The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-02-11
THE INCREASE OF THE REP
PRESENTATION OF BAL
TIMORE CITY IN THE LEG
STATURE.


One Of the most important questions
before the Legislature of the State at
the present session is that to increase the
representation of Baltimore CITY.
This can only be done by an amend
ment to the Constitution of the State
which will have 10 be submitted to the
voters Of the State for ratification at the
next State election, because the Constr
tutional Convention of eighteen hundred
and sixty seven fixed the representation
OF that city as we'll as each Of the coun-
ties at a ratio which 1t thought was the
wisest and best for the best interest of
the whole State
Since the Constitution was adopted the
representation Of Baltimore CITY. has
been increased once already The CITY
now asks for an increase in proportion to
population
This would give Baltimore CITY nearly
half OF the members of the Legislature.
OF course no sane man will vote for this
proposition. But large increase in her
representation will be proposed. and the
question is whether it is wise and safe
for the best interests Of the State to give
the city any increase, and if so what?
What need is there for the increase in
the representation of Baltimore City?
Has the interests Of the city ever been
defeated by any Legislature that ever
assembled in Annapolis, and if so when.
and what interest has ever suffered?
There is not the slightest bad feeling
in single county in the State against
Baltimore City or against any interest of
Baltimore City and on the contrary
every county in the State is always clad
and delighted 10 give to the CITY any
thing and everything that she asks for.
Baltimore CITY with her present repre-.
sentatlon has always gotten what she
wanted from the Legislature and always
will, unless her demands are out of
allreason. She is now practically ask
ing the State to give her absolute control
OF the Legislature. If the proposition as
to her increase Of population is adopted,
she will TO all practical purposes, be in
control OF the Legislature. II her repre-
senlaiion is increased by adding twenty
four more members to the Legislature if
viii then be in the power Of The city. in
combination with two or three large
Counties TO control State conventions and
the legislation Of the State. These are
undisputed facts, and the members of the
Legislature can easily verify them for
themselves.
The arguments that it is unjust to the
city, not TO have representation according
io population, is untenable, because that
would be turning the Legislature over
10 Baltimore City.
ith 'he universal rule that the weak
must % protected from the strong So
Do this State, each county is weak as
compared 20 Baltimore City in the Legis-
lature and the rights and the independ
ence Of each county must be preserved
as against the strong city
Our condition in this State is unforu-
nate, not because we have a great city,
for we are all proud of our great city,
but unfortunate in having SO small
State outside Of Baltimore City. There
is no State in. the Union similarly stu.
ated, except the State of Delaware,
which is a small State with one large
city-Wilmington There is not an in
telligent man in that State who would
for one moment think Of giving Winning
ton representation according TO her pop
ulation. If il were 50, then the Legisla-
lure Of Delaware would Simply be a
delegation from Wilmington. The same
condition confronts Maryland unless the
Legislature acts very wisely at the pres
ent session and provides against it.
But more than all this, is it safe to
increase the representation of Balti-
more when we consider the del
egations that she has been electing to
represent her? We have no intention or
desire to disparage Baltimore City, but
her representation has made record in
the Legislature which has been unbroken
for many years. She could have sent to
the Legislature delegations which could
have easily led that body, but not in
years has she sent such a delegation.
She has great population and many
very able men, but few of them ever
represent her. In addition she has
conglomerate electorate and large per-
centage Of that electorate are ignorant,