Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1883-08-17
1...~I7M 1883
cor HAMLr0NSHINIfEST0.


Democratic party Of the State of which
the following is synopsis
1T is with measures Of public policy,
sflegislation, and with Gethods Of adj
ninistrstIon and Of party management y
At the conclusion Of the war public
sentiment was consolidated against tho
rrpsblicsn party" Beginning with
hsir aeccss into power in 1867 the
democrats we're for number of years
engaged in removing from their statute
Boo. "the exceptional and oppressive
nessurcr imposed upon the people" dur
ing the war. While intent upon this
"many Of the details of our own State
and party management escaped critical
sbserVatiuR" and the frame work Of par
W organizations became the instru-
nspt Of compact and thoroughly or
GssiHed personal power" Registrs,ion,
primary meetings and elections we're dur.
leg this period fashioned int machinery
hr registering the edicts Of this person
81 power Every sort Of abuse Sour
ished in the public administration. -
Omess we're multiplied assessments
levied. loan taxes miSapplied. the sink
ing fund obliteratcd, aud every species
Of extravaganza and corruption exhibit
cd itself unblushingly The scandals Of
the. legislative session Of 1880 are re-
ferred to by the Governor in some de-
nail. OF the AS Laws passed in that
year but 81 of them were general laws
~ these. 36 being madc to take effect
before the first Of June, were required
70 be published in newspapers This
cost 1856, $50, or nearly 81 .0t0 for each
INV, the money being distributed among
The press IN such u way as to serve per-
sOnsl Interests or TO keep the peace"
but with no reference to the value of
the work done. This, however, was
among the mildcst of the corrupting aud
sHtravagant acts Of that Legislature
The public became Disconnected. To /
such dangerous height did this discon-
tent rise that it became clear that moth
ing but reform and amendment could
protect the party from ruin The con
Vsntion Of 1879 Nude declarations and
promises embracing what the honest =
members Of the party thought necessary
for its salvation But MS has been
said already, the acts Of the Legislature
81 1850 did nos correspond with the ex u
psetGtions created by the declarations of
ne convention Of the preceding year u
TAe Legislature Of 1882 did better. 1T "
gives me pleasure" says the Governor, II
30 state that there was substantial i'm .
nEovement. Sometimes was done, but
not enough. A fair registration law.
law putting primary meetings under le- u
gal sanction u law dividing Baltim Dre in Ill
to voting precincts, the abolition of a u
number Of sinecure and other offices. Il"
putting public printing out to contract ~, ~
and reducing its cost. u large abridge- ~
nent of the expenses Of the Legislature '''
these are some Of the fruits Of the SEES ma
non Of 1882 But they fall far short NC
4 what the reforming sentiment Of the era
state demands. The primary election 'ne
Aw needs improvement bribery. vio- sPe
ence and fraud ut the polls need to be
better guarded against, as also the as
Of ofhcoholders and the exist cot
sncc and practices of lobbyists ITO the
get rid of the gnats aud flies AS well as ua'
Of the hornets and leeches" the Gov me
srnor urges upon the party the propricty COL
81 lesscning the amount Of patronage it col
has to bestow. Among the offices which "c
he Governor thinks may be abolished chi
without loss TO the efficiency Of the pub no
lic service are the following: The office "'
Of tax commissioner, "a made Office " MI
sreated in 1878: the Office Of insurance IS
the land office. one of the Al
,ihces of fish commissioner, the Offices
II weisbsrs II grain and wcighers of
lay. The oyster service requires radi- Gel
,al revision; much more the tobacco no
'ervice. Compulsory inspection should VII
se abolished. asd the "malign touch Of II
machine politics be removed from .he Tor
'Onduct aftho wsrchouseing system. - ter
Ehe canal service also demands the ap- 'h'
llication of the exact principles of cr'
.vil-servicc reform" The Legislature OF
hould cease to appoint to office; should no
make laws aud not seek to administer be-
n execute them; much less should that SUI
rinity of political power" the board of ne
public works. consisting of the Governor CO.
comptroller and treasurer, possess the as
aOwer of, appointing to office 1T is pi
ne patent device of political managers
or personal aims and ends, and as such
rs produced MS legitimate fruit of dis or
rider, indeficienOy. discomfort and dis err
rust" Nor should the Judiciary be Pc
'urdened with the appointment of school ha
Evils are mentioned in 10 10
he conduct Of Legislation which need or
as keeping back the ed
general appropriation bill 50 that the cx- wi
'eutive shall not before the close of the Sw