Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-03-07
The Australian Ballot Law.


The Australian Ballot Law.
Notwithstanding the fact tina, the Dem
ocratic party Sas so luul-mouthed dur
hg the past campaign with p ons sto tn,
peoole. that n new ballot system should
be enacted, containing the main features
If what is known as the Australian bal
LIT Law, the outlook noB is, tliat the
lection law will be allowed to remain ns
IL il, o. even a worse one passed 10y the
Legislature. During The early part Of
tbe session Senator Poe, thl champion
demagogue ofthe Senate, snd the mouth
piece Of the managers. introduced a bill
alleged to have been drafted by the Bus
incss Mems Association Of Baltimore
CITY. Khich was in ling with the pledges
Of the Democratic party, and in its es-
genital features would g.. far toward pre-
venting bribery and corruption At clrc-
tens. but that bill has slept in the room
of the Committee on Elections and still
sleeps there MS undisturbsd as though it
Bad been made to play he full part i'll
tended and Of no further use, while in
its place another has been introduced
barring the same name, but as iniqui-
tous as any measure cold well be. The
power % appointing the Judges Of cleo
tion, for the counties, is proposed to be
tnken from the local authorities that
have heretofore very satisfactorily per-
formed that duty and lolgcd in the Gov
crnor Of the STATE; in ace Of the single
ballot with all tie candidates names
upon il, a ballot of each or any party
having candidates in the field is sub
Itituted. and the vetrr made to deposit the
same in dark colorcd envelope, and the
punishment for offences against the law
is lessened What does all this mean?
a continuance of fraud AMI co.rup-
INN. The bosses surely cannot expect
To deceive the people by such a trick
The people, regardless of party, are de-
tor mined to have an election law that
will prevent bribery and corruption a.
elections SO far as it is possible TO do so,
and the Australian ballot sys-
tem, as improved by the light Of expe-
rience in other States will go further to-
ward accomplishing the desired purpose
tfFau any other yet devised Both par
ties concede tins aud stand commit
ted to the passage of such law The
original Poe bill or the bill Of the Bust
ness Mems Association OF Baltimore city
comes nearer to it than any other, ami
that bill the Republicans in the Legis-
laiurc, as II unit, will support The
Democrats ire dodgiug il, and have
brought forward the subtifuge referred to
heretofore. Cannot the Democratic
party with its boosted majorities stand !
the test o. az AS@S' g SC l9 E TS trJ
busine ~ standpoint will 1t not be bett,
10 spend few more dollars and build
new court house at a desirable place
rather than spend 81 900 on tle preseu
dilapidated building, in dead town.
The INDEPENDENT has already show
that the rate Of taxation will not be in
creased over about 2 per cent on til
800. and this fac: cannot Re controvert
ed. however, the Times may ingeniousl,
srgue from a mathematical calculation
peculiarly its own, to the contrary.
Upon an examination of the BILL it vii
be seen that $l5, 900 is the maximum
sum that can be expended in erecting
the ,ourt house. Jail and furnishing tn,
same. But says eur neighbOr, it viii
not be sufficient, and the next legisla.
tsre will be asked permission to borrow
sdeGcit. Not so. II is merely an id,
conjecture. A neat, attractive aud CON-
modious court house and nil building
can be built for the sum of SIS 900. =
This sum Wa. azs.. = !, after consulting
with well judging men, and from a
statement Of the architect who drafted
.he specifications for the Marlboro
court house Under any circumstances
the building committee in letting out
the contract, for they are compelled te
have the work done by contract, cannot
accept any bid exceeding that amount,
and il the building caHaot be erected for
that sum. they cannot build at all. 1t
Is hardly to be presumed that the gentle
men named on the committee will trans
send their authority and contract to paw
!: ore for the work than the law allo IS;
II they did. they would make them
selves personally liable. The new court
house at Upper Marlboro cost $50 900
when labor and material was high, now
everything is much cheaper than then,
and A. cheap as it ever will be. and now
while material and labor are cheap, is the
time to build.