The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1871-12-16
The Ri0Jtt POLtcU.


Local politics is something to which the
peculiar circumstances in which we find our
selves in Baltimore county, are calling the at
tention of our citizens. There are a number of
questions effecting our county affairs and
finances, the disposition of which will seriously
effect our future. These questions should be
brought prominently before the attention of
our people. They should be agitated and dis
cussed in order that all of the people may
rightly understand all the questions arising out
of them in all their bearings. This should be
done in order to enable the people and their
public servants to act intelligently in the
premises and do that which will bring about
the best results for the whole people.
Chief among the questions in which we are
most interested at present is the extention or
non-extention of the city limits. And We do
not approach this subject in any indifferent
mood or for pastime or amusement or for the
lack of something else about which to furnish
reading matter for our patrons. We consider
it question of very serious moment for the
tax payers and citizens of our county.
As we have stated before, if we expect to re-
tain our jurisdiction over the territory in ques-
ton, we mustdeal justly with the people within
that territory by giving them as much funds
for public improvement as the nature and
circumstances Of their peculiar case, in equity
and justice, demand they should have.
If we are to lose that jurisdiction at any day
in the near future, it were better for US that
the separation take place at once. This is
radical view to take of the matter, or it will at
least be so considered by number of our
county people. But nevertheless it is a sensi
BILE way in which to look att, andOne which We
will regretfully appreciate should the separa-
ton come when we have made our last vain
effort to preventit it.
If we expect to hold on to it, we must set
ourselves about the task with an intelligent
industry and determination to keep the people,
our officials in the county and our legislators
at Annapolis we'll informed and advised upon
the best means to accomplish this object.
To do this, in our humble opinion we must
institute, in all its effectiveness, the town
the city that are thickly settled, desiring
graded avenues, comfortable sidewalks and
other town facilities, must be incorporated into
towns and be allowed to manage their own
local affairs and make their own public i'm
provements after their own wish.
To do this they would be compelled to pay
tax into the county treasury just the same as
other folks outside of their particular locality.
They should receive appropriations for i'm
provements accordingly. Besides this their
council, or commissioners, or boards ofmanagers
should be empowered to levy and collect a
local tax for public improvements. Let this
local tax be designated by the council or voted
upon and sanctioned by the people themselves
in the particular town. The application of
this local tax would go to improve only the
property of those from whom the tax is collected.
Among other things, it would be a mark of
wisdom to precinct each town of this character
for the purposes of all elections. 1t would give
all citizens full and easy facilities for voting
with very little expense to the county.