The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-01-02

city. The same question: has been dealt
with by the, city OF Baltimore. In 1858 the
Legislature OF Maryland passed an act for
the extension OF the limits Of the city OF
Baltimore After specifying the proposed
limits it was enacted that the question
should be submitted to the voters living
in the districts to ba. annexed. The votes
were to be cast simply for or against eX-
tension, and if the election declared for
extension, then the outlying districts were
to become part of the city OF Baltimore
In order to protect the rights and proper
~ Of those living in the county it was
provided that the new districts should bs
divided into wards, each one OF which
should elect a member for the lower
branch OF the City Council, and every two
of which should eject a member for the
upper branch. 1t was also provided that
'.all streets, avenues or alleys lying IN
the county which shall become part or
Baltimore city under this act which shall
have been condemned for streets, shall De
held as validity constituted streets OF BAL
timore city in all respects as II the same
had been legally condemned by the mayor
and council of the city Of Baltimore anu
all proceedings for the laying OIL, opening
grading and construction Of streets a:c-
MUGS or alleys which shall have been pc
run under the existing street laws of Bal
timore county prior to the passage 'laii
be proceeded with and completed under
the street laws of Baltimore county, as Ii
this law had not been passed
The act further provides that the county
shall be paid a fair valuation for Its tire
engines, fire engine houses and other APP
raratus used in connection Herewith. and
the station-houses, lamps, school-houses
within the limits of such territory des-
cribed.
"'he most important provision, and the
one that more nearly concerns the situa-
ton as it is in Richmond to-day, is the
one in regard TO taxation, by which it was
enacted that until the year 1900, that is,
for 4 period of twelve years, no real or
personal property lying in the districts
to be annexed should be taxed at higher
rate than then prevailed, whether Such
property was owned by individuals or
corporations, and that the assessed value
of such property should not be increased
until 1900, and all unassessed properly
living in the same district should be as
sessed on the same basis as that con-
trolling the assessment OF such property
as is now assessed.
It was further provided that until 1900
the CITY of Baltimore should eXpend with
in the annexed district a sum equal at
least to the amount OF revenue derived
from the basis above set forth.
From and after 1890 the city OF Baltl-
more might assess the annexed dlsErlctS
in accordance with the rules governing
assessments within the limits OF the city
before annexation, provided that the ex-
listing rate of taxation for Baltimore coui'-
" should not be increased for any iahueo
property until avenues, streets or alteSS
should have been opened and constructed
through the same, nor until there should De
upon every block of ground so TO De
formed at least six dwellings or store
houses ready for occupation In addltioa
to all the foregoing, extra police were
to be given the annexed districts, bridges
We're to be completed. fair values were to
be paid for all private water companies
pipes then laid down, and all schoo!
teachers We're TO be continued in office.
To summarize: So much OF the county
as was taken in got streets, alleys, ave
nues. no increase in tax rate for twelve
wears. a fair value for all county property
living within the defined limits, the eS-
penditure on the annexed districts OF the
taxes. collected from them, no increase IN
assessed value for twelve years ana oIliy
then if streets were opened and at least
six houses on every block. Besides all
this the county got extra police protec-
ton and kept its own school teachers
without further examination.
we respectfully and earnestly commend
q procedure similar to this to the atteh-
tion and consideration Of our Council and
Board of Aldermen and to the Leslsia-
ture.