Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1921-05-30

while II is perfectly possible 10 secure
the best features OF non-partisan gov
ernment by insisting that the parties
nominate the hest possible men aad
women for members .of the City coun-
Gil. and Iy general support il the
election Of those who most nearly
measure up to The requirements.
In other words. government in the
interest of the whole people. and not
parties. factions and personal inter
ests. can le obtained by the general
support in primaries and general eiee-
ton Of candidates really equipped 10
serve the public, men and women with
definite ideas for the furrherance oil
good government and with the ability
ana character 10 stand for them.
Municipal affairs in Annapolis are
in a serious, though not desperate
condition Il has q heavy bonded debt
ana cannot complete its FISCAL year
without considerable floating de3t.
Also. the taxpayers OF Annapolis must
carry approximately one-third of the
debts and current expenses Of ammo
Arundel county. which is in even 2
moro serious condition. The first IN
sercst OF members Of the next City
Council mast lie 10 handle the anan-
cal situation OF the city ard provide
ways in which suhlcient revenue may
lie obtained from its proper needs
without undaly bu-dening its people.
This was one Of the principal sub
iects to le considered by the last
Charter Commission. ana it mus lie
admitted that nothing was accom-
plished in this line There were no
practical suggestions for increasing
the publ.c~reyenue. and little attention
given to means by which municipal
expenses might be reduced. ] believe
that a gredt deal might lie done along
each OF these lines.
In the first place. 10 concrete, def
mite appeal has ever been made to the
Federal Government, through Con-
gress, for assistance in the mainten-
ance OF local streets and in some other
municipal activities, an appeal. WHICH,
if made in the proper way and ade-
quafely supported, would, feel Ger
tain. meet with a favorable response.
Annapolis is uniquely situated IL
this particular. Something more than
third OF its whole area is taken UP
hy Government property (the Naval
Academy, SO situated that every bit
Of the land traffic TO and from it mrs;
rass through The streets of Anrapo-
lis. It seelhs thai TIE .Teaet5l Gov
cInment shohld make some OF 'an al
laNaaae Is, L l..l lin. t.p tiqG,
siq!Fgs aAs Ga.si9a IaE hfSe
Many Hds6le Win 4 once tfIhk, ii
Inc grea ta1tst Iss.Lhe EavaiEAcaSr
emy spiags to Annapolis, ,T4isils raaY
etaiaba. hrtl yssrg has lIothhgito DO
Ssti an aaii elditSbiS cialfni.of' ctfnpen1
alton far thqsS benefits &aiet.ea by
hs municipal goyernmon1s ahd for
which an who receive any par4khoal4
5bAan propor1idnI Hfory tekines
small or,iarge, ,confers geneIhl tdal-
eft, 4;}ie h6hts is g,feMpt ftom ihe q .
Iaaeionredilpag ftHapUhDrtion ;pf Etts
public charges. !: siN
1t is, ,gp2p this basis that tie OIL
'cials Of Annapolis. sho,Fd learSa, ana
ina ne46s 70 fntr93ise FntS oSa4
gross. bill ma4sbngya fair ADJ req
sonable claim f3r.' a payment s1waf1
certain municipal expenses. stlif q
great Industrial plant occupied the
whole area now occupied by the Naval
Academy, it would pay taxes. and not
have the ahole public burden car
ried by the dwellings ana stores
around it. The case of the Naval
Academy. as to this matter, is not diff
ferent.
| Note:-The Government has taken
from time to time great blocks OF the
taxable basis OF Annapolis, leaving
the rest of the property to bear the
whole burden Of the bonded debt
When the boundaries OF political
units are changed by legislative ac-
ton. such burdens are always appoT-
toned
Annapolis has also had unfortunate
relations with the State government
lis streets are portions Of inc great
highways Between differeret sections
of the State and these sections arc
Baltimore city, yet Annapolis ias
never received anything to cover
even tho smallest part OF the wear
caused by such use. Determined ef-
forts to secure fair treatment from
the State Roads Commission and ap-
peals TO the Legislature. If necessary,
should be made al once and continued
until Annapolis is treated fairly in
this matter
The city also has just cause of COM
plant against the county in some
matters. particularly that of the in
equitable assessment of property. Not
only Annapolis, but every portion Of
the county where property is assessed
at anywhere near its true value is
outraged by the condition which ex
lists as to really valuable property.