Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-02-26
The Convention Question.

The Convention Question.
In the STATE Senate ON Tuesday the Ian,
bill. providing tor the Submission of thu
question of calling = constitutional con
vertion to the people at the general cleo
ton in 1887, in the manner provided b,
the present constitution, was by unanimou
consent substituted for the Hayes "earl!
CALI bill. The Lane bill now takes it
place on the second-reading file of the Sen
ate, where it will be reached in its regula
order, when it will come up for amend
ment.
1t is understood that the purpose Of thi
movement is to amend the Lane bill in tn,
manner referred to in last weeks TINE.
by providing for the submission OF tn,
question first at the general election thi
fall in the manner provided for in thu
Hayes bill, and, in the event of failure t.
call Z convention at that time, then to b.
again submitted at the general election ii
1887 as provided in the constitution anC
in the Lane bill.
We are very clear In the opinion thai
this is the best solution of the vsxed ques
ton that can be adopted. The TINES ir
discussing this question previous to til.
session of the Legislature opposed tn.
early call idea for the reason that we re
garded the provisio.s Of the present con
stitutisn as mandatory and did not think
the Legislature had power to disregard
them. The compromise now proposed
however, fully comedies that position; bu,
in view Of the fact that the next Presiden.
tial contest will occur at the time when
the making and adoption of the new con
stitution would be in progress under the
Lane bill it has been deemed the part Of
wisdom to anticipate that time by an
earlier submission of the question to the
people.
The reasons urged for this course are
forcibls and cannot be disregarded. AT
q time when the whole country is convui-
sed with violent political contest and
the popular mind il infamsd with party
animosity and discord, is certainly not
the time when the people OF the STATE
should assemble 10 remodel their organic
law. And yet if the time he not autici-
pated as provided in the Hayes bill, this
will cerrainly be the position in which
the people Of Maryland will be placed o
1888 The several serious defects which
have been pointed ous in the present con-
stitution, and which it is evident the Leg
islsturs can not or will not remedy by
leave no doubt thai, if the
question be submitted in 1887 a. provided
in the Lane bill, We shall have q cons itu-
tional convention and q vote on the new
in 1888.
The necessity for 3 radical change in
the judiciary system is generally conceded
the State Wherever q judi
ciary system similar to that aow in opsr-
atisn in Maryland has been tried, it has
been found unsatisfactory and has been
The heavy expense entailed
on the State and great Inconvenience to
the people in 1880, by the provision in
the present constitution for uniform re-
yistration of voters" urgently suggests q
change in the constitution in that respect.
There are several ether important regula-
lions regarding the collection of taxes and
other important matters relating to the
internal polity of she State which demand
} change.
1t being admitted, then, that a con.ti-
.utional convention 10 necessary and that
one will be held, we think the wisdom
If anticipating somewhat the time for
his important work 10 very clear. The
greatest deliberation and care is necessary
% digest and perfect constitution, and
he people should vote upon its adoption
It time a. free from political agitation
md discord as possible The compromis>
aow proposed, while fully recognizing the
force OF the present constitutional req uirs-
ments, proposes to submit to The people
1t the general election of next year the
propriety of anticipating the time therein
No expense or Inconvenience
!. all will be sntailed upon the State or
The people. and in any event only the ex-
penss OF one constitutional convention
will be incurred. We think this 10 : com
promise upon which all should agree