The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-02-14
Correspondence baltimore County UniOH.
TO THE LEGISLATURE OF MARYLAND
No. VII.

NO. VII.
The Tacssagc Of Governor Vim. T. Hamilton, adj
dressed TO tho Legislature ON the 9Th inst, though
embracing but one subject in frO branches, is 90
full Of excellent advice and suggestion that IL IL
hoped by all good citizens, regardless Of party,
they will be embodied In laws 60 cover the case.
liui when one reflects how successful the politi-
clans. who dictate programmes NJ Annapolis and
| distribute patronage for the benefit of the State
and hsAselrss. have been In showing the people
how not a. de- IL. there is but little hope that the
supreme authority Of the State Of Mary land will
| adopt His Exccliency's suggestions without COM
ple,ely crippling them with obnoxious amend
ments and odous provisions 20 render them virtu-
ally null and void.
The readers Of your excellent paper 81 course
know that the message referred 10 the subject Of
the elective franchise and deal, with in the scpa-
rate branches Of registration and voting. And
among the numerous good ideas therein expressed
there IL none better than that which points out
the utility Of having registration and election pre-
cints districts divided into territory that shall
contain only 100 voters. With this provision en-
grated into Law the opportunities for the perpe-
tration Of fraud upon the ballot upon the regis
iraiion would be almost impossible. IL can do no
harm 90 insert here some other things in the
sage. That the registration officer should he tx
ofico judge Of election and that the other judges
should he selected from different political par;iss.
tina; tho voter should be allowed access the room
Il
the box and that the judges might have the better
opportunity g. identify the voter. II these thing.
were put into practice the pollution of the ballet
box would be FAR less frequent than at prcsrn;.
The other branch Of the subject Is the question
Of bribery aad corruption in the thousand aud one
ways IN which Il may be accomplished in connec-
tion with the election. from the contribution of the
candidate 90 charitable purposes 90 the purchase
of votes for tho ready cash. The opportunities %
which candidates of. all kinds are subjected from
almost every quarter, churches. teira. socsal, l.s
rary and benevolent cn,erprises, make the man Of
moderate mcans shrink from becoming candi-
date bclrrr the people bceause he feels be l. I'M
Sbc O. bear the PecunaTy los. these contributions
entail upon himsand it initiate against liz can
| diiacy unless he can contribute. The GoS crnor''
| suggestion IL TO have Law that shal! make II
Illegal for candidate TO contribute in aay forni
| e. his own election AMI TO disYaaiyy Li.' 5eou
| kidding TIC office II elected. This l. certainly
very conmondablc recommendation aud should
NEE, with prompt and intelligent action at onc'
upon the par; OF the Law maker. Of the state.
| Directly connected with both these subjects /,
the question. NJ pointed cut by the 'ioternps. con
cciGiac the c0ufii;uiionaliiy ct certain r"uTs.
| touching both registration AMI election. Ia =.
CARL 70 the fv.isiraiion the uursti l. heG'Nrrnnj
raises :. whether there be- = constitutional Law
iYr new REPATRIATION unlcss ii j. tor the entiT,
state. an! that IN many sections Of the State whcr'
the people DO hu' think there j. any real nccessi,
:or !; the people oljct t. the cAPen.c which i; in
| cur..
The ether i. whether it will be constitutional :,
maze a Law prohibi;n. any one from taking NJ
oeicc IL he conirihutcl anything towards his cic,.
ton while a Candidate. And {" get ril Of the,
questions be sugs,.t. the adoption II cnnsiita
/ tionil amendments 90 meet ihc requirement. o
| both ca.Ss.
This brings ~ again t. what has be-n su:ccs;
81 NOR. than once in these papers. shat We shout.
have a constitutional convention for the puTI,s.
o; framing new Constitution ior the state. TIL
reason. fer this are Numerous. 50 po,cn, anI -
paicr; g. him who books closely ai the question
| insolyci that il is difficult TO why IL /. no
done at once. Every consideration OF reformation
| in our form of government; AMI economy IN sayin.
the ay-Taycrs money by dispcnsin. with u.cc,
office. and reducing the salaries Il Others ;ha;
to, high. demand IL. And the gentlemen VII,
have secured their elevation 10 the Legislature
upon the promise Of reform and IN the interest .
the taxpayers should not forge; their promise
their duty that there j. future reckoning IL
political as well ~ in other matters.
Il !. 4 matter considered too valuable 20 tn
county ani Of far too much vita! importance 9
the people directly interested 90 allow the
system spoken oi las; week TO be passed by light
| ". ani IN Difference % the vital welfare 81 IL,
county attention i again invited 90 the subject.
IL i. 80 be at least. that the question
Of city extension has been smoiheyed this time
there il some measure adopted 10 give the psopi
sho are eanOrous for city extension an equiv a!eni
What they nigh; consider equivalent. for ciil
extension. When IL is remembered that vel
| arranged town system in the Belt would give g
these people almost eveTy-if not entirely every
convenience. comfort and consideration Of desiFa
bic local government; that they can have II takel
into the city, IL j. hard 20 understand why on
| county delegation does not take immediate an,
vigorous sieps 20 frame bill and have il be.om'
law FOR this desirable purpose. Most % thu
folks who are anxious for improvements Of a cit,
character have their places o. business in the ril
and are 1t b0fae IN the evening. At night thel
could hold their town meeting. once 81 ;wicc
week or a. frequent A. neccssiy might require
with DO loss IS tine from business AMI with ii';i'
or no expense in attending t. these publ. affair
The idea thrown ou' IN the Gpy,rnor'. mes.Is'
| that judge e election should !0r numina
pay u a vcsy excellent one. !: 'he pay l. mefel,
nominal TIE place will no; be ought by folk VT
are unfit for il for the money tina; !. in it. ~
very sen-ibly obseFyes ths; every boiy q 'lu',
to his country anl shouil le wiling % perform !
duty thu; comes seldom a. ihi. does ilr !. IN
inal coinpensaii'n IL order that the bar'.cn a
taxation MAJ be lighteEel. Now il j. not IL,
purpose Of this letter e. elaborate upon ihi. par
ticular piece e governmental machinery helm.
used th!. line but :he prnciI al involved in ih'
idea ], 0Ee Of vita! importance 60 those engage.
in the work q reforming our local Affairs ami re
dueing expense. lit is applied 90 all Offices 81
this character aBd made effective By legi.iaiiaI
AID ~ all good citizens aeqHicseing in IL ans
making public sentiment tina; should back /; az,
there would be long stride taken in the direction
| Of reform.
Make this applicable o. our Jurors per lien an
shat = saving il would make in our annual ex
penses. Nos everybody knows that the sain'
folks are no; eif,H eaiisf sJsA 70 d.'r ..ra
Try a. jsrsrs. consequently they should be willing
% render this service u their country for nofiha
pay a. in the general round Of life each maf
would be ealiei upon 20 give this service % hi
| eountry much every German is obliged by lau
% play .s.iisr for three year. n national iu,y
compelled By national laW. II ih. aese done an
the per diem Il juror. reduced g. one dollar
| or AZ ma.s 90 one dslisr and fGy cents. the posi-
ton Of jaTor zosii not be 20 eagerly s"ugh; by
folks uhs eau make more By resolving a. the,
nos DO iwo dollars 4ni lity cent. per diem thar
they can make By following their accustomed aVo
| eations.
NoE no political economist will contend that
positions similar g. those Of judges of election an
jurors should be rsmanerAtivs ones. bat the con
trary viii agree that they should BE- honorary il
their character with nominal compensation. II
| folks sho are large taxpayer DO not favor re
foFins Of this sort aud anvillin, 90 render pub
| lie service "a this basis. they have no right q
eompisin about high taxes. What will you do
gkr;lfmen at Annapolis, CiTIEES.
cSrresp>ss.zss Baifirsors COSBY Csisa-
To rHE HosoRsELE q. ". H., ArrHoa 90 rnE Law
ESTABLISHING THE HorsE ~ CsREE TIoS;
Ws.friess asd IsapProackaJi. Sir write ID
you seeking for information. ! keep a copy o:
this letter asi IL you do no; deisn 20 ansEer il
| will publish Il in = newspaper.
4 an al su1flfer nj mhfla len.