The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-01-05
THURSDAY, JANUARY Is, 1889
1T LOOKS LIKE
POLITICAL TRICKERY-

Saturdays public meeting, called to
discuss proposed legislation, resolved
itself into nothing but a political
court with two prosecutors and their
"silent assistants, but without a jury,
defense attorney or judge.
The prosecutors were bent upon put
ting the three new County Commits
sioners con the spot" for their pur-
chase of road machinery, and they
cloaked their intent behind the cur
tains of Increased taxes Exceeding
their prerogative," and putting the
"cart before the horse"
Because of this, number of people
appeared to side with the prosecution,
apparently unaware of what seemed
perfectly clear to some to be Under
meath it all. ''.'
There is no question about the
interest of people in taxes. Nobody
wants taxes raised, and it is safe to
assume that the Commissioners real
ize this. They know that to- place an
increased burden on the people at this
time would not only be political sui
eide for themselves, but would cause
many citizens to become delinquent in
their payments.
However, they realize that the
people need roads and evolved a plan
to give them to the people, which, ac-
cording to their explanation, would be
workable, would build more than twice
as many roads in the county annually,
and the machinery in the course of
two or three years, pay ritself. f..
Then came the political scheme. If
the three Republican county commits
sioners could be discredited with the
taxpayers, perhaps removed from
office, there would be three vacancies
to be filled by Democratic Governor,
Herbert R. O'Conor. L. ii:i:: <;H,t i. 3.
The purchase of road machinery
offered a good opening.
So there appeared Saturday at a
legislative meeting, a group of poll
teal enemies of the commissioners
land not all of them Democrats,
either) to ''put them on the spot" and
they did. William Miller and Will
liam R. Browning shot the bullets as
others around them did the moulding.
They didn't make it look any too
favorable for the commissioners,
which is just what they wanted to do.
The Republican doesn't want any
tax increase any more than any citi-
zen, but it believes the people should
be we'll informed on what is taking
place. 1t believes that perhaps the
Commissioners may have been toe
hasty in their decision to purchase
$4,000 worth of machinery. But be-
fore any citizen or taxpayer condemns
them for this act, they should Study
the road situation, the plant, worked
out by them, and get the inform tior
in direct way-not from some politi-
cal enemy whose only PURPOSE is to
discredit them. tt5+f, i.@.'
The Republican also believes that
transactions at the office of the
County Commissioners should be open
to the public. The Republican wants
the taxpayers of the county to be en-
lightened on all matters affecting their
interests. r.ueu an 4',,,,, d.
The Commissioners have stated that
it is not their intention TO increase
taxes. They were elected by a; "a jority
of the voters of this. county to run
their business for four years. and EVIL
IDENTIFY the people had faith in them
then. ~ .Ji
There should still be that faith
until one finds out that they have be
trayed that confidence. j. f. :'i, ti&s J
But be very sure that your! informa.
tion comes from reliable and ihtelli.
gent source.