The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-07-31
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nJTY EJNlNrE0 TAYA TT0N RETRENGR


MENTs AND REFORM.
MEssRs. EDIroRs:-The time has come when the
people of Baltimore should examine into the condi-
ton of the city affairs and determine if important
reforms should not be made. We have succeeded
in restoring peace and order, and that the ma
jority rule we must go on with the work of re-
form. The expenditures of the city of Baltimore
must be greatly reduced. The continued efforts
made to spend the city funds must be stopped
Economy and retrenchment must prevail FIVE sex-
pect our city to prosper. These objects, now of vi
tai importance, cannot be accomplished by party
| nominations We must select the most honest and
capable of our people who will serve, and we should
have no regard to their political afinties and ties.
This is the only mode by which we can restore our
prosperity, by which we can prevent an accumula-
tiog of ruinous taxation. 1t may be, nav, it is of
vital importance to elect as President of the United
| States the man who is the most conservative and
most willing to act for the benefit of the Union
at large. As respects our municipal AFFAIRS it is of
minor importance who may be President, and
it is of the greatest moment that we should
select competent and reliable Mayor and proper
members of the City Council The snbject of taxa
ton cannot be too fully examined. Real estate in
Baltimore will not bear a larger tax that one per
cent The valuation of real estate is fully great
as it ought to be, and in many far too great,
and beyond the selling price. We may take house
and lot worth 81 900, one worth $4,000 and one
worth $4,000. The first will pay, at one per cent.
So at two per cent, $40, and at three per cent,
$50. The second viii pay at the same rates, $50,
500, $780, and the third will pay at the rates.
500, $500 and $500 per annum The taxes on real
estate in Baltimore, owing to ground, rent sys
tenn, which exists nowhere else to the same extent
must fall on the tenants or lessees-the parties least
| able to pay. We in Baltimore must come to the
conclusion that our taxes for city purposes shall not
exceed one per cent. on the real cash value If we
do not adopt some such conclusion, we will find that
our taxes will 60 up to two per cent, and to
three per cent. There is no exaggeration in this
view. If we look at the extravaganza and folly of
the last few years, and We cannot arrest similar
| measures, the result must be utter insolvency on
the part of the city, ruin to the individual pro.
| perty holders. sos
If we adopt the principle that in no event shall
the city taxes exceed one per cent, may in time
hope to bring things into proper condition. Let
| the people of Baltimore act unit or with such
majority as the occasion calls for, and then the
| ruinous measures that have been commenced must
| be arrested. City Hall may be great desidera-
! tum; park may be wanted; large Jail may be
needed; there may be other improvements greatly
to be desired. The first question always should be
have we the means to pay for all these things P
Until we solve this question, which lies at the 1oun
dalton, it is unwise nay, worse than unwlse, 1t Is
| dishonest to attempt to have that for which we
| cannot pay. Baltimore in proportion to its popu-
lation and wealth, already has responsibilities
greater than those of any city in the United States
| This is a matter of absolute certainty. What has
| been done we may not be able to undo, but most
assuredly we guard against the future. We
must economist, we must retrench, we must re
form. The first step is to select men reliable and
competent who will be pledged to arrest the pres
ent downward tendency. Men will go in crowds to
| political meetings, will throw up their caps for
| Bell and Everett, for Douglas, and for Breckln-
ridge. Where are the who will unite and say
we are Baltimoreans, and anxious to promote the
best interests of our community? II there be
SUCH now is the time to show themselves, and use
such exertion may be necessary to accomplish
| these reforms. BALTIMORE.