Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-02-23
FOR A NEW CITY CHARTER.
COMMITTEEHARDAT AT WORK
ON THE SUBJECT.
The~Limits Of Annapolis to Be
Extended And Changed
to Considerable
Extent.

1t has at last been found that An
napolis is a growing city, that it has
outgrown its swaddling clothes and
has stepped forth, q lusfy youngster, to
take place in the front rank of those
cities of the state which are destined
to be- heard Of If the charter is
amended to the extent that the friends
of the city desire il to be, and if
that opposition which is sure to de-
velop when anything for the good of
the city is attempted can be suppress
ed, Annapolis will have to change its
map.
The committee which has been ap-
pointed by the Business Mems Asso-
citation to draw up the new charter
contains the name of some of the most
aggressive men of the city. This COM
mittee was appointed at the last meet
ing of the association and will hold
weekly meetings until the setting of
the legislature cuts off its work. Al
though the charter as amended is still
in formative state and is not yet in
condition to be ratified by the Council
and taxpayers, it looms up big.
It is expected that with each sue
ceeding meeting matters needing
changing will be found until, when it
is in its finished state, it will be en-
tirely different from the present char
ter. OF most vital Importance is that
portion of the charter which has to do
with the office of Mayor Under the
present charter the Mayor is a little
better than figurehead, no matter
how good his intentions and ability.
1t is claimed that he has not the exec
utive power needful to carry on the
business for which the Office Of Mayor
was established According to the
present charter the Mayor could be dis
pensed with and all the work of his
office transacted by any one member
of the Council. Under the terms of
the new charter, however. all of this
Will be changed. The Mayor will be
clothed with that power and effective
ness which his Office should warrant.
It is intended to strengthen both
his legislative and executive powers
to such an extent as to make it pos
sihle to Judge the incumbent during
any term by his acts. He Will be
given complete power in the matter of
the police force inRsmuch as it has to
do with the discipline and conduct of
their affairs. No more power of ap-
peintments will be given the Mayor.
but he will not have to look on with
passiveness as at present at any breach
of discipline. Under the proposed
amendment to the charter he will have
to stand or fall on his own resources.
II he is not able to ''make good" he
will not be long in learning that such
is the case, as there will be no oppor-
tunity of shifting the blame from one
set of shouldres to another.
In other branches of the city govern
ment it is intended to make changes
which will have a wholesome effect
on the management of the city's
affairs. There will be no effort to
make the city support paid fire de-
partment, but every effort will be
made to strengthen and aid the vol
unteer force, which has been of such
great assistance to the city.
+. Of great Importance. however, is
the change which will be made in
the boundary lines of the city. Prac-
tically the only line which it is in
tended to leave untouched is that
marking the demarkation between the
CITY and the Naval Academy grounds.
All other lines will have several new
crooks and turns added which will
place upon the tax duplicate thousands
of dollars worth of property which is
at present receiving all the advantages
of the city without sharing any of its
burdens.
If the proper spirit is displayed by
the >,citizens of Eastport and that
hustling little village can be taken off
of the county, with the exception, OF
course. of its pro rata share of city
contribution to the county, it will be
gathered into the fold and made a
part of the city. Eastport now has
electric lights and other conveniences
which are costing the county pretty
penny. which could be assessed against
the city and paid out of taxes which
could be received from the town
across the Spa. Under the new char
ter Eastport will be given water ser
vice for which it has been clamoring
so long.
Another line which it is intended
to extend is that marking the limits
of Murray Hill 1t will be carried
further to the south where much val
liable property is now located and on
which only county taxes are paid.
This itera alone, while not hitting
the individual very hard. will aid not
q little in maintaining the expenses
of the city. The line TO the west will
be extended q few hundred feet at
least. At present this hlines scrosses at
a point Just this side of the planning
and grist mill of the Henry B. Myers
Co. on West street. To the crossing
of the Bay Ridge railroad at least the
property is in the city and it is in
tended to extend the paving of the
CITY TO the track. This will not add
a great deal to the tax duplicate. but
will make quite q considerable show
ing when added to the other additions
Residents of Germantown will, how
ever. be given an opportunity of ex-
pressing themselves with reference to
being admitted TO the city and il this
is done the railroad crossing will not
serve as a line of demarkation between
the city and county. It was proposed
py some who are interested in the
changing of the charter Of the city
that the city be separated from the
county and made separate and dis
tinct. This plan is strongly contest
ed, however, by many. as it has not
been found practicable in many of the
cities in which it was tried Balti-
more is the only city in the United
States which has--nothing to do with