The midland journal., 1917-10-26
CITY NOT IN COUNTY.
RALTIMoRE's STATUS DIFFERENT
FROM OTHER TOWNS.
Made An Independent Division OF
Maryland BY Constitution OF 1851.
Referendum Adopted In 1864 For
Express Protection OF Suburbs.


Partisan Citizens Protective Committee.)
Prior to 1851 the city of Baltimore
was merely an Incorporated town with
In Baltimore county. The extensions
of the city by acts Of the Legislature
In 1745, 1747, 1773 and 1915 simply
enlarged the city within the county,
Its inhabitants remaining residents Of
Baltimore county. The Constitution
Of 1851, by the votes of the people Of
the entire State, separated Baltimore
city from Baltimore county and made
1t an Independent unit of the State,
on the same footing with the counties.
Failure to understand the status Of
Baltimore city before the Constitution
Of 1851 and after 1t became independ.
ent Is not uncommon and prevents
some persons from seeing clearly why
annexation cannot still be made by a
simple act of the Legislature, just as
was done in the years above mention
ed. Men so prominent and supposedly
learned as the members Of the Greater
Baltimore Extension Leagues" com.
mitee say they cannot see why the
tended, just as had been done with
Frederick City, Annapolis, Hagers.
town, Bladensburg, Easton and Ellicott
City. They overlook the fact that In
all those cases the inhabitants taken
into the towns mentioned remained
residents Of their respective counties.
Republicans Adopted Referendum.
Thirteen years after the Constitu-
ton of 1851 was adopted the Constitu-
tional Convention of 1884 was called.
The Republican party had secured full
control of Maryland. In the struggle
TO maintain the Union the Republicans
had been compelled to deny TIE
validity of the doctrine of States
rights, yet the claim Of the counties to
their territorial integrity and in.
dependence, subject only to the State
government, appealed to the delegates
so strongly that they incorporated into
the Constitution of 1854 the provision:
"Nor shall the lines of any county
be changed without the consent of a
majority of the legal voters residing
within the limits of the lines proposed
to be changed"
Made To Fit Present Case.
And the debate in connection with
this clause shows that 1t was express.
ty intended to provide for such a case
as that now before the people. The
clause was offered by Mr.. James L.
Ridgely, delegate from Baltimore
county, who said:
II know that Baltimore city must
Increase and expand, until in the pro.
cess Of time 1t shall absorb large
portion of the area Of Baltimore coun-
ty, and say godspeed to 1t. I do not
propose to throw any obstacle what
ever in its way. But simply ask that
when they apply to the Legislature for
an extension of it's boundaries there
shall be a limitation upon the power
of the Legislature to grant, which shall
require the assent of the people resid.
Ing in the portion of the county asked
to be included within the limits OF
Baltimore city"
In 1867 the Democrats had regained
control of the State. They made new
Constitution, but the essential justice
of the provision to protect the coun
ties from arbitrary dismemberment sc
appealed to them that they left it in
the present Constitution, changing the
meaning not all and the words but q
little;|so as to make them stronger and
palmer. This language seems perfect
ly plain and easily understood and il
Is claimed it does not need a lawyer
to explain 1t to any sane man.
Right Way the Only Way.
As the Constitution now stands there
Is no way to extend the corporate
limits of Baltimore city without the
consent of the people in the territory
to be annexed. This seems entirely
reasonable, for it is claimed thai
whenever any section become city-likt
In character and the city presents {
fair bill the people will vote to bt
taken in. This was done in 1888. L
the proposed bill should be passed i
would result in expensive and tedious
litigation, which could only be decideC
In one way-against the city.
The Annexation acts of 1874 ant
1888, both provided for the Constitu
tional referendum. The Republican
State Convention of 1915 fatty re
affirmed the principle, but this year
because of a political deal, 1t Is al
leged, the Republican platform de
clares, in effect. that the people of thu
Belt shall be taken into the city with
out being permitted to vote upon th'
matter, thus reversing the party's un
broken record. The Democratic plat
form declares squarely in favor of al
annexation bill with a referendum 4
the people affected, as required by tn,
Constitution.
The farmers in the part of Baltimor
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