Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1914-03-27
HEARING ON BILL TO
EXTEND CITY LIMITS
Governor Gives Audience to 0p-
ponents and Advocates.
Protestsnts claim Those in Area Af-
fscted Should Have Been Consult
ed Mayor Speaks for Measure.

ueleEhIlOn OF hDOuC twenty clJl
zens and taxpayers of Annapolis sp,
peared before Governor Goldsborougt
this morning for the hearing on the
bill which provide for extending the
limits of the western end of the city,
creating an additional city ward and
providing for the election of two al.
dermen to represent the new ward ir
the City Council.
The bill, which was introduced by
Senator Watkins, has passed both
houses of the Legislature, and is how
before the Governor for his approval
or rejection. In view of the protests
made against the measure, the Gov.
ernor arranged for the public hear.
ing this morning.
The delegation was about equally
divided between advocates and oppo-
nents Of the measure, and il appear
ed that those opposed to the bill are
mostly Republicans and its advocates,
Democrats. Messrs. Daniel r. Ran
dali, former Mayor Gordon H. Claude
and Alderman John A. Russell, and
Mr.. Harry Ellenhausen. were the
principal spokesmen among the pro-
testants, while Mayor Strange, City
Counselor Melvin and others address
ed the Governor and urged him to
sign the bill.
The opponents of the bill claimed
that it was prepared and rushed
through the Legislature without hav
ing first conferred with the taxpayers
concerned, and that its provisions 5
would work an unjust burden on them.
Further, they said, that while the
territory of the city would be greatly
enlarged, il would not take into the
city many more voters. Much of the
property, they claimed, is unde-
veloped. This point was particularly
urged by Mr.. Ellenhausen, who owns
tract of about twenty acres vast OF
Murry Hill.
Mayor Strange and Counselor Melvin
resented the accusation that there had
been anything to conceal in the draft
ing of the bill, nor that there had been
any attempt to deceive the persons
living in the section. Mayor Strange
urged, among other things, that this
was the principal direction for the
city to expand, in view of the fact
that the Government has, in recent
years, taken much of the city prop
erty for Naval Academy purposes,
and contemplates acquiring more in
the near future, and further that the
boundaries of the city are further
encroached upon.
Mayor Strange told the Governor
that he is sure the majority of tax
payers of the city are in favor of the
extension of the boundaries.
DR.. Claude, in his address, gave
the following reasons why the bill
should be vetoed:
First-This "bill" has receive
no consideration of the May jr, Coun-
selor and Aldermen of the City OF
Annapolis, notwithstanding there has
been three regular sessions of the
Council, two before the bill was in
troduced, and one since, and yet nc
reference was made to il.
Second-The County Commission
ers of Anne Arundel county have been
in session every Tuesday since the
Legislature convened and the matte
has not been considered by them.
Third-The Senator from Anne
Arundel who introduced the bill could
not recollect the author Of the meas
ure, or who gave it to him.
Fourth The people interested have
had no opportunity TO express them
selves on this measure
Fifth-Those concerned were de.
MED the opportunity of hearing be
fore the Anne Arundel delegation tc
whom the bill was refe erred in tbs
House.
The Governor listened very intent.
ly TO the several speakers, but gave
no intination as to his probable
course in the premises. After the
hearing he said he would not decide un'
til he had investigated the lega
phases of the question.
Delegate Duvsll introduced in the
House today bill amending the roac
laws for this county, particularly a'
regards the duties of the county en-
gineer. After providing that the
engineer shall maintain his residence
in the county, and devote his entire
time to the duties of the office, the
blu goes on to say that he shall have
supervision and charge of all wcrh
on public roads and bridges in the
county, as determined by the Coun,
ty Commissioners, and shall prepare
All specifications for such work.
All county teams, machines OF
other implements and accessories fol
such work also are placed directly
under his charge, and he shall employ
such labor and teams as may be neces
sary from time to time. The engi.
neer is restrained from expendiug OF
working out great amount of fund:
on roads and bridges than may be
levied for by the County Commits.
sioners, without first obtaining the
written permission of the Board.
The bill provides further that the
engineer shall report TO the Commits.
sioners at the first meeting in every