The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-03-01
THE PEOPLES FORUM.
Baltimore Lays, But She Wants To
Extend Geographic Lines Which
Will Not Cleanse Her Soul Of I'm
puritisS That are Manifest.

say in all respects delight-in Balti-
more. We may believe that, untram-
melled, Baltimore should be certainly
the second shipping point on the East
ern coast of the United States, with its
excellent harbor and protected ap-
proaches, with a rich country back of
her and with the ability to tap produc-
tive regions Of the West and Northwest.
Opportunity to know her citizens brings
respect and regard for their genial
qualities and high character.
Baltimore is a proud city, proud of
her past exploits, of her educational
facilities, Of much that is creditabe in
the history Of Maryland, but she is also
with less reason
proud of her wealth and proud of her
pride
And proud Of q thousand things beside.
Baltimore is not doing her part today
in the work Of the State and in her own
development. She does not possess a
"noble discomfort" She says she is
conservative; that is a mistake. She is
not conservative; is simply asleep.
Other cities try to maintain sort of
bowing acquaintance with the science
of taxation. Baltimore has not walked
up t. the fact that there is such a
science, powerfully affecting CONNER
cial and industrial welfare. New York
raises two-thirds of her public revenues
from land values and about oue-third
from industry and the products and re-
suits Of industry. Philadelphia dis
courages taxation on personal property
though still 2dherir5 to taxation on
build rgs. Pittsburgh, though more
advanced, IS approaching point where
fifty per cent. Of the taxation on build
ings viii be struck off, If we 90 to the
antipodes, we shall find that the City Of
Sydney in New South Wales, having
population Of 600, 600, approximately
the size of Baltimore, does not tax
thrift in any shape, but raises a.. city
revenues by taXsti-,, Of land values.
Not SO Tar away, we discover that
Vancouver, Victoria and practically all
the cities Of British Columbia do not
tax improvements and personal prop
ert. but like Sydney raises their income
from taxation upon the value of
monopolized land. Returning to Balti-
more by way OF contrast, we discover
that in this city, sixty-nine per cent. of
her taxes are levied directly upon build
ings and personal property including
money, and only thirty-one per cent. on
the value of land The power to tax is
said to be the power to destroy, and
Baltimore uses it to strangle and de-
stroy human effort.
Meanwhile, some petty privilege
taxes are being urged by the Mayor,
and a number of business men of
Baltimore are up in arms about it.
C'est rire. Certainly it is to laugh
when the business men of Baltimore
quietly and patiently submit to paying
millions of dollars of taxes on the
fruits of their industry, and rise in
their wrath when called upon to pay a
few additional dollars for less harmful
taxes. The men who have built up
Baltimore, despite the hampering bur
dens laid upon them, are straining at
the gnat of privilege taxes and swallow
ing the camel Of taxation on industry
with all It's hoofs, hide and fetid breath.
Few men of Baltimore outside of trade
unions have shown any indications of
real knowledge of this subject.
There is no freer constitution on the
subject of taxation in the whole United
States than that of Maryland. The
State government, the County govern
ments, the government of the City of
Baltimore, have all a right to levy
taxes upon whatever they may find to
be justly subject to taxation, and not
to levy them when such levy is against
the best interest of the people. The
business interests of Baltimore, great
and small, and her home-owners, do not
seem to have discovered this fact or,
if they have discovered it, lack the
courage and independence to insist up
on the advantages it gives them. |
rather prefer to believe that, like Bal
timore as whole, they are only asleep.
Every town in Germany and almost
every townin England recognize thatpub-
lie franchises belong to the public and
preserves this common wealth to the
commonwealth. In this country, Cleve-
land and Toledo have walked up over
this subject and can already show re-
suits. Chicago has been agitated and
accomplished something. San Fran
cisco is finding remedy. Baltimore,
to the extent of millions and tens of
millions of dollars in value, without a
thought or word turns over these
franchises to private companies for
exploitation. Baltimore sleeps Oh. No
Utopian dreams disturb her sumber.
If she even INDUCED In day dreams her
future were more hopeful
When we turn to political conditions,
we ind that baltimore has rata,ned har