Year: 1860

| ed. The various liabilities including judgments
ana claims and suits, and all except those for which
hctes nave Deen given, are asoiguored and instead
ol luIl ana complete statement, the floating debt
contains nothing but the notes given and two items
due to the departments of the citv No state
ment of the cash on hand is given. 1t cannot be
said that this exhibit is such as the occasion called
Tor, and 1t has been shown that the assessment for
opening Holiday street, and the Judgment of the
Reynolds are not even referred to, although they
amount to upwards of 81 100 900


III mas already been seen that in the Mayor com
muhlcacion' with view to show the surplus in
favor of the city on the 3lst December 1850 he in
cudes all taxes for 1859 and 1850, although in the
papers which give him the amounts of the taxes he
is informed that less than half of these amounts
can be considered as available on the 3lst Decem-
Der, 1860.


1t is also equally clear that the city of Baltimore
has only power to borrow one million of dol
lars, for purposes of public Improvement except in
cases In which special grant Of power has been
given. When the various subjects connected with
thls limited power are considered, it will be
manifest that it will be impossible to execute
the'n al" without imposing large liabilities which
can pe met only by large increase of the di-
rect taxes. with knowledge that such must be
the result, and that the object of the Legislature
IN imposing the limit of 81 900, 600 was to pre-
vent enterprises which might be beyond the ability
OF the city, we have at one and the same time
forced upon US the Parks City Hall, and A Amshouse
and there is also a certainty that there will be an
ncreaee of liabilities as connected with the water
scheme. Such conduct as this cannot be justified.
and this alone would fully sustain all that has been
SAID In the address in relation to reckless expendi-
lures and increase of city taxation Indeed it will
be impossible to estimate the extent Of these taxes
II the measures which have been originated in 1860
are accomplished under the laws as thev now exist


In the exercise of the undoubted rights which the
heiormers possessed, the Reform meeting adopted
the address which led to the proceedings of the Mayor
and City Council which are now being reviewed
Inc address is true to the letter, and its concIu
SIOnS are equally correct There was nothinp ofan
siye IN any terms used in the address, and ne perso
nal attack was therein made. For the first time
and 1t IS to be hoped for the last the Mayor and
City Council of Baltimore have undertaken in their
Official capacities, and at the expense of the tax
payers of this city, to review and assai an address
adopted at public meeting of citizens. The COM
munlcaton of the Mayor on this subject by resolu-
tons Ot the Council, is directed by resolution of
the Council, to be published in all the news
papers at the expense of the people of Bal
umore; but whether with the appreciation of
the Mayor, or not, remains to be seen, as thew
have not yet been published, MS directed Az
ter such a proceeding this, after the adoption
OF TINS novel mode OF electiOnecrng by the city au
thorites in their official capacities, can any man
still doubt the necessity of REFORM or hesitate to saw
that the expenditures of this body reckless and
extravagant?


L have concluded what has been to me a
most unpleasant and troublesome task | wrote
the address which has been assailed, if | know
myself, for the sole purpose of opening the eyes of
the people to the condition of the city finances and
to the certainty, as then thought, and now believe
that without an abandonment of some of the mea-
sures which have lately been started the peOple
would find themselves ground down by heavy tax
atlOr. For that address and the remarks in this
paper | am accountable. While have life and
strength, whenever | believe that the community
IN which live is being injured will not hesitate
to sound the alarm and resist, to my utmost ability
the effort to do the wrong.


GEo NJ. Gill.