Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1935-08-01
Good Citizen
BY James j. Montague

I UDSON was over here the other
day and heard me grouslng about
- our local government.
Look at that street." was saying;
"torn up for the seventh time this
summer to put some new kind of pipes
or conduits down.
'Look at those kids playing tab
among the tomato plants I have just
set out. Look at the paint on the
house, put on there only last week.
It's all smudged up with SCOT from
the neighbours chimney. He burns soft
coal, although there's city ordinance
against it. What's the use Of paying
taxes that keep going up every year
when you don't get any kind of gov
eminent? l can't sleep at night be-
cause of fighting cats and barking
dogs. put the ash cans on the back
stoop, and the man who comes to take
them away apparently runs them
through a rolling mill when they're
emptied out, and brings them back
fiat as pancakes. The other day an
electric wire blew down on my front
yard fence and set it on fire. It's
wonder it didn't kill somebody"
1.-THE trouble with you," said Jud-
son, lis that you're not good citi-
gen."
what do you mean I'm not good
citizen? Don't I pay taxes, and ex-
orbitant taxes at that"
"Of course you pay taxes, but SO
does everybody. But you're too lazy
to insist on getting some return from
them. You just sit around and grouse
instead Of doing your duty by COM
planning. Why don't you step out and
set an example for other people by
keeping your officials on the job?
"Call them up and kick the next
time anything goes wrong. If they
don't pay any attention to you go down
and see them, and assert your rights
as a taxpayer. Those fellows have got
to be elected, and if they find out
you're in earnest and can't be turned
aside by promises, they'll behave them
selves. But If you lie down and let
them walk over you without letting
Oub q SQuCdl JOu IL Get q DuAu uCoA auu
you'll deserve it."
Having delivered this homily Jud-
son departed, and left me alone with
my thoughts. rose the next morning
determined man. JudsOn was right.
I would no longer be supine and help
less. T.. I would show those fellows
whom my vote had helped to elect that
they would have to deliver something
or hear from me. / would organize
my nelghbors, and the force Of our
combined opinion would make itself
felt.
The next morning heard a disturb
ance in my back yard, and looking
out Of the window observed two of the
neighbor's small boys engaged in
fight in the middle Of my asparagus
bed. was about to yell at them
: to get out Of there, when remembered
my new determination.
Those boys were trespassing on my
property. 1t was the duty Of the
police to protect me from them. /
telephoned headquarters, giving my
name and address.
well buddy" inquired a voice at
the other end Of the line, "whar can
we do for your"
There's a couple of boys fighting
in my asparagus bed"
Fighting, hey? The little devils
Well, boys will be boys"
Il want you to send somebody up
here and put them out"
why don't you put them out your
self? Are We skeered of thim"
"But it's your business to do It, not
mine. That's what you're paid for?"
whats the names of the boysT
Cassidy"
Cassidy, hey? What did you say
the address wasT
told him.
swell, you're out of luck. Them
boys is the kids Of the chiefs cousin
Owyn. And I'd advise you to go down
an watch the fight instld of takin' up
the time Of men that's got their duty
to perform"
hung up. Determining to see the
chief later on, went downstairs to
breakfast. had hardly opened the
paper when heard the sound of pick
axes and shovels In my front yard, and
going out discovered several men en-
gagged in cutting down my pet shade
tree.
l demanded what they we're doing
They replied, truthfully enough, that
they were cutting down a tree.
asked them why.
They shrugged their shoulders. That