The Baltimore County union., 1874-03-14
Extension.

The constitution of the State provides that the
limits of county cannot be changed without
the conseat of the majority of the qualified vo-
ters Of that portion of any county which is pro-
posed to be Incorporated into any other county
Article 18th of the constitution. The constitu.
ton is strictly Democratic. This provision does
not owe its existence 10 any Republican infu-
euce. The Democrats have put into the organic
law of the State provision for forming new
counties, for taking portion Of territory from
one county and giving it to another, for extend.
ing the city limits into Baltimore county. The
condition upon which this must be done under
the constitution is that it must be submitted to
the qualified voters residing within the limits
proposed to be annexed and to receive a majority
of the votes cast in favor Of it.
The constitution is the basis upon which this is
to be DONE Under the constitution the people
residing within the proposed limits have the un-
questioned right to 60 into Baltimore city if
they wish to do so. The constitution submits
the settlement of the question TO The qualified CO.
ters-not to property holders and land specula-
ritory proposed to be annexed.
Under The constitution, we conceive it TO be
the duty of the Legislature if upon a reasonable
amount of information, il believes that major
ity of the voters within said territory desire said
change, to have the question submitted. To re.
fuse it, would be to make an arbitrary use of
power, held only for brief period to deprive
said voters oftheir constitutional right. unless con-
yinced that il would work serious injury to hes.
We must not be understood as discussing the
matter in the view of abstract right. We are
discussing it from the stand point of the constitv-
tiOnal precision.
That election should be fair one in every
particular. The question should be submitted
If at all-at an early day TO the present resi-
dent voters There should not be time allowed
10 colopize voters from tue city or any other
quarter for the purpose of controlling the result
one way or the other. If, at fair election, the
qualified voters within said limits decide to an-
mex themselves TO the city OF Baltimore they
have the Democratic right TO do SO under hecos-
stitution The constitution does not consider the
rights or the hardships that may affect the bal
ance of county by the result, only that the
territory left remaining in the county from which
slice is taken shall contain four hundred square
miles and ten thousand white inhabitants. Fur.
,her than this it does not consider the policy Of
tue question lnF0IVeu.
Arguments for the purpose OF influencing vo-
lers must be addressed 10 those Uho vM do tho
poting 1t is silly to address column or two
of trash to everybody in general and nobody in
particular for the purpose ofinhaming the preju-
dice or warping the opinion of those who re-
side outside of it.
Why do people within the proposed limits de-
sire annexation2 They say they desire their
property-real estate-developed. They say they
cannot get water to their residences, because the
city owns all the water in the county that is
available for that purpose, and the city won't
furnish them with water. As an answer 10 this
we would say that we believe that If other things
were made satisfactory, these people would be
entirely contented to have pumps for a consid-
cradle time to come. They complain that they
cannot get gas and police arrangements. These
both could be furnished where required by hav-
ing certain localities incorporated and the i'm
position Of local tax for furnishing these and
other conyeniences. We know that certain gen.
tlemen are congratulating themselves upon the
anticipation of having extensive sidewalks, fine
crossings, graded avenues and all modern city
thor0ughfare conyeniences the next morning af-
fupt tha INIT IF fha tfu dad oh
that happen. We are inclined to the opinion
that some of these gentlemen will be sadly mis-
taken in their hopes.
We are we'll satisfied that in many localities
in the immediate vicinity of the city certain per-
sons could have all the facilities and conveuien-
ces of the city, if the limits extended. But this
does not apply 10 those who are mile off. Those
who are mile from the present limits, though
their residences may be near each other, cannot
expect to have all the couvenences Of paved
streets, comfortable sidewalks, gas and water
furnished them. AT least they cannot expect
these unless they pay for them well in the shape
of taxes. And the provisions Of the bill are
such that no addition is to be made 10 their tax
must see the alternative Of doing with their
present improvements Or the raising OF their tax
es at the expiration of two years. But there is
no certainty that the provision of the bill favor
ing them in the way of taxation, should they be
Incorporated in the city will hold water if test
ed Should they be taken into the city, some fel-
low who lives in the city proper and pays large
tax will raise the questions in the courts and the
result will be that those who go to the city
will have to pay q city taz-ss much as if they
resided in the heart of the city. The matter has
been tested in Iowa and resulted az We have sug.
gested.
Il will be well enough f6 those who are 10 be
effected 10 consider these questions.