The Democratic advocate., 1908-12-25
COUNTIES Are WILLING.
VIII NOT OPPOSE GREATER REPRE-
sFNTATlON FOR BALTIMORE CITY
COmDtroIIer Herring and Insurance
Commissioner Grouse Favor 1t

On the subject of allowing Baltimore
o;ty a larger representation in the
ctote legislature, Comptroller Herring
ond Insurance roT1,nisS' nncr Grouse
oxnrossed themselves as follows in
tbe RaItimore Sun on Wednesday.
~ am" said DR.. Herring, "cutil ely in
o,,mnathy with the movement to Sc
cure for Baltimore larger represent
alton in the General Assembly. There
;s no question that the ciry has a right
70 more adequate representation. It
has the population and it pays the
tayes to entitle it to consideration in
This respect, and it is neither just nor
fair to continue to force the city to be
satisfied with its present representa-
ton.
q do not think that there will be
sny disposition upon the part OF the
county people to oppose an increase at
the next session. | am county man
and know that the feeling of hostility
talked of between counties and city
does not exist. | have been at An
napolis during many sessions of the
legislature. and it has been M exper-
ience that there is usually more fric-
ton among the city members them
selves than between the counties and
the city
"As for the exact number of addi-
tional representatives which the city
should be given | am not prepared to
say. | scarcely think il would be wise
to give to the city representation in
the Legislature in exact proportion to
its population, as that woui:l give
Baltimore city control of everything
and would shut the counties ort alto
gether. Also, it must be recolleCted
that the population here in the city is
a compact one, while that in The coun-
ties is scattered. In 1he city here you
have your great newspapers to arouse
public sentiment behind measures in
which the people are Interested to a
.pJcH greater >xtent than We haze IN
the counties.
Still l think the increase that
should be given Baltimore should not
be one which would not satisfy the
sentiment Of the people here. The city
deserves and is entitled to. Il consid
cradle increase, and any reasonable
request from it should, and believe
will be, promptly granted oy the Leg
islature.
NO, | do not think that it would
be unreasonable for the city to have
One-third of the members of the Leg
islature. Its population woul1 entitie
it to about half, but, as l have sa,d,
| do not believe it would be quite the
thing TO grant this. The city has now
about onefourth of the Legislature,
and an increase to one-third would put
it in a position where it could take
care of itself and which would be
much more just and equitable than it's
present representation, which, think,
every fair-minded man will admit is
not sufficient"
Mr.. Grouse FayOrS Increase.
B. Frank Grouse, State Insurance
Commissioner and Democratic leader
of Carroll county, also spoke strongly
in favor of the movement from the
standpoint of a county man.
L want to say" said Mr.. Grouse,
that so far as the people of Carroll
county are concerned, there is not the
slightest hostility toward the CITY, Our
people are willing that Baltimore city
should get the increase it is asking
for, and furthermore, are willing to
help it get it. We do not want to be
"4ii'i4 W tuc CITY, anu any lodSOudUIo
proposition asked for by the city will
get the support of Carroll county
I'VE realize in our county to what
extent the prosperity of the whole
State depends upon Baltimore city,
and we recognize the fact that the city
mas never had sufficient representation
III the General Assembly The city
pays more taxes than all of the coun-
Ties combined and has nearly one-half
OF the total population. Under these
circumstances everybody must admit
mat its present representation is too
small and that it has the right on it's
side when it asks for an increase. l for
one am ready to do all 1 can at the
next session of the Legislature to see
that the city gets through the consti-
tuuonal amendment granting the in
crease, and l am confident the people
OF carroll county recognize the righte-
BUSINESS Of the citys claim"