Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-18
SENTIMENT FOR LOAN
MANY FAVOR Re3ulLDIno ON AN
ExTEHsfzE SCALE.
Modern Sewerage ann Improved Streets
Reform in Matter = Taxation sug-
gested-Promfntnt Views.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
BALTIMORE. Nd. February 49,
1t now seems likely that the legislature
Will be asked to pass an enabling act I'M
der the provisions Of which the city can
float loan OF 100000 or $4,000, 600, this
sum to be expended on public improve
ments. There is growing public senti-
ment In favor of the rehabilitation of the
city on an extensive scale. including a mod
ern sewerage system and improved streets
In discussing the subject of improvements
to be made Mayor McLane said to The
Star correspondent today THE opportu-
nifty now presents Itself for the buiidlng of
a greater and modern Baltimore, and we
ought to make the most Of it. am now
favorable to the expenditure OF a larger
sum than / was a week ago Improve
ments should be made with q generous
hand. and we should build as we would
have the city century hence.
Plan of Taxation Needs Consideration.
TN connection with the rebuilding of the
city, the whole plan Of taxation should be
taken I'D and revised. The Foutz law,
which gives the annex property owners the
benefit of 90 cent tax rate. should be
wiped of the statute books When the
law was enacted it was only intended that
it should be operative for a few years,
but a good many years have passed and
the rate remains the same. AS it now
stands persons in the annex are getting the
same benefits as those in the city who pay
the full tax rate. The rate in the county Is
now so cents, or 20 cents more than the
annex rate.
TOO many persons are paying too small
proportion of the expenses of the city.
The many people of means who reside in
the county over six months in q year. but
wECse business interests are entirely in
the city, should pay their proportion of
70 hut ic b. -,
they can be compelled to do so. II a man
resides in the county one day over six
months in a year they are residents of
the county, and although they enjoy all
the benefits of the municipal system for
the remaining portion of the year they do
not pay one cent of taxes into the city
treasury.
Homes in the County.
Take the bank presidents, for instance.
The Green Spring valley Gainesville, in
fact, all of Baltimore is dotted here and
there with their summer homes l could
name six whose banks were burned down
and who are paying taxes in the county,
although Their interests are identified en-
tirely with Baltimore city
Il think If these gentlemen would claim
residence in the city and regard their
homes in the county as luxuries it would
be very good contribution to the relief
fund. This is the time for every Balti-
morean to show his public spirit and come
to the aid of the stricken city,
The discussion Of Improvement of the
streets has raised the question as to the
rights of the city to condemn land on which
there are ground rents. Charles J. Bona
parte, who Is regarded as a competent
authority on the subject, says that the
needs OF the city are paramount.
Mr.. Bonaparte's Views.
''The city can condemn irredeemable
ground rents" he said to The Star corre-
spopdent, provided the land Is needed for
a street or other pubHe improvements The
owner Of a ground rent Is really the owner
of the property in strict law The owner
OF a leasehold has lease on the property
Tor nlnety-nine years, with the privilege of
obtaining an extension for ninety-nine
years more. the new lease thus obtained
having the same privilege attached to it."
Ihese leases always contain a covenant
mat the tenant shall pay all taxes and as
sessments whether on the ground or on the
improvements. ana as IA matter of conyen-
ience the land and improvements are there
fore assessed to the tenant
IF the land is condemned for a nuh,ic
purpose the landlord and the tenant or in
other words. the owner of the ground rent
ana the owner of the house subject to it.
must each be compensated for the value of
his interest in the property The CITY wou1d
not nave the right to condemn a ground
rent unless 1t was going to take the land
,or some public use. but If 1t needs the
A1N ~ municipal purposes II can condemn
any interest in the land
Payment of Ground Rents.
Parties owning ground rents can comnel
iessees to pay full ground rent, even in a
situation Of this kind" concluded Mr.. Bona
parte- The owner Of the ground rent will
get no more. if the owner of the leasebold
gets twice as much as he did before. and
70 less If the lessee rents 1t for nothing II
Is perfectly legal for owners of ground rents
IA me burned district to insist upon full
1 feel very sure that the owners of Some
81 touno rents on property in which l own
sne ieasehoid. and where the improvements
t I've peen destroyed will oblige me to nav
ans ground rents as did before the Are
ana see no reason why they should not, :"
REDUCING MILITARY GUARD