The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-01-24
Correspondence baltimore County UaiOn.
TO THE LEGISLATURE OF MARYLAND,
M. ~.

No. ".
The papers state that there have been two bills
presented TO the Legislature looking TO amending
the Constitution Of the State. One 10 designed 20
extend the city limits or take the county into the
city by submitting the question 60 the people Of
the whole state in tho shape Of an amendment to
the Constitution the other proposes TO change the
Judicial system somewhat In the same manner
suggested In paper No. III last week. There Is no
doubt there will DO some other propositions Of
amendment Of that instrument before the Legisla-
turs adjourns, and this matter Is in order II is
not out OF place TO suggest other reasons In this
paper for changing the Constitution.
ny 20 the proper source Of information IL
can be ascertained that baltimore city has an enor
nous debt upon her, while some Of the counties,
AUegany notably, has . very large debt for the
amount Of her assessable property aud her re-
sources Tor paying the interest thereon and ulti-
mateiy redeeming, and IL IL safe TO predict that
baltimore county will always be free from debt.
what 10 needed In our Constitution Is u provision
prohibiting counties. cities and municipal eorpor-
atoms from contracting debts beyond certain
percentage OF the assessabe value Of their proper
~. This would be an impossible barrier 20
placing onerous burdens Of taxation upon people
who are unable 90 bear 10. Experience has taught
tho danger that frequently overtakes n municipal
corporation In this respect. Other States have
seen aud islt the danger and have taken this wise
precaution TO protect themselves in the future by
ern and Western State that has made or altered i,s
Constitution within the last ten years has engrsf-
ed this conservative provision in IL. Now, while
there b not an extraordinary amount Of municipal
debt IN this State Is the time for 90 be wise and
take the danger In advance. II will be readily
seen that an eminent duty Of this Legislature l. 10
call Constitutional convention aud have q new
Constitution adopted.
thorough revision Of our election laws 10 de-
manded by every requirement Of dccency. fairness
aud justice. II some fellow steals your bat or your
coat he goes TO the penitentiary Of the State for
from six 10 eighteen months. II . fellow who 10
indisposed 10 work Is brought before Justice Of
the Peace he 10 likely to be sent TO the House OF
Correction for three, four. five or six months. II
soine one nj the election desires 90 know how his
ncighbor 10 voting and shall unfold or open his
ballot for that purpose the Law fines him hity dol
lars. Hut u the sumo J,iior otFsFs fo rofe him.sH
h' src"nd fime the Law lets him of with n fine Of
ten doiiars. IL considers IL i've times criminal
TO discover how your neighbor votes rs 10 anssspi
e. rot, frics yoHrse. And " he succeeds In voting
the second time IL only fines him forty dollar, aud
imprisons him month And there docs not
TO be any provision in the Code for Furnishing
ballot'bo stufng false counting and other frauds
upon the purity and sacrcines. Of the ballot. box
Frauds upon the ballot have recently been -
glaring in the City Of Monuments-and Of frauds
that there Is absolute necessity for stringent
law and condign punishment for those who perpc-
tratc the crime. The work is contiguous and has
found its way into more than one county. II Is
quite time laws wore made 20 protect the purity Of
the ballot and TO punish severely with heavy fine
and imprisonment all those who in any way in
tcricrc with free. fair and pure election and re-
turn 81 the ballots. II the convict is unable {"
pay the hnc he should he obliged to remain in the
State prison after hi nominal sentence OF impt,-
onmcht had expired until the produc, OF his labor
should pay the tine imposed. But the conviction
Well that Is the question after all.
The expense 81 keeping prisoners in our county
Jail is one which has challenged the attention Of
those who desire TO curtail our expenses. II is a
subject that addresses itself to those who are
charged with the legislative functions Of eoun.
~. The Law at present allows 10 cents per diem
to the sheriff for keeping prisoners in jail. 1, i.
not the purpose of the writer To- reflect upon the
present or any former incumbent of the Sheriff.
Office. but " an economical manager will make "a
neat calculation he will discover that it doe. not
take anything like that amour; 60 feed the in
mates Of our county prison. The bills paid by the
County Commissioners yearly for the support Of
prisoners average from 900 To- SO. 900. AZ We
are now cndcavoring 10 reduce natter 60 busi-
ness basis IL becomes Us To look into this matter
and see " there can't be good reduction made in
this expense and nj the same tiias that the
prisoners are properly cared for. IL IL not certain
that the best mode for doing tina; /. the herein
suggested but IL is certainly worthy Of consdcra-
ton. Lot the sheriff be relieved from the duty
and responsibility &c feeding the prisoners. Let
the Commissioners be authorized by law to aiver-
t.e to let the business Of feeding the prisoners for
each year TO the lowest responsible bidder. The
advertisement should state the substance of what
quantity and character Of food the contractor
would be expected 10 furnish the prisoners. Each
bidder should be required to file with his bid
bond IN ample security for the faithful perform
ance Of his contract IL his bid should be accepted,
and forfeiture attached If he should fail TO un.
akef laa q
be awarded 10 him under the letting. Each secu-
rity on the bond should be obliged To make oath
attached 60 his bond as 60 the amount he WAS
worth in real estate over and above all debts. liza
biliiies and discounts Of whatever character. And
IL. upon examination. there should be any mis-
representation Of the value Of these bondsmcn's
real estate. that bidder. though being the lowest.
should not be awarded the contract. IL seems -
u some such arrangement n this would reach the
aud operate 10 the advantage Of the tax pay
ers Of the county. l. certain quite certain. that
a good manager could take the contract in the
manner pointed out and make good yearly sala-
~ and save the county from $4,000 60 Sj.OuO per
annuin. II well worth trying. Until s"inething
Of this sort 10 tried We look for the regular
bills for supporting prisoners TO be paid by order
of the County Comnis ,ioncr,.
Tho expense that tho construction Of the water
works for the permanent supply Of Baltimore city
has cniailed upon Baltimore county in the matter
Of prosecuting criminals has been enormous. our
Court has been. IL now, aud Is likely 20 be occu-
pied for many days in each year for some time o.
come in trying criminals who have committed of.
fences nj and about the water works, which would
never have occurred except for the constructiopof
this permanent supply Of water for Baltimore ely.
All this expense. amounting to Thousands Of dol
lars each year, has come out Of the pockets of the
county tax payers for matter that benefits solely
Baltimore city. There should be some legislation
on the subject which should obligc Baltimore city