The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1869-12-18

Big JOBS IN PRosPEcr.-The present City Coun.
Gil is composed entirely OF Democrats, and main
ly OF those who had served previous term as
Councilmen. They were elected by majority
so large as to affirm not only the approval by the
Democratic party of what they had previously
done, but also TO express confidence in what they
would do. The main achievement of the last
City Council was the initiation of system of ex-
travant expenditures and the increase of city tax
alton 10 double the amount that any previous adj
mnistration had dared to impose on the people
The present Council seems likely to carry out
this S, stem of expenditures and taxation to u still
| more costly and onercus extent. II has upon its
hands already the extrayagant style of expendi-
ture established by its predecessors, and the great
ii was never anything more-as to the distribu-
ton OF the spoils arising from the latter source
having been composed, we may feel assured that
the new Committee will not neglect the due nurs-
ing Of the rich nest egg. Other large jobs are
also looming up in the future The improvement
OF the Falls promises its expenditures OF millions,
and shower OF heavy c. ;.iracts and rich pick
ings. Whatever plan may be adopted for the
carrying out OF that Improvement, we may be
sure that the estimates will be largely exceeded
We refer our readers to the report submitted ~
the Council yesterday upon this subject. After
we have spent some millions, other millions will
y
has been commenced will be the imperative argu-
ment for the increased expenditure Then there
are any number ofrairoad enterprises presenting
themselv's ms claimants for the scitys nursing
care. \ couple Of railroads in Virginia want a
million and halt, and will probably get it, sim
ply because they are in Virginia. The Western
Mary land Railroad reierales its claim to he saved
from ruin and is backed by important interests
in our own State. Other railroads. in other
parts Of the State, also asking the city S aid
Upon most of these things gigantic Ring will
be formed. Votes will be snapped, one project
doveiaieG into another, and the city will finally
be left struggling with an increased Indebtedness
the vasursS of which its citizens will only right
~ estimate after the evil is done and the load
irremediahly fixed GU their shoulders.
After the experience Of our recent city elections,
when all the corruption that was exposed, Joined
with the exorbtant taxation under which the
community groaned and complained, failed to
induce more than half of the voters TO 60 10 the
polls and endeavor to initiate reform, it seems ii
hopeless task to protest against the increased
burdens that are about TO be imposed. Never
theless, it is well to remind the people that these
matters are yet within their control. None of the
projects proposed, which in any way increase the
debt of the city, can be consumated without first
the authorization of the Legislature, will be Civ
en- where asked by the City Council we entertain
no doubt. The fact that the question has after
ward to be submitted TO the vote of the people,
will be taken by that body as releasing it from all
real responsibility 1t will depend, then, on the
people TO say whether, by their apathy and care
lessness mere minority, whose voting power
will be put in action chiefly by interested parties,
shall be etfectual in loading the city down with
these new jobs and increased debt. 1t requires
no great perspcuity to see that the arrangements
are already in progress to make the people appa-
rently the willing endorsers of these schemes,
and unless these arrangements are met with
little more of organization and energy than now
seems likely, we shall find ourselves drifting into
responsibilities and embarrassments that will
hereafter be felt most severely Baltimore Amer-
lean Of Wednesday,