Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-02-22
II COMMUNICATION
To the Editor OF the 81. Mary
HnAlsllhl -.

BEACON -
AS Marylanders, We ali take the
keenest possible interest / wish /
might say ia all respects delightful
Baltimore We may believe that, I'M
trammelled, Baltimore shonId be cer-
tainly the second shipping point on
the Eastern coast OF Che United States,
with its excellent harbor and projected
approaches, with rich country back
Of her and with the ability to tap pro
ductive regions Of the West and North
west. Opportunity to know her citi-
zens brings respect and regard for
their genial qualities and higk charac-
ter
Baltimore Is a proud city, proud OF
her past exploits, OF her educational
facilities, OF much that is credible III
the history Of Maryland, but she IS al
so with less reason
PROUD Of her wealth and proud Of
her pride
And proud OF thousand things
besides
Baltimore is not doing her part to-
day 10 the work Of the State aud In her
own development She does not pos
sess mobile discomfort /" She says
she is conservative; this is mistake.
She Is not conservative: she Ii simply
asleep.
Other cities try 10 maintain sort Of
bowling Acquaintance with the science
Of taxation. Baltimore has not walked
up TO the fact that there Is such q
science, powerfully affecting CONNER
cial and industrial welfare. New York
raises two-thirds Of her public reye-
nues from land values and about one
third from industry and the products
and results OF industry. Philadelphla
discourages taxation on personal prop
erty though still adhsring 10 taxation
on buildings. Pittsburgh, still mora
Il approaching . point
where City per cent OF the taxation on
buildings viii be struck on n We go
TO the aniipodes, we shall Gnd that the
City OF sydpey Ia New South Wales.
having population Of 60u,D00, APP
tne sire OF Baltimore,
does not tax thrift ia any shape, but
raises ell city revenues by taxation Of
land values. Not 70 far away. We dis.
cover that Vancouver, Victoria and
practically al The cities Of British
Columbia do not tax improvements
and personal property, but like sgd.
ney, raise their income from taxation
upon the value Of monopoiized lard.
20 Baltimore by way OF con.
trast We discover that in this clty
sixty-Dine per cent Of her taxes are
levied directly upon buildings and
personal property, including money,
and only ihiriy-one per cent on the
value Of land. The power 10 tax II
said 70 be the power 70 destroy. and
uses 4 70 s.raERle and do.
4troy human effort
Meanwhile, some petty privilege tax
rs are being urged bg tho Mayor, and
q number 81 business men OF baltimore
are up 10 arms about Is. CTsss rirs.
Certainly Il Is 10 laugh wheu he bust.
ness men Of baltimore quietly aud
patiently submit, 10 paying millions 81
dollars OF taxes ON The fruits 81 their
industry, and rise IN their wrath when
called upon 70 pas Few additional
dollars for less harmful iases. The
men who have buils up Baltimore, De-.
spite the hampering burdens laid upon
them, arc straining At the KuAt o.
privilege taxes and swallowing the
camel 81 taxation ca industry nith All
It's hoois, hide aud ieiid breath. FEES
men OF Baltimore outside 81 trade
unions have shown any Indication 81
real knowledge Of this subject
There Is no frecr consultation on lhe
subject OF taxation in the whole United
States than that Of Maryland. The
State government, The County govern.
menis, The government Of the City 1T
have all right 70 lcyy
taxes upon whatever they may tInd 70
Be justly subject 10 taxation, and not
10 levy them when such levy Is against
The best interests Of the people. The
business interests Of baltimore, great
and small, and her home-owners, do
not seem ~ have discovered chs fact
pr, II they have discovered IT, lack the
courage and independence 10 insist
lpon the advantages It gives theln. Il
-ather prefer 70 believe that, like Ball
imore rs whole, they are only asleep
Every town 10 Germany and almost
,very town II England recognize thai
public franchises belong 10 the public
md preserves this common wealth TO
he commonwealth In this country,
Cleveland and Toledo have walked up
over this subject and can already show
results Chicago has been aRilaed
md accomplished something. San
francisco Is finding a remedy. 3alil.
more, TO the extent OF millions and tens
Il millions OF dollars IN value, without
. thought or word turns over these
franchises TO private companies for
Baltimore sleeps on.
20 Utopain dreams disturb her Stun.
ser. II she even lndulgod IN day
lreams her future were more hopeful.
When We turn TO political conditions,
70 find that Baltimore has retained
Der double barreled CITY Council, Ill.
hough such system has been dis.
.arded In almost eyery progressive