The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1912-05-31
THE NEW CHARTER.

On the eleventh day Of June. 1912
the voters OF Frederick City will vote On
proposed new charter and new form
| OF government for the City Of Frederick.
/ It is called and known as the commits
Z sion form OF government for cities and
f municipalities
Before the people OF this city make
up their minds 10 discard our present
form Of government it will be only
y duty dictated by plain. common sense to
consider well all OF the conditions. past
present and future as to the citizens and
c taxpayers Of our city. In the first place,
we are an inland city Of between ten and
y eleven thousand people, and of course, of
limited resources. We are also burdened
5 with, for us, heavy burden in the way
1 of large public debt
Z Suffice it is to say. however, that our
public debt was absolutely necessary,
and it was by necessity forced upon US.
III The war debt of Two hundred thousand
at dollars, and the railroad debt of two
ne hundred thousand dollars more. the CITY
Hall and the Improvements to Carroll
h Creek, all occasioned by the food of
i; 1868, made the creation Of our public
debt necessary and unavoidable.
il Since then we have had to increase it
d by enlarging and increasing our water
:, supply. All Of these improvements we're
N absolutely necessary.
We bova in I,-. e.. 49,. ....
large sums OF money improving the
III streets by new pavements etc. We now
- have the town in the finest condition that
:, has ever been known, and it is now
O beautiful town to live in or to visit.
1u There is no more orderly city in the
world. 1t is clean and healthful. 1t is
h well policed, and nothing mars its peace
full and orderly progress. Under the
present form of government, which is the
le old form of municipal government, we
ds have managed well the public debt and
have kept it down and have kept the tax
rate low in proportion to other cities OF
In the same population. There is absolutely
no waste of public money. no leaks and
7r no defalcations OF our financial agents
loi and not even suspicion of wrong doing
va anywhere.
81 Now this all being so. why in the
"a name of reason and common sense shall
we make any change? Is it merely for
as the sake of innovation and change
INC Before wise people should change from
u. form Of government which has done /
va well, and is doing well they should at
Ad least be sure that they are to get some. 1
Nteing better. What are we to get better .
pc What can we get better
'et Some cities which have had bad
government have adopted the commits
sion form of government Some cities
i'll, seem to like it, and in Others it has been
,la failure.
n AT best it is only an experiment. Ex-
5rs periments should only be tried when
IA there is a necessity. Cumberland is now
he s' trying it, because there were said to be
his great abuses under the old form OF gov
eminent We are under no such neces-
sity as that
-, Under the proposed new charter it is
\ proposed to increase current expenses to
,as almost three times the amount what we
Nnow have to paw
5 This increase our taxpayers cannot
Milford, especially when there is no neces-
ig5ty for it. Then why increase expenses? 2
~ What is to be done or gained Are we
lei, % embark on a scheme to exploit the
MISTY by an enlarged scheme of public i'm
,eu orovements Of all sorts and issue and
Ar. sell bonds to pay expenses.
Vo If so we are opposed 10 it, and we are
~ Opposed to any more improvements
fIst. until we have the money on hand to paw
Mfor them as we go. The best rule for our
vicity and the only rule for our city.
Mas it is for all, pay as YOU CO." Now.
I If we are not to embark on a plan of
ulr wild progress why any need Tor IN
NJ increase OF current expenses? The Mayor
and Board of Aldermen 40 their duty.
the fiscal officers are honest, faithful. and
our police keep good order There is