Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-09-29
Let Her Alone.

Mr. Edaor :-Permit me 10 offer few
suggestions 10 the voters Of Montgomery coun-
~ in regard 10 the fe-districting Of the coun.
ty for their consideration.
Our last Legislature passed a law entitled
| 'An Act for taking the vote Of the people Of
Montgomery county for or against the re-di-
vision Of said county into twelve election
districts" vide Acts of 1876, chapter l43
The constitutonality of the law may be
well doubted and for this reason, if there
were none other ought 10 be rejected to save
the grave consequences which may flow from
| holding elections under il. For the conse-
| quences Of contesiing an election under il
would be to create the utmost confusion in
| public affairs, and in the county Offices espe-
cially should the votes cast al such new pre-
cincis be rejected because Of the unconstilu-
tionality Of the law.
The law itself is so vague and inartislic in its
provisions, it ought to be rejected. The law
simply requires the vote taken to be returned
TO the clerk of the county and filed in his
office. There is no power any where 10 deter
mine and proclaim the fairness aud corfectness
Of slch vote and such return, which may LEAD
TO very unfair and dangerous results,
"The County Commissioners, il such vote
should result in favor OF such re-dlvsion,
shall proceed to make such rediyision" It
is not certain the Legislature have the right
sioners especially when no provision is made
to compensate them for their services nor 10
defray the costs they incur. Suppose The
County Commissioners for these and other
reasons refuse or neglect to make such re-ui-
vision, what then Suppose they do make the
division and do so so unwisey as to do great
mischief, where is the remedy or tribunal hav-
ing power to review and correct the evil or
error? Suppose they acl and act wisely and
ef.1 .I,..
TO make their return, and how is The evidence
Of the result of such an important public act
to be preserved for future use, and IN what
mode IS the result OF their labor to be anthem
tcated for present and future use? These are
very serious objections, and ought TO be care
fully considered by he people before voting
in favor Of such law.
The provisions of the law are unwise and
unjust. If the draughtsman had intended
not merely ostensbly, but fairly--o take a
vote TO ascertain the will of the peope on the
subject by fair ballot, then the law would
have provided for taking the vote, and then
invested the County Commissioners with pow
er to make such re-divison in such manner as
in their opinion would best promote The pub
lie convenience But instead of doing this, il
desgnates the number and localities of the
new voting places and does this so unequally
aud unjustly MS to leave no doubt that the pur-
pose was 10 secure the ADOPTION OF the law
through the interest," OF the people IN Inc I'M
hsniate flcihlsS OF the several places named
The county is now divided into five election
districts of nearly equal extent Of territory
aud population. But the proposed new dis
tricts viii be greatly unequal in territory and
IN population. la district No (Cracklin1
it is proposed 10 create new district around
Mechaniesyile including, probably, part OF
peri! lotnJ dlStficI, out no provision Is
made tof me equal convenience OF the people
o. uisitheFsouf2 ana Ohliy. Ia Clarks9nrg
ne" uis'Flct Is % ne mace az Damascus, but
~ provision Is made Tor Inc people about
= ta'is.oWh anu 0erhantown' qni'e as Iar
rom oiafksoufg ASH Damascus 10 Medley
! 3fa) dlstflct new voting place is made at
DafheoVllie, pnt no provision Is made Tor the
,qfai COZ, ehlehee lot me people AZ seneca
Miiis anu oa"sohsFllie. PROVISION IS made 70
the people 10 Derry district
lo'h aoou 2aauJ spring ana mat part OF
tne aistfict oy Inc new voting place at Meehan-
lcSVhlei nut no similar provision Is made for
'ne PeoPte III i.e loWeF phtt OF that district,
a 9 oi'g9, movies 9tation' MllchelIs X
hohus anu fouf corners WhiIe IN rockville,
ne ~" uis'rlct, mere are new voting places
at jamestown, Ointl sA Roads and DarceT's
store making win RoehVIiie, foar, 70 ihal
shouia tn's CRUDE ana nnwlse law pc adopted
~ 'he people, we may nc wen satlshed that |
- vel sh9Fl uile we snohia nave 10 adal-
tioH 70 the places named IN the Jaw other places
u Young eslahl'shed ut Galhetsbnrg and |
y IN inc lst district; Germantown and |
i9a'lsto"h ~ .he mi dlslrlet; pawsonsyitle |
nm, perhaps, Seneca NILS IN the Bird district;
oiigo ana Mteheii 4 Roads IN the 9th dis /
l'st. lhus giving instead OF hive districts,
.igh'eeh or twenty, ana instead OF hitten |
ladges OF e'eetion and ten clerks and five |
'eAlstrafs OF voters we shall have tittY-four or |
'!SW JUDGES thlrN-slx or forty clerks and |
Hghleen or twenty Registrars But suppose no |
1ihef districts should be Great d, then instead I
u hileeh Judges ana zen clerks and five regis
Fhfs we s1asl nave thiftY-slN judges, twenty
our clerks ana Twelve registrars
ne cost o. Tue last election was 81 100, or
nZzo 10 each district; a. the same mle Of ex-
'ense me eieetlon witbln WE'VE districts will
ost me people ~ $40 Surely tbs exhibit OF
ieW oilcers ana increased costs will be suili
ieht 70 cause ms law to be rejected as nnwise,
n, AT FEAST, lii-timed. y IS true, the friends
u me measure contend that under the present
aw the judges and clerks charge for two days
! each election, and that under the new law
hey would charge only for one dar. This it
oelieyee VIII not be done For under the
resent law ne Judges and CLERKS often do the
,ofA ~ 'ess than Two tours after the polls are
IMPOSE the Judges and clerks under the new