The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1917-02-23
MIR. Ralston's Letter.

To the Editor of the Prince Georges
Enauirer:-
AS Marylanders, We all take the keen
est possible INTEREST," wish might say
in all respects delight-in Baltimore.
We may believe that, untrammelled,
Baltimore should be certainly the second
shipping point on the Eastern coast Of
the United States, with its excellent
haI Dor and protected approaches. with
a rich country back Of her and with the
ability to tap productive regions of the
West and Northwest. Opportunity to
know her citizens brings respect and re-
gard for their genial qualities and high
character.
Baltimore is proud city, proud oil
her past exploits. Of her educational
facilities, of much that 10 creditable in
the history Of Maryland. but she is also
with less reason
proud of her wealth and proud
of her pride
And proud Of her thousand
things beside"
Baltimore is not doing her part today
In the work of the State and in her
own development. She does not poss-
ess q noble discontent., She says she
is conservatives; this is . mistake. She
is not conservative; she Is simply asleep.
Other cities try to maintain q 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 revenues
from land values and about ons.third
from industry and the products and re-
suits Of industry, Philadelphia dis
courages taxation on personal property
though still adhering to taxation on
buildings. Pittsburgh, still more ad-
vanced, is approaching . point where
fifty per cent of the taxation on build
ings will Re struck of. II We go to the
antipodes, we shall fiud that the City
| of Sydney in New South Wales, having
q population of 5000 approximately
the size of Baltimore, does not tax
thrift in any shape. but raises all city
| revenues by taxation of land values
Not 30 far away, we discover that Van
| couyer. Victoria and practically all the
cities of British Columbia do not tax
Improvements and personal property,
but like Sydney raise their income from
taxation upon the value of monopolized
land Returning to Baltimore by way
of contrast, we discover that in this
city, sixty-nine per cent of her taxes
are levied directly upon buildings 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 Bslti-
more uses it to strange and destroy
human effort.
Meanwhile, some petty privilege taxes
are being urged by the Mayor, and 3
number Of business men CT Baltimore
are up in arms about it. Cost q rlre.
Certainly it is to laugh when the bust
ness 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 VINO have built up Baltimore, de
spite the hampering burdens laid upon
them, are stralning at the gnat Of priyi-
lege taxes and swallowing the camel Of
taxation on industry with all its hoofs,
hide and fetid breath. Few men Of
Baltimore outside Of trade unions have
shown any indication 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