The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-02-04
BALTIMORR'O Debt AND TAXES.
Startling Figures Given by the
Charter Union.
SEVERE INDICTMENT OF RE
PUBLICAN RULE.

Among the organizations forming IN Balti
more to get rid OF the present eNtraragant
and incompetent administration OF city affairs
is one called the Chester Union.
Among the leaders in the Union are VIII
liam Kevser Eugene lowering. Theodore
Marburg, Chas. j. Bouaparte. c. {. Homer.
A. Y. Dolfeld, Skipwith Wilmer, and VIM.
A. Fisher. The Union has issued an address,
from which the following is an extract;
..On NAV next the qualified voters of
Baltimore will elect the first government
chosen under It's new charter; no one can rea-
sonably doubt that the result of this election
will profoundly affect the prosperity OF the
ritv The merits of the charter justify hopes
of n notable advance in the purity, efficiency
and economy of our municipal administration;
but such hopes are doomed to disappointment
if our people fail to choose as public servants
men worthy of their several trusts; no system
of Governments. however skilltulily devised,
can be well administered BY incompetent or
dishonest officers. The Mayor, president q
the Second Branch aud comptroller will hold
their Sc feral offices for four years. thus fast,
euiug upon us an administration. If II should
be an evil one. for double the present term.
.sBut such result to the first election held
unde. our new charter would be worse than
a Disappointment; it would darken the future
.
of sach gravity aud urgency rs to leave no
room. consistently with safety. for further M
dolence or levity IN the discharge OF our duty
as c;tizeuS In 1894 orr municipal taxes
(which three years previously had been liked
al 81 50 per 800 OF assessed value rose y
81. 70: in 1895 they became sl.I5; ~ 1870 ana
again IN 1897 they were $500; IN lS9S they
reached the unprecedented figure OF :. -.
II Is true that. through the partial apP1eali"u
OF the safeguards provided by the charter. ana
under the influence of the uHmi>tahahIe warn
ing given At the last election that there "r'r
limits 10 the peoples patience the rate inr
the present year has been reduced tu >l-HN;
We must bear iu mind, however. that TIN, rate
i, We, ~ ceu,S higher than in ls.5, and ~.
leaves the citv one among those most heavily
taxed ia the civilized world
simultaneously with this steady growth POO
the burden of taNatun there has been "
growth not les steady aud equally Significant
M The burden of the cjty debt. Daring The
past wear the funded usd guaranteed debts ui
The civ of Baltimore were Increased -. 5h',-
IO6: on January !. 1856. they amounted iH
So, 436. n :. -: ou the first % iast JHnml}
they had reached So. $50. 6s2. - q growth NJ
more than S5.u00, 600 within three years lh"
cityS expenditures for 1875 were -. 40. $50;
ia 1896 they grew To -. H'i3. loo. au 5ddIi'H
F OF S1lf.tHhfs 80 lN9t iAtFh NstN q H't''....
increase Of more than S3t&, upa aHd 'hrt
amounted fo - 256, 40: finally. ia ISIS. 'Hr'
reached the hitherto unprecedented hgEn' "i
=. luI. 49:. "a further increase "a: more 'haH
$50. 0OD over 1872 asd ui SH4s.Nl} "e"r'
nn,. million of dollar over ls95.
What do We obtain iH return log th'- e'"F-
nous OUTLAY Not. certainly, ihe services q
the best men in oar municipal government.
no, certainly schools and streets and sewers.
NOT protection against crime and ls-'Ti"T
fir, and disease oi such excellence i> 'a
leave no room for criticism cog complaint a"5
ing all this time there has beeD irsgHcuf grave.
aud well -fDuuded ceu>urr ol haih mr'i aus
methods employed By ihr city government
and We seem 90 ssl le>, ior our mooney q, mon"
money !, demanded from u,. The umc has
come 10 CALI halt IN this disastrous prusrr,-.
", believe this ourselves, 49, 'evl cuHha"Hi
that the bulk of the people believe &C., uiiu'~~
,hs action Of ihe voter- Who, ior the hf-i ''n"
in the cily history, rejected ai The l'".i- 'a-t
November an ordinance providing ioT rHhtr
improvements cortauly desirable aHi 10 ,'ur
measure urgently needed. i'ersH~s iaey '-''
the city could uo longer afford fa .frHt usH-ift
withoul adequate return and that rr'.'if'l r"7
,lifiaHy s-aftgH'o} 49, hop, ~ si.-A F5'Hra.