Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-03-06
ANOTHER ATTACK
ON ANNEXATION
Anne Arundel And Baltimore Coun-
ty Getting Final Hearings
Against Bill
STRAUS SPEAKS TO-DAY
Former Attorney General to Close for
Anne Arundel Messrs Melvin and
Walton Heard

Still another hearing against the
annexation bill of the Greater Balti-
more League, is to be had before the
measure is finally brought out. This
will take place this afternoon before
the Senate Judiciary Committee, aug
mented by Senator Allen. of Balti-
more County and Senator Duvall of
Anne Arundel. The hearing will be
marked by the argument of former
Attorney General Isaac Lobe Straus,
representing Anne Arundel County.
Baltimore County closed yesterday
afternoon with speeches by Delegates
Mcintosh and Benson, who were fol-
lowed by Messrs. James A Walton,
President of the Board of County
Commissioners, and Ridgely p. Mel
win, chairman of the Anne Arundel
Delegation in the House.
Speaking for Anne Arundel, Mr.
Walton said that Mr.. F. A McGovern
had been delegated no right to repre-
sent this county during the meetings
of the Greater Baltimore League, and
proceeded to prove that the people
of this county had never been given
an opportunity to be heard by the
lawyers committee of the Non-Parti-
san League, and in support of his
contention he held up to public gaze
an envelope in which, he said, Judge
Harlan's invitation to appear had
been received. The postofFice and no
tations on the envelope showed, Mr.
Walton said, that the invitation had
been received only one day before the
lawyers committee met in final ses-
sion, which was not enough time for
the Anne Arundel people to get un-
der way.
He denied that the county did not
receive any revenue from the factories
that would be taken over. Because
of what they contributed, it was possi-
bic to reduce the county tax rate six
cents. Their taxes comprised fully
so per cent of the amount received.
Mr.. Melvin concluded. He attack
ed the bill because it made no pro-
vision to care for Anne Arunders
bonded Indebtedness, and because of
other injustices in the proposed set
Elements with the county for public
property taken over. He joined with
Mr.. Benson and Mr. Mcintosh in as
surfing the committee that Anne Arun-
del and Baltimore Counties love Bal
timore City, are most anxious to see
it grow and will put no obstacles in
the way if the city will amend it's bill
and permit a referendum.
Mr.. Melvin attacked the bill, de-
claring it iniquitous, and said the
county would fight it to the last ditch.
If the bill was considered on its
merits and a fair measure presented,
no objection would be raised, but the
measure under consideration would
never be accepted. This proposed to
take away 100000 in property, con-
stituting so per cent of the taxable
basis
Mr. Benson, who closed for Balti-
more County, attacked the fairness
of the bill, which, he said, had been
framed by persons who were not ac-
quainted with the conditions Bad as
was the bill introduced and amended
two years ago. that now before the
General Assembly was infinitely
worse. He claimed that all the big
factories in Curtis Bay and other
points surrounding Baltimore had con-
tributed to the city's prosperity.