The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1963-04-11

= NN'AaFr = l'--'
Each of MS was granted the privi-
lego Of giving a 5000 a year
scholarship to the University Of
Maryland to a deserving student
Of our own choosing. l awarded
mine to Thomas Speichcr of Acct
dent. He is a son of Mi and Mrs.
Clayton Spcicher and is now a
senior at Northern High School
He plans TO study law at the Uni-
versity. His mother informed me
that this is the fourth and last one
of their children they are seeing
through College. She says this has
meant many sacrifices on their
part. but the results have been
worth il.
There IS matter l wish to clarj-
fly with The iolk5 in the County.
Some weeks ago. there appeared
in Letters to the Editor a letter
from JUDGE Hamill and one from
Jack Turney, Oakland attorney.
Each insisted that our States At
torney in Garrett County should
have salary increase, also in-
crease in expense allowance, and
stated that the Garrett County Bar
Association had 50 informed us Of
this pressing need.
Before coming to Annapolis. we
held three countrywide meetings
one in Accident, one in Oakland,
and one in Grantsville. We listened
with courtesy and interest to every
person Who wished to make a re-
quest for needed legislation. No
member eff the Bar Association ap-
peared before us in any Of these
meetings, nor did they request any
private meetings with us to discuss
, this matter. Two letters, sent
rather late in the session were
the only communications I re-
ceived. Therefore. I feel an err
rcneous impression was created by
both of these letters.
A letter came to me from our
present States Attorney on the
matter. ard he stated that the Bar
Association had gone on record
favoring an increase in both salary
and expense allowance. and that
they had sent US a rating chart
showing how our salary scale ranks
with others in the state. Now, there
is an enormous amount Of material
sent to us. and | try to read il care
fully. as believe the others did
also. Nowhere. have I found Up to
this time, any such communica-
ticn.
An error was made by me as
Chairman of the Delegation which
| I wish to publicly admit. Mr.
Thayer's letter came to me but
was meant for the entire delega-
ton. / answered the letter, STATING
only my own views on the subject
and placed his letter and my an
swer in my correspondence files
I assumed the other two members
had received the same letter, and
also answered it. When these two
letters appeared in the Republican,
| I consulted nv Nc ar' saw the
m take l imms- c-v lied Mr.
tt. yer on the ri 20 tG Tell him
of tie mistake. a- : shC ed Mr.
BRAY and Mr.. Beth the
'~'-r and nv oply to it. Should
either Of them have wanted TO do
, so, they could have introduced leg
islation under the suspension Of
rules even, as late as it was. No
reel harm was done by this error,
but I wish folks to know about it,
When we we're discussing pro
posed legislation early in the sos
sion in Senator Graham's office,
we all decided to try to refrain
from raising any salaries at the
present time, due to our hard
pressed taxpayers, and the recent
hike in our tax rate. We felt that
some adjustments needed to be
made on a county level first. 7
! believe all of us feel that our
States Attorneys office merits an
adequate salary. and I think the
entire matter should be given a
thorough study. Also, l am sure
as was pointed out repeatedly in
; these two letters, tint the office is
one Of dignity and should be
thought of in that manner.
However, dignity is not only a
part of the States Attorneys Of
flee, but it can be part of every
man and woman's life, regardless
of the work he or she does. In
my opinion, the person himself
brings dignity 70 any office or
work that is done, rather than the
other way around Even the most
mental labor, performed with dill
gence and worth and with a
proper motive for service carries
with it a dignity. worthy OF the
| worker
For many years now. we have