American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-05-28
eYmerfcau Ssen1tbEsca11,
AND BALTIMORE CLIPPER
WEDNESDAY MORNING, MAY IS, 1915.

DIVISION or BALTIMORE INTO Twenty
warns. Our readers are aPPr.sed that the
LEGISLATURE of Maryland at It's last session, pass
ed an act to divide the city Of Baltimore INTO
twenty wards, aud That five commissioners have
been appointed by The Governor for that pnr-
pose. The act Of the Legislature is now before
s,s, aud we propose to give synopsis OF It's pro-
visions FIR public information.
Section |, provides for the appointment OF
Eve commissioners, three 10 reside west and
Two east Of Jones Falls and requires that they
shall divide the city into twenty wards, ''as
nearly equal in population as may be, and the
boundaries of which shall be as nearly as prac-
ticable in eight lines"
Section ., requires that twelve of said wards
shall be located west and eight east OF Jones
Falls-proydcs Tor proper returns OF metes and
bounds, publication, sc.
Section 5. BY this section members OF both
branches of the City Council are required to be
elected in October next-onc member lor the
first branch from each ward, and one member
for the second branch from every two contlgu-
Gus wards-the commissioners to classify the
ward. which are to elect members of the second
branch.
Section 1 constitutes the first fifteen wards
the fourth Congressional district, and the re-
naming five wards are to form portion of the
lhird Congressional district.
Section gives to the commissioners COM
pensation oftwo dollars per day for the time they
may be engaged IN the discharge OF their du-
ties, aud requires the Mayor and City Council
of Baltimore to make provision for these and
for all other necessary expenses which may be
incurred in the execution of the act.
Section g. In case the President of either
branch of the City Council shall become acting
Mayor, he shall within FIVE days after he shall 50
succeed to the Mayoralty, give fifteen days no.
tee Cinstead of twenty as heretolore,) for the
election of new Mayor.
Section T. provides that the term of the May
or shall be understood to commence on the
second Monday Of November succeeding his
election,
Section s-All laws and ordinances relating
30 elections in the city of Baltimore, whether
as to the appointment Of judges or otherwise,
applicable to the present division of wards, to
be continued in force.
Section 9, requires that hereafter, elections
for Mayor and City Council, shall be held on
the second Wednesday instead of the third
Monday Of October, as heretofore.
Section 10, repcals acts of assembly and or
dinances Inconsistent with the provisions of
this act.
Hereafter then, in accordance with this law,
The first branch Of the City Council will con-
sjst of twenty members, instead of twenty sight
as at present; and the second branch will have
ten instead OF fourteen members. These num-
hers WILL we think, be amply sufficient for all
useful purposes; and the reduction in number
will probably facilitate business. But there is
one point in this law the legality of which
we doubt; we alude to the dismissal Of the
members Of the second branch before the time
for which they were elected has expired, If
'.her term of service can be thus curtaied,
could no, the Mayors term be also shortened
.,y the same process? and in fact, could not the
Legislature dismiss the whole Council whilst
in session.