The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1932-11-24
COMMISSIONERSASK STATE
FUNDS FOR Use in COUNTY
Continued from Page Onel

crease in the salaries of all public Off
Gals receiving salaries of over one
thousand dollars ($1,000) per year,
and specifically recommend reduc-
ton of from 10 per cent to rs per
cent during the present emergency of
| all salaried officials of the county and
State.
5. PENSIONS. We are opposed to
the granting of any and all pensions
to elected officials.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
That copy of this resolution be sent
to the Governors Tax Survey Com
mission, to each board of county COM
missioners throughout the State and
to each Senator and member of the
House of Delegates.
Greeted By Richie
81 do not know of any greater
problem that the people have at this
time than government and the cost
of government" said Governor
Richie in welcoming the assemblage.
"People, as never before, are feeling
the heavy hand of taxation, there
fore, if you can reduce the expenses
of your various counties you'll be
doing big work. But it's a hard job.
I'll be tremendously interested in the
result of your conference and feel
confident it will result in satisfactory
achievements"
The meeting was called to order by
Elmer E. Parkinson, president of the
Board of County Commissioners of
Anne Arundel county, at whose invi-
tation the conferences was held. Be-
fore turning the gavel over to Sena-
tor Melvin, Mr.. Parkinson sounded
the keynote of the meeting in about
dozen words. eve are here because
taxes must be reduced and this is
the best way to find out how to go
about it," he said
"When the Boards of Commission
ers throughout the State recognize
the necessity Of tax reduction it is a
most helpful sign" Senator Melvin
said. "This meeting is for the purpose
of discovering ways and means to
provide relief for the taxpayers who
are now faced with the necessity of
emergency action. We are here to
tackle that emergency in spirit of
real determination and relief must be
provided"
George Fox, County Superintendent
of Education of Anne Arundel county,
was called upon to outline the costs
of schools and the effect minimum
school tax of 30 cents or 40 cents
would have if the proposed reduction
was put into effect. He explained
that the school tax, now fixed by law
at minimum of 81 cents on each
500, must be levied by each county
before it can share in the equaliza-
ton fund.
Mr.. Fox said, if fixed at 40 cents
the equalization fund would cost the
State approximately $2,624,00 more
than under the present plan. Of this
sum, S1,144,0O0 would be apportioned
to Baltimore City, and $1,480,000 to
the counties. If fixed at minimum
rate of 80 cents, he said it would cost
the State $5,726,000 more, of which
Baltimore City would get $2,203,000,
and the counties $3,523,00O. Under
the existing plan, the State now
raises about 100000 for the school
fund.
When Mr.. Fox offered to answer
any question that might be asked
concerning the school question he
reckoned without his hosts who soon
made it necessary for him to leave
the meeting and go to his Office for
data on which to base his replies.
Sensing the political dynamite with
which the school question is charged,
it looked for a short while as if the
matter would be handled sort of gin
gerly, but when Herbert H. Balch,
who presented the school resolution
got warmed to his subject, the rep
resentatives of most of the other
counties emulated his lead and de-
nounced what was repeatedly de-
clared to be frankenstein which is
rejecting the most dreadful retri-
button upon its creator.
cts reached the point where the
County Commissioners, the govern
ing bodies of the counties, have been
reduced to mere automatons," said
Mr.. Balch. you've got to raise so
much money for schools by direction
of the law. l will not discuss the
question of teaching colored girls the
use of electrical appliances and such
things while there are people in Tai
bot county who are renting their
farms on leases which provide that
if you'll pay the taxes and insurance
take the farm.
at has reached the point where
many taxpayers are doing without
necessities. l, personally, know nine
or ten boys who graduated from high
school with gold medals, yet they