Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1917-09-07


Chief Judge Of the Supreme Bench
OF Baltimore City.
Hon. John F. Mudd. former Sem
ator from Charles County.
Alexander r. Hagner, Esq, City
Attorney. Hagerstown, Nd.
BENJAMIN A. Richmond, Esq.
Cumberland. Nd.
Hon. George r. Gather, Jr., for
mer Attorney General
Messrs. William L. Marbury. s. S.
Field, W. Calvin Chestnut and John
II. Richardson.
The Resolution appointing the
Committee authorized the Commit
tee to I'll any vacancy that might
occur In its membership and to ap-
point an additional member from
the Curtis Bay and Brooklyn Dis
trict.
His Honor. Judge Pearce, having
been unable TO serve, Hon. W
Laird Henry OF Cambridge, also a
former Judge of the Court of Ap-
peals. was elected by the Commit
tee. in place Of Judge Pearce; and
subsequently, the Committee ap-
pointed, in pursuance of the power
conferred upon them, Mr.. James p
McGovern as a representative OF the
Curtis Bay and Brooklyn District.
The Committee held It's first meet
ing on February 2Sth, organized by
the election of Hon. Henry d. Har
Ian as Chairman and W. Calvin
Chestnut, Esq, as Secretary, and
began the consideration of a proper
bill for extending the City limits
taking Senate Bill 1876, which passed
the second reading in the Senate OF
1916, as the basis.
Further sessions of the Committee
were held on March 7th, 18th, 21st
and 2Sth and April 4th, 18th and
goth. At the fourth meeting, on
March 81, the Committee completed
their tentative draft of the Bill and
gave notice through the newspapers
that the tentative draft had been
completed and printed; that any one
desiring a copy could obtain one,
and that the Committee would meet
on March 2Sth. at the League Head
quarters. at p. M. to consider any
suggestions or criticisms any one
might offer personally or by letter.
The Committee met for further pub
lie hearings on April 4th, 18th and
goth. The Committee specially in
vited the County Commissioners OF
Baltimore and Anne Arundel coun-
ties and also the Citizens Commit
tee of Baltimore County, to present
their views to the Committee, either
in person or in writing.
After hearing the views, sugges-
tons and criticisms of all parties
who desired to present their views to
the Committee. the Committee have
agreed upon final draft of the Bill
and herewith present che completed
Bill, as being, in their judgment, o
proper, wise and fair measure for
extending the limits of Baltimore
City. n
City Limits should BE Extended.
The facts that the area within the
present limits Of Baltimore City is
the most densely populated of any
city In the country; that the over
dow from Baltimore City-elosely
settled Just outside the limits-has
reached a population greater than
that Of any city in the State Other
than Baltimore; that has beer
twenty-nine years since there was
any extension to the City limits tC
the north or west, and one hundred
and one years since there was any
extension to the east; together with
| l proper consideration of the public
health and the public peace and the
| opportunity which is now at hand
for a tremendous development Of
the City and Harbor of Baltimore al
a great manufacturing and shippine
center. all demonstrate the necessity
of so extending the limits of Balti-
more City as to enable the City tC
make the most Of the present oppor.
tunity and to realize its highest and
best development for the public vel
fare of the entire State.
| The extension should be sufficient
to provide for the needs and devel
opment of the City not only for the
immediate present, but for a genera
ton to come. because experience
shows that extensions of the City
| ilinilo Cdn ut OBtdAlcu OuAg dlACi
comparatively long intervals.
The area proposed to be added
from Baltimore County is 46.5
square miles, very small percent
age, as there will be left to the
| county 600 square miles.
The area taken from Anne Arun-
| del is ga square miles, leaving to
Anne Arundel County AIS square
| miles.
Both of said counties will retain
4 the same position relative 10 the
other counties. both as to area and
population, which they now hold,
and the increment of value to the
remaining land in the counties, after
he proposed extension due to prox-
unity to the City, will be sufficient
% leave Baltimore County with an
lssessable basis more than twice as
great as that of any other county in
the State, and will leave Anne Arun-
del County with an assessable basis
larger than that of any county on
| the Eastern Shore.
The Committee feel that the ex-
tension provided for in the present
l OIL 10 iGdcOndUAG anu AAfl
too much to provide for the probable
needs of the City in the near future.
Fair Tax Rate for Territory to BE
Added.
The proposed Bill provides that
property in the territory to be added
! should be taxed at a rate equal 70
60 per cent of the full City rate for
the year 1919. and that the percent
age of the full City rate should in
crease 2 per cent each year until the
two rates become one at the end OF
20 years. 1t was thought that the
present City rate represents in part
provision to meet the interest and
sinking fund on old loans, the pro
ceeds of which had been expended
for purposes the benefit of which
would not be fully received by the
new territory, and that it would take
some time before the new territory
received the full City benefits, and
therefore, it was thought iust--both
to the taxpayers in the present CITY
and to the taxpayers in the new ter
ritory-not to apply the full City
l 70 q n fbn naxu forrifr.-tr