|
I think we are going to have to work at
it at both ends. What disturbs me even
more is if this special legislation gets into
the constitution for the farmer who is in
trouble, it in turn will compound the prob-
lem of the aged and the indigent who, I
might add here, has the speculator at his
door, too. There are many here who know
people in this category who are holding on
to their households really day by day by
sheer tenacity. What are we going to do
about this group? Would it not be com-
pounded if this whole ball of taxation falls
against them because of some of the issues
that were clarified with questions asked of
Mr. Case? For this reason, I am going to
support the amendment.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Clagett.
DELEGATE CLAGETT: Mr. Chairman,
ladies and gentlemen of this Convention, it
it with great reluctance that I rise to state
my position and ask that you carefully
consider it for a moment with me.
Because I represent a class of farmer in
the State of Maryland which is somewhat
different from the broad picture that comes
to mind as the word "farmer" is used.
I must confess to a very personal and
deep interest in this subject matter, one
which really is almost a matter of survival.
Twenty years ago, I inherited approxi-
mately 650 acres of land, the tax on it at
that time was ,$800. I am now paying ap-
proximately $5,000 per year in taxes both
by way of the improvements upon that
property as well as the increase in the
assessment on the value of the land itself.
It would be impossible in the limited time
which I have to answer each of the ques-
tions which have been asked so I make no
plea of eloquence but I try to answer the
questions.
Delegate Scanlan, I do not derive the
principal sources of my income from this
farm because I am in Prince George's
County, where the practice of law has been
a profitable one, well in excess of that from
the farm operation. However, this farm
has moved forward. It was principally de-
voted to tobacco a few years ago when we
were raising approximately 150 acres of
tobacco. Now that tobacco base is 50 acres.
Diversification has been absolutely neces-
sary in order to survive. Therefore, have
come the raising of thoroughbred horses, of
cattle, and other grains.
I say to you that in the course of a year
there are over 500 persons with whom I
|
have no personal acquaintance other than
that which is formed at the time they come
to visit this place who come there because
they are interested in it and want to see it
continue as it is. They come on garden
tours, they come individually, they come
merely because they are interested in
horses —
THE CHAIRMAN: You have one-half
minute.
DELEGATE CLAGETT: — interested
in the tobacco itself. I say to you if this
recognition in the constitution is removed,
if the legislature is not able to deal with
each of us who are devoted to agricultural
purposes in a way that can preserve us,
we will as you attempt to eliminate the
speculator be sacrificed and go down the
drain as well.
THE CHAIRMAN: Your time has ex-
pired, Delegate Clagett.
DELEGATE CLAGETT: From the walls
have come whispers, I say to you the whis-
pers are dying and will fade away if you
do not include this provision in the con-
stitution.
THE CHAIRMAN: Does any other dele-
gate desire to speak in favor of the
amendment?
Delegate Chabot.
DELEGATE CHABOT: Mr. Chairman,
Delegate Scanlan asked the question before,
an important one, many of us are quite
concerned about it, 1 will yield the re-
mainder of my time to Delegate Case so
that he may answer it.
THE CHAIRMAN: You have no time
to yield to Delegate Case. The Chair will
recognize Delegate Case at the proper time.
Does anyone desire to speak in favor of
the amendment? The Chair recognizes Dele-
gate Case.
DELF^ATE CASE: Mr. Chairman, la-
dies and geii emen of the Committee: First,
let me say that inadvertently I have been
misquoted here today by Delegate Hard-
wicke and others and I would like to set
the record straight in this final speech lie-
fore you vote so that at least you know
exactly where each of us stands.
First, the proposed amendment by the
Committee will reverse or change the result
in the Alsop case, thereby permitting the
General .Assembly to establish criteria
other than the use of the land in estab-
lishing whether the farm assessment shall
carry.
|
