cost Of government
finds itself confronted by a taxpayer
In the agricultural sections OF Mary
land, who must dispose Of his goods
ct discouraging prices under the most
favorable conditions and IN some In
stances, at prices that show an actual
monetary loss. Hence the Democratic
pledge to reduce the State tax rate
sounds a welcome note to ears all too
accustomed to tunes of quite another
sort.
Better Government; Less Cost.
Even at present the rate in Mary.
land is low compared with the tax
imposed In many States and the de-
crease, while acceptable In itself. Is
doubly so as an example to Republi'
can administration in Washington,
and to the various administrators OF
local affairs of the possibilities In
volved In business-like management
Of affairs. In connection with the re-
duction in the rate, 1t should be re-
called, that during the Richie regime
legislation has been enacted that re-
duces the cost of Elections alone $780,
900 q year, and the State Institutions
are being placed on basis whereby
the cost to the taxpayers, will be
greatly reduced, whiles the number OF
those cared for has increased, and the
kind of service rendered has been
Improved. All this in the face of the
fact, the ratings given the schools Is
such that no friend need feel ashamed
Of them, which was certainly not the
case when Maryland ranked 34th In
the list Of States. And the improve
ment cost money-big money.
Pledges Kept Without bubbles.
It may be asserted that the State
situation as far as the promised re-
duction in the tax rate is concerned Is
regarded as q fact, whereas 1t rests
simply on promise. The Democrats
can face that possibility with uncon.
Germ from the fact that they enter the
campaign with a candidate who has
kept his party's faith to the letter.
no eufbbles, no asologies-the record
as 4 stan4s b lie guarantee Of the
future. The Democrats are fortunate
in having as their candidate a man
who knows his job. who has proven
that he knows his Job, and keeps the
party promise as he would his indi-
vidua1 word.
Linked with the Governor In the
platform pledges is every Democratic
legislative candidate from Garrett to
Worcester, as well as all the State
candidates nominated with the Gov
ernor In the Democratic Convention,
upon whom the Governor will rely for
advice and assistance. The people
themselves nullify the promises by fail
ing to elect to Office men pledged to
fulfill them.
Price AZ Well AZ Principle.
In his speech before the Democratic
Convention, the Governor discussed
the States rights issue, declaring the
Federal Government had gone far
enough in its enoroachments upon the
State. This question Of States rights,
has, until recently, been interesting
only to students of government, but
the number showing concern Is con-
stantly increasing as the lines that
marked the fields Of activity as be-
tween Federal and State governments
are being constantly broken away.
Where will Washington stop? Is now
the big question in the minds Of those
who see in a strict Interpretation Of
the Federal Constitution, the best
guarantee Of the liberties Of the peo-
pie.
Involved ID this Federal encroach.
ment is also the question of cost. Not
20 many years ago the tax problem
was scarcely thought Of in connection
with the Federal Government. SO light
ly d!d the burden bear on the public's
shoulders. That condition is now past.
The people are learning that the Fed.
eral Government has bill to present
ell out Of proportion to the work done.
and they resent the bin none the less
because the Government encroaches
upon the States in many Of it's various
undertakings.