Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-10-17
CHI H0T III equity
BALTiMoRE's STATUS DIFFERENT
FROM OTHER TOWNS.
Made An Independent Division Of
Maryland 81 Constitution OF 1861
Referendum Adopted in 1864 For
Express Protection Of Suburbs.

vi SNDNfAS.
prepared by the Baltimore County Nou-
Partisan Citizens Protective Committed
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, 1873 and 1916 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 it 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
earned as the members Of the Greater
Baltimore Extension Leagues" COM
nitee say they cannot sec why the
limits of Baltimore city cannot be ex
ended, just as had been done with
Frederick City, Annapolis, Hagers.
own, Bladensburg, Easton and Ellicott
City. They overlook the fact that in
all those cases the inhabitants taken
nto the towns mentioned remained
residents of their respective counties.
Republicans Adopted Referendum.
Thirteen years after the Constitu-
ton of 1851 was adopted the Constitu.
ional Convention of 1864 was called.
rhe Republican party had secured full
control of Maryland In the struggle
70 maintain the Union the Republicans
aad been compelled to deny the
Falidity of the doctrine of States
tights, 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 1864 the provision:
Nor shall the lines of any county
be changed without the consent of
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 it was express
ly 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:
81 know that Baltimore city must
increase and expand, until in the pro-
cess of time it shall absorb large
portion of the area OF Baltimore coun.
ty, and say godspeed to it. / do not
propose to throw any obstacle what
ever in its way But ! simply ask that
when they apply 70 the Legislature for
an extension of its 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 ACKNOWLEDGMENT so
appealed TO them that they left it in
the present Constitution. changing tho
meaning not all and the words but a
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 it 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 that
whenever any section become city-like
in character and the city presents
fair bill the people will vote to be
taken in. This was done in 1883. II
the proposed bill should be passed it
would result in expensive and tedious
litigation, which could only be decided
in one way-against the city.
The Annexation acts of 1874 and
1888. both provided for the Constitu'