interests in relation to the finances of the City by the provision of the proposed Charter in regard to the Board of Estimates. This Board is composed of the highest officials of the City government, that is to say, the Mayor, who is the chief executive officer of the City and elected by the people; the City Solicitor, who is appointed by the Mayor and is the head of the Law Department, and who will always be a prominent member of the bar; the Comptroller, who is also elected by the people and responsible to them, and who is the head of the Finance Department; the President of the Second Branch of the City Council, a representative member from the legislative branch of the City government, and, finally, the President of the Board of Public Improvements, who is the City Engineer, and will be an expert in engineering. It is believed that by this strong combination of leading City officials, representing every branch of the municipal government, the financial interests of the City will be carefully guarded and that the welfare of the citizens will always be the controlling motive in the deliberations and actions of the Board. The duties of this Board are comprehensive in their nature and include the general control of the financial policy of the City. In the preparation of the lists of "Departmental Estimates," "Estimates for New Improvements" and "Estimates for Annual Appropriations," called for by the proposed Charter, the entire appropriations of public funds are embraced. It may, therefore, be expected that the composition of this Board of the highest municipal officers and representatives of the City government will furnish a guarantee in the future against extravagance and the reckless expenditure of public moneys. The provisions of the Charter submitted relating to the Board of Estimates are sufficiently comprehensive to furnish to the municipality opportunities for a safe and conservative financial policy and to prevent the public debt from advancing beyond a safe percentum of the taxable basis. Ample ments. provisions are made for conducting the City government, and no floating debt can be created. The Board of Estimates, in the ordinance they annually submit, providing for the expenditures by the City for the ensuing year, take into consideration all the disbursements, and if the income is insufficient to meet these expenditures there must be a pro rata reduction in all departIf there is a surplus it must be paid over to the Finance Commissioners to be credited to the general sinking fund. By this provision it is hoped that the sinking fund will be greatly benefited. When any ordinance for public improvements exceeding in cost the sum of $2,000 has passed its first reading in either Branch of the City Council it shall be referred to the Board of Public Improvements for their opinion as to whether or not the wants of the City require the improvement mentioned in the ordinance submitted, and when this Board give their report on this ordinance it is then referred to the Board of Estimates for their opinion as to whether or not there is or will be sufficient money in hand to pay for the contemplated improvement. Until both of these Boards report upon the ordinance it cannot become valid. It will be readily seen that in this manner hasty legislation will be checked, and it is probable that only such ordinances for public improvements will be passed for which there is sufficient cash on hand to pay and which the requirements of the City demand. By these provisions it is believed a step will be taken in the direction of a regular and systematic reduction of the enormous debt which now hangs over the City of Baltimore and a check placed upon the expenditure of its money, so as to keep the expenses and appropriations of the City government entirely within its means. The provisions of the proposed Charter relating to the public school system have been framed after careful consideration and research respecting the systems in force in various cities of importance. It provides for the appointment of the School Commissioners, nine in number, by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Second Branch, for a term of six years each, three of them to retire at the end of every two years. It is submitted that a long term, together with the other provisions which have been inserted, will cause the affairs of the schools of Baltimore to be administered by competent men, independent of partisan and ecclesiastical ties. The endeavor has been made to secure three things: First, oversight of the schools by a Board of Commissioners so selected as to ensure conservative administration and full responsibility; second, attention to the details of school management by a body of qualified Superintendents, and, third, the maintenance of popular interest in the public schools by means of a large number of local school visitors, one or more of them from the immediate neighborhood of each school-house. The Charter submitted gives to the City a supervision over all persons who come under the class of indigent sick and poor. All money appropriated by the City for the care of its poor shall be by contract with the various institutions which care and provide for the poor of Baltimore. No money is to be appropriated except under contract, and the Supervisors of City Charities are to have supervision over all persons who are subjects of municipal aid. The Legislative Department remains substantially as at present, except that the Second Branch is smaller, and that one-half are always old and experienced members. The legislative functions of the City Council are in no wise impaired. Not one cent of the public money can be spent until the City Council, by ordinance, makes an appropriation. The Commission have had before them the great need of increased revenue to meet the constantly growing wants of the City. To this question the members of the Commission have given their most serious thought. Taxes today are burdensome on the owners of land and houses, and to meet the wants of the City this burden must be largely increased unless the revenue of the City can be increased from other sources. The Commission have proposed to so modify the law as to give to the City all the fees collected by it from liquor licenses. A Supplementary Act accompanies the Charter, providing that the counties shall retain the fees collected by them from the same source. The Commission feel that they would not be performing their full duty if they did not urge upon the Legislature the necessity for this change and the adoption of the provisions as to these fees contained in the proposed Charter. Another Supplementary Act provides for certain limitations on the power of the City as to contracting debts. This provision is a proper one and should be adopted. The Commission believe that the Charter herewith submitted will, if adopted, remedy many of the faults of the old law, and provide such a law as will materially contribute to the future development and prosperity of the great metropolis of Maryland. WILLIAM PINKNEY WHYTE, Chairman, DANIEL C. GILMAN, SAMUEL D. SCHMUCKER, GEORGE R. GAITHER, Jr. THOMAS IRELAND ELLIOTT, LEWIS PUTZEL, FREDERICK T. DORTON, Secretary. New Charter Commission. BALTIMORE, February 23, 1898. We have examined the annexed Charter, adopted by the Commission on the 27th of January, 1898, and give it our full and hearty approval. ROBERT C. DAVIDSON, NICHOLAS P. BOND. |