The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1883-07-14
CoTresp0HdeAes baltimore Cousfy Usioa.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.



WASHINGTON, u. c.. July 10th, 1855.
Msssrs. EdifoTs;-A strong contrast exists be-
tween the statements that come 10 u.s. one from the
State Of Iowa and the other from Tennessee; and
equally a. strong one exists between the State
Of Maryland and the United States, with reference
10 the condition ofthe several public debts Mary
land and Tennessee are Democratic States, while
Iowa and the United States have been under Re.
publican rule ever since the war. The statement
referred to from Tennessee l. 20 the eject that
hitcen years ago there was In the "sinking iand"
Of that State Eve millions Of dollars and that
since then more than four millions more have been
collected and added 10 IT, while now there only re-
mains In Il seven hundred and City thousand dol
lars, with none Of the States indebtedness paid.
On the other hand, Iowa, the Republican State,
reports that during last week the last Of her debt
on account Of the war was paid and that she holds
railroad and other bonds and securities sufficient
90 cover all the remainder Of her debt.
Now let rs contrast Maryland and the United
States ~ regards their finances. In the former
every body knows that the "sinkihg fund.-" which
established a sacred constitutional trust 20
pay of the indebtedness fthe State when Il should
fall due, has disappeared. and the only knowledge
that any one has a. 10 whittier Il has gone or that
Is vOuehsafed by the Democratic politicians who
had charge Of Il, l. that Il FUSED 10 help do
fray the expenses Of the State and tighten the
taxes Of the people," and the debt goes on down
unpaid and perhaps 10 be liquidated in all Its en-
tirety by future generations. This was clear
ease OF show not 20 do a., as was that also Of Ten
nessee. But Iowa acted more honestly and differ
emily towards her people; aud In the case Of tbe
United States We have equally ~ beautiful a pic.
ture In Iowa Of true, honest Republican rule,
Of which no honest eitiEen. whether Republican or
Democrat, need be ashamed. After the war the
public debt Of the United States amounted to more
than two and half billions Of dollars. II reach
cd It's highest point In August, 1865. Then the
annual intercs; required 10 be paid was nearly
$751; 100000. The public statement for June,
which ended the last fiscal year, shows that the
public debt has been reduced more than one bill.
lion Of dollars since August, 1855, eighteen years
ago, and that the annual interest, instead Of be-
ing tho large amount above stated, Il now only
SIS, 100, q permanent; saving In interest Of
nearly one hundred millions Of dollars yearly
Messrs. Editors, u that not u clear case Of "how
10 do i?" When the refunding operations under
the Act Of 1879 were completed by Secretary Sher-
man on August 27th. 1851, the annual interest
charge Of the United States was nearly eighty four
millions OF dollars. Since then Il has been re-
ducod over thirty 1.-TWO millions of dollars. The
duction Of the whole interest bearing during the
year jus, ended Si2j. ISL, 2jO which Is equiv
alent 10 a reduction In the annual interest 10 be
paid by the Government, In the futurc Of sJ,923.-
{Jl. II will thus be that just "a fast rs the
Republican party has been able to pay Of the
National debt and reduce the amount Of the an
nual interest 20 be paid By the people has done H.
Now IL il has been found that wherever the Re-
publican party has had control Of the finances Of
\ State or Of the Nation the public debt has always
been made 20 vanish and the annual interest there
on reduced, thus tightening in the true way the
burden OF taxation upon the people, and. ON the
other hand. that wherever the Democrats have had
control sinking funds" and all other devices for
paying OF the public obligations have been made
TO disappear instead Of the debts. and the burden
o. taxation remains the same-a ad many more in.
stances than the above could be cited prove both
r. Al. Al
eral Republican and Democratic States Of the
Union, as we'll. also. a. of many counties and
cities. IL would seen 90 your correspondent, ut
least, 10 be perfectly dcduciblc that the people Of
the state Of Mary land. who are not anxious, I
suppose, Of being ovsrbuTlened with taxation,
would the coming fall. in their elections, be de-
sirous Of turning the Democratic party out of
power in that State and substituting in its stead
the Republican party. which has made of itself
such bright and shining light in the matter Of
dealing successfully with public finances and in
paying Oh public debts. IL il to be hoped that
they will take THE view of the matter and essay
step of progress that would add greatly TO the
honor Of the State Of Maryland and their own i'm
tcrests.
might say something also with reference to the
condition Of Affairs Of the city Of Baltimore and Of
your county, in both Of which, I verify believe
that the people would be justified in summarily
turning the Democratic party out Of power. In
the former. instead of paying 81 any Of the ma
turing public obligations the indebtedness has
continued regularly 20 he increased, year by year.
the floating debt, whenever IL became too large
aud cumbersome. being "lun!ed" into the bonded
debt, thus swelling the amount Of the latter 20
larger and still larger proportions, and all Of this
time, too, taxation being increased 20 meet, not
the new obligations, bat only, / believe. the in
terest thereon. And what perceptible benefit 20
the people at large Of the city Of Baltimore IL this
inoriinate and continuous increase Of the city's
he aafc
ments" for home or foreign capitalists, giving =
high and satisfactory rate Of interest TO the cap
italists onlyl on their money.
Then In your county % baltimore. The debt Of
Baltimore county IL put down In the census report
Of iss0 in combination with that Of Baltimore city,
but have no doubt but that she has debt. /
have never heard Of its being reduced any nor Of
It's government ever being improved. The same
bad roads and the same poor system Of public
schools remain unimprosed from year 10 year
And yet the tax levies rs regularly grow larger
and larger, and the rate Of taxation higher and
higher, until, attn informed, the County Treasurer
or County Commissioners have been compelled 20
prin; the treason why" on the back Of the tax
bills to prevent the indignant tax payers from
rising up and hurting them from their places. as
were the wicked money changers once east out Of
the temple at Jerusalem. May not the people Of
your county as well Of the city and State. hav-
ing weighed the Democratic party in the balance
and found IL wanting yet do 80 this fall.
tbs letter being already quite lengthy l will
add but n couple Of notes. The funeral of Bishop
Pinkney, Of the Protestant Episcopal church. who
died last week in Jour county, took place here At
Ascension church on last Friday afternoon. The
remains had been brought TO Washington the day
before and lay in state in the above church all day
on Friday. They were inferred in Oak Hill Gem
eiry, Georgetown. Many eminent church men,
beers were present.
The cry last week seemed TO be "Marylanders
10 the 'front.' In the Postofiee Department Mr..
Geo. Wells and Mr.. Z. C. Fowler, both Of Mary
land were promoted from fourth class clerks, SAL
aries SEQ, 10 chiefs Of divisions, with salaries at
$1,000 per annum. Aiso In the Office Of the Audi
tor Of the Treasury for the Postoiiee Department
(Sixth Auditors ofheel, Mr.. James Brady, Of the
let district Of Baltimore county. and Mr. Arthur
Clements, Of Princes Georges county, Nd, were
promoted from 81 900 TO 81 500. Mr. Brady Is the
gentleman who, in the last Congressional conven-
tion Of the Fifth district Of Maryland, presented
the name Of Hon. Hart d. Hol,on 10 that conven-
ton. AxoS.
M