The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-04-18
More Backbone Needed.

More Backbone Needed.
Two days after the Committee of the State Ag-
ricultural Society made its report to that body
upon its proceedings with the House Committee
of the Legislature on Agriculture, the Farmers
Union of Baltimore county held meeting at
Duncan's Hail, near Ceckeysville. At that meet
ing DR.. Moses Merryman offered resolutions thank
ing Senator Davis and Mr.. Merryman, chairman
of the House Committee on Agriculture, for
their efforts to secure legislation in the interest of
the agricultural classes of Baltimore county -
We believe the resolutions were adopted
So far as Senator Davis is concerned we have
no demurrer to file. But who is the best Judge
of what the chairman of the House Committee
on Agriculture" did ''in the interest of the agri
cultural classes of Baltimore county," those who
supported this resolution or the committee head
ed by Gen. Geo. Fl. Stewart And the resolution,
inferentialy at least, declares that the "chairman
of the House Committee on Agriculture is the
only member from Baltimore county entitled to
any notice. 1t is quite cool and severe refec-
ton upon the balance of the delegation-one that
in eur humble opinion they do not deserve.
The committee appointed by the Agricultural
Society, of which Gen. Stewart was chairman
says that 'the House Committee on Agriculture
declined to hear them" though they were per-
sistent in their efforts to obtain that hearing from
February 10th to March Sd, more than three
weeks. The Farmers Union thanks the chair
man Of that same House Committee that declined
hearing to the committee composed in part of
its own members, and it does it only two days
after that same committee had so reported in
writing to the Agricultural Society of the State !
Did the people who supported this vote of thanks
do SO with full knowledge of the facts in the
premises or did they support it upon faith, hav-
ing no information on the subject If they were
posted on the facts they stultifed themselves and
indicated that they are willing to be used as the
implements to advance the interests of those who
refuse them respectful hearing. If they were
in the dark in relation to the facts and supported
the resolution upon faith, they owe it to them
selves to embrace the first opportunity that offers
to rescind it.
And then they thank this same chairman of
the House Committee on Agriculture for pass
ing through the House bill for the "protection
Of sheep" which Gen. Stewards committee de-
clared "fatally defective" Who was right, Gen.
Stewards committee or The Farmers Union?
The cause o: the farmers is in their own hands
That cause cannot be advanced unless they are
;ndividnallv hra 70 apourh IN daoI etarn rah,L as
to those who trihe with their interests or spurn
their solicitations URtil they can vote mo"
loudly and emphaticaliy upon resolutions en-
dorsing those inimical to their interests, they
will always be represented by such men--and
they will deserve to be.
Count the Cost Before You Decide.
Those who managed the bill for the extension
of the city limits displayed slight of hand that
was quite dextrous when they incorporated into
it provision that the property in the newly &C.
quired territory should be assessed or taxed at
calculated to deceive the unwary and to induce
the doubtful voters to cast their ballots in favor
of the extension. Unless the peoples minds are
disabused of this allurement there is no doubt in
our mind that there will be votes won for extern
sion. In order that everybody may vote intelli-
gently upon this we deem it our duty to call their
attention TO certain provisions of the State Con-
stitution and to the bearing they have upon the
matter in point.
The fifteenth section of the Declaration of
Rights, upon which the Government and Consti-
tuition of the State rest declares that 'any person
holdi=g Pror==J ough i't.55f
the Government, according to his actual north in
real and personal property" Under this previ.
sion every mans property must be assessed at its
actual North, and it must pay taxes according 10
its assessment.
This question was tested in the States of Wis
consin and Iowa. In the former State the city
of Muscatine by virtue of an act of the Legsla-
ture, had her limits extended. The provisions of
the statute in that case were the same as in the
one passed by the Maryland Legislature for the
extension of the limits of Baltimore The vote
was taken and the people within the prescribed
limits, influenced doubtless largely BY this strong
inducement, voted for extension. They had not
long been citizens of Muscatine when some folks
who resided in the city proper found out that
their taxes would be less if everybody who re-
sided within the city paid tax at the same rate
with themselves The matter was tested in the
City Court which decided that the newcomers in
the city could not be obliged to pay any more
tax than that prescribed in the statute. The case
was taken to the Supreme Court of the State
which reversed this decision, declaring that the
Declaration of Rights was paramount to the
statute and that those who had lately become
citizens of Muscatine by the extension of her lin
its must pay taxes at the same rate with its orig
inal inhabitants. This matter is plain enough il
the people will give it moments reflection.
Look AT THIS STATEMENT.-In an ingeniously
contrived "extra" of the Sun that is being ex-
tensively circulated in favor of city extern
sion we find the following:
"Our tares are noa0 seventy cents on the one
hundred dollars. The limits ertended, they aoiH
be but seventy-fue cents on the hundred dollars
for the neat ten years"
The State tax this year is 2O3 cents on the
hundred dollars. Below we append the items
of well displayed city tax bill: