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now came into office entirely unacquainted with the busi-
ness of their office and the duties they had to perform,
which was the cause of much embarrassment and con-
fusion, and he proposed the amendment in order that n
portion of the board who understood all the business
should hold over.
Mr. Walsh said this was one of the new-fangled ideas of
1864, and he hoped it would not be adopted. He should
prefer that these county commissioners should be elected
every year. They had a great deal of power—levied taxes
on the people pretty much as they liked, built bridges, &c.
He saw no necessity for any of them holding over.
Mr. Stoddert opposed the amendment.
Mr. Mackubin said that in matters of finance the county
commissioners bore the same relation to the people as the
mayor and council of Baltimore bore to the people of that
city, and as the Legislature did to the people of the State
at large, and they should be held to as strict an accoun-
tability to the people by frequent elections. In Howard
county they had felt the effects of this provision which
was in the constitution of 1864, and which the gentleman
from Washington, (Mr. Syester, ) wished to continue, and
they desired to have the opportunity of passing upon the
conduct of those who administered their affairs. The
taxes in Howard county had risen from 60 cents to $1. 15
in the hundred dollars. The State taxes were but a baga-
telle as compared to the county taxes.
Mr. Stoddert said if the county commissioners of
Charles county did not stop they would bankrupt the
county. They gave out contracts to further their own
interests, and not those of the people.
Mr. Syester thought the amendment was proper, but
he did not care particularly about it. The county com-
missioners possessed no legislative powers; they had a
semi-judicial jurisdiction, but they could only levy taxes
according to law. He did not see how the taxes were to
be reduced by shortening the term of the county commis-
sioners. The gentleman from Allegany, (Mr. Walsh, )
called this a new-fangled idea, and thought it ought to
be kicked out because it emanated from the radical party;
but he had always thought the gentleman was willing to
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