Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1939-03-02
Farmers Firm On
Votes For County
Referendum Law
Sentiment OF Rural Tax
payers Against Repeal Of
Measure

Firm opposition to the repeal of the
law requiring a referendum on any
bond issues against the credit of
Montgomery County was stated Mon
gay at a meeting held under the aus
pices of the Montgomery County
Farm Bureau.
James D. King, president of the
Bureau, issued the following state
ment: ftf
"The sentiment of the taxpayers who
attended the meeting Monday would
convince any fair-minded person that
they do not want any more bond is
sues. am sure that those who at
tended the meeting would agree that
it was a fair cross section of the
county sentiment and that there was
present a representative group of
leading farmers of the various sec
tons of the county. There was not
dissenting vote on the referendum. 1t
seems quite significant that the
Farmers Conventions of Sandy Spring
at its annual meeting last Saturday,
passed a similar resolution without
dissenting vote. Here we have two
distinct farm organization meetings,
both countrywide in scope, unanimous
" opposed to the bond issue referen-
dunn.
81 do not think that the taxpayers
would oppose an amendment to the
present referendum law to refund the
bonds coming due in 1889, but with a
reassessment assured from the most
conservative estimates, we will add to
our taxable basis S3O,OO0,O0O. This,
at the present tax rate, would insure
S450,000 income in taxes, to take care
of the bonds coming due in 1910. This
being an annual income, it will take
care of all bonds coming due in sub
sequent years.
As the bonds are retired, there will
be considerable interest money saved,
which, with any increase in taxes for
new property placed on the tax books
each year, could be used for necessary
county Improvements. The faster the
bonds are retired, the more money we
will have for improvements. The time
is ripe for a sound, efficient economi-
cal fiscal policy for Montgomery
County. Let's have it."
The Farm Bureau program includes
opposition to any postponement of a
general reassessment; urges immedi-
ate repeal of the Maryland '.fair trade
act. opposes increase in the county
police force unless the added cost is
saddled on the suburban areas; op-
poses county purchasing agent; APP
proved in principal Governor
OConor's income tax program; favors
legislation regulating bill boards;
urges that all county relief agencies
be consolidated under the county well
fare beard; urges county legislators
to keep in mind that the Bookings
Institution survey of county functions
IS to be made and suggests only nee
essary changes in the county govern
mental structure until the survey is
complete. and urges amendment of the
motor vehicle law to permit farmers
to carry loads of their own produce
to market larger than the law now
permits for commercial vehicles. Ito
haul loose hay and fodder to local
markets). The program was outlined
by G. Rust Candy, vice president of
the Farm Bun Eau.
State Senator Robert B. Peter told
the group that the $500 fee for auto
mobile registration has been aband-
Oned and that $1.O0 fee for annual
examinations of vehicles now is fav-
ored as substitute.
Charles c. Jones, chairman, and
Miss Ruth Shoemaker of the county
delegation to the House of Delegates,
attended the meeting.
W. Paul Walker of the University
OF Maryland, who made a survey of
the county several years ago., said
that a general reassessment is in
order and that farmers have lost more
than 100000 in taxes that they
should not have paid because the re-
assessment has been postponed SO
long.
James D. King. president of the