The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-07-29
A STEP TOWARDS ATE
OWNER SHIP OF PUBLIC
UTILITIES.

AT what is termed the Governors
Cabinet Council. which was held in the
City Of Baltimore. the Acknowledgement
made the proposition that the State of
Maryland take over BY purchase all Of
the steam ship lines running to the East
~eru Shore and then run the lines under
State ownership to bring the trade OF the
Eastern Shore to Baltimore City.
This is a proposition to startle not only
every honest Democrat in the State, but
it also m kes every taxpayer take action
to defend his daily earnings and his
daily bread.
Maryland is a small State and one OF
limited resources. All of the soil of
Maryland is not rich and productive but
on the contrary much Of ii is poor and
some Of it practically barren.
The msiority Of the taxpayers are not
rich. and il is only too true that the ma
iorty of them are poor men and are re-
quired to use economy to get along.
The State of Maryland a few years
ago was out of debt, and the people
were congratulated by the State Treas
urer on the ground that we would now
have no State taxes TO pay.
At least it was so published in the
newspapers of the State.
Now. then. since the presen, admins
tration we have plunged into debt TO the
extent OF six millions OF dollars toim-
prove the public roads. Suffice it is to
say that this debt will have to be paid
by the taxpayers, and they will find it a
grievous burden before they get it paid.
If the people have not learned, they
will soon do so. that public deb; is not
a blessing but curse.
Debt public or private is a blight upon
the State and upon the individual.
But there is a worse side to this
scheme. than the mere fact that it will
increase the public debt millions of dol
lars for the taxpayers 10 pay. 1t will be
a great injustice 10 the people of Western
Maryland TO make them pay taxes on
such a debt when they receive not the
sIightes, benefit whatever. But this IS
not the worst feature Of this amazing
proposition.
The Democratic party has for years
been opposing paternalism, ship subsidy,
and socialism, and the Democratic party
repudiated Mr. Bryan's statement look
ing in the directian of State ownership.
although Mr. Bryap explained that he did
not mean that he was in favor of it.
10 the face of all this we have from
our Acknowledgement in the Governors
Council, proposition which embraces
not only the developing of State owner
ship. but socialism, paternalism. and
ship subsidy, each and all Of them in
their worst form. and at an enormous
increase in the debt Of the State.
The State ofMaryland is to be the owner
Of half dozen lines OF steamers. with
all the cost OF such business, with all of
the officers TO run the boats, and a court
besides to sUperintend. inspect and SUI.
pervise. This is proposition so start
ling as to make every sane man in the
State sit UP and take notice 1t is anti
Democratic in every phase and feature.
1t is violation ofeyery principle Of sound
State policy. Ii is putting the State into
the private business Of the people. 1t is
discriminating between the people Of the
State-beneftting one portion while it
burdens another. Are we TO have next
as a companion scheme that the State
shall build bridge across Chesapeake
Bay for twenty million of dollars? Such
a scheme would be little less startling
shan the proposition that the State shall
buy all Of the steam ship lines to the
Eastern Shore.
We will be very glad to help the Eastern
Shore in an effort TO increase her pros
perity, but not by such scheme as this.
So We will do all that we can to advance /
the CITY of Baltimore, but we cannot
sacrifice all of our own iniererts and all /.
of our political principles, and it ought !
not to be expected of US. But after all. I
is the Eastern Shore complaining On /
the contrary. they tell US that they ship /
to Philadelphia, because they have
better market there than they have in
Baltimore City.
The business men OF Baltimore can
correct all Of this trouble, by giving the