The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-03-22
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE RELIEF.

political Observation-Disclosures distinct
and complete in it's machinery from all
other political organizarions-ha existed
and grown since 1872; as IA State organiza-
ton, since 1884 1t has nominated iull
party tickets at every election since these
dates, and has been, under the present
and preceding systems of election. recog
MED as a separate and distinct party by
the supervisors of elections, by the judges
of election and official returns of the
said elections That as a separate
political organization we have advocated
not only the great reform of prohibition
OF the liquor tri ffic, but also all other
needed reforms. and notably that of
ballot reform. That as such a party we
were the first in this State to urge the
Australian system of voting as remedy
fur the prevalent bribery and intimidation
at the balot-box in this State and else
where. That our efforts in this behalf
were recognized and criticised as the
efforts of separate political orgauiza
ton. That as a national party we repre-
sent nearly 800, 0G0 electors Tor 1888, as
against 5, 600 III 1872. AS such party
we hold the balance of power in ten or
twelve State of the Union. AS a State
organization since 1884 we represent in
1883 5000 of the most intelligent, indie
pendent and loyal electors, against $500
in 1854, polling in 1886 at the congress
sioual election vote of z, 200. While
this result does not reach three per cent,
of the entire vote of the State at the
previous election, We respectfully submit
that the history, growth, intelligence and
conscience of the prohibition party entitle
it to separate and tull recognition as one
of the permanent political organizations
of this State and nation. We therefore,
as the executive head of the prohibition
party of Mary land, while hereby advocat-
ing and lndorsing true ballot reform,
respectfully but earnestly protest against
any provision of said law which fails to
recognize us as "a separate aud distinct
political party in this State, and beg
your honorable body to change, alter or
amend the pending bill so as to admit US
rs such an organization"
ELECTRICAL COMMISSION.
Mr.. Preston. of Baltimore city. has
leave to introduce bill creating an
electrical commission. 1t provides that
Prof. Louis Duncan, of the johns
Hopkins University, Chas. w Prettyman
of Montgomery County, and Frank r.
Scott, of Cecil County, shall constitute
are to serve for eight six and four years
at salaries of 50 600 each. The commits
sion shall have authority to fix the rates
to be charged for electric light and power
service in each of the cities, towns and
villages of this State. They shall have
general supervision of electric light and
power factories, apparatus and lines, and
shall have authority to require all or any
electric light and power feeders, mains,
wires, lines aud conductors to be placed
under ground. They shall have authority
to require that all overhead lines be locat
ed i'll such places and such manner as
they NAV deem best, and to have beside
general control over the construction of
couduits or subways to be used for every
underground line.
COMPULSORY VOTING.
Senator Toadvin has introduced bill
to compel registered voters of the State
to vote at elections. The bill requires
Judges of election at the close of the vot-
ing to make out list of registered vot
ers who did not vote and certify it to the
return judges In turn the return judges
are to certify the facts to the clerks Of
the courts. Then the clerks shall issue
summons Immediately requiring the
pal bltS W bhO SouiO euu
show cause why they shall not be fined
in the sum of So and costs for not voting.
In Baltimore city the Criminal Court and
in the counties the circuit courts shall
have jurisdiction Owners of property
not exceeding 500 in value are exempted
from the provisions of the act. This is
the compulsory election bill for which
Mr. Harris j. Chiffon, of Baltimore, has
been the advocate for years, and it was
introduced for that gentleman.
THE HAND OF PoLITICs-IT is NOW IN
THE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE BOARD.
ANNAPOLIS, March 19.-Tne adverse |
action of the House last night on the bill |
to reduce the board of trustees of the |
Maryland Agricultural College from |
eighteen to twelve Is in accordance with |
direct purpose to remove President |
Avord aud place the college under politi- |
cal control. The board, as at present |
constituted, consists OF the governor,
president of the Senate, speaker of the |
House, attorney general. treasurer, |
United States commissioner of agricul- |
ture, five members elected by the STOCK
holders, and six appointed by the COVER
nor. In February last the commissioner
OF agriculture ceased to be a member BY |
constitutional limitation, that office be-
ing made Cabinet position. The new
bill proposed to drop four of the ex officio
members-the president of the Senate
and speaker of the House, the attorney
general and state treasurer-and three
of the members elected by the stockhold
erS, but was afterwards amended so as
to retain the treasurer. The bill was
strongly urged by the board in their last
annual report, the reasons assigned be
ing that the board was too large, and
that it was i'm possible to secure a quorum
at any meeting. Experience had shown
this TO be true. TIE proposed change was
entirely satisfactory TO the members who
were to be dropped, and the bill passed
the Senate with the presidents approval
while the speaker of the House aud the
Attorney General were anxious to be re
Ieved. About six months ago there was
Il vacancy in the office of register Of the
college Comptroller Blu9hman had a
friend for whom he wanted the pace
and he sent him to President Alvori,
Nth letter OF recommendation endorsed
by the Governor. Mr.. Alvord replied
that tie vacancy could only be filled by
the trustees. IT, however, the board. at
it's next succeeding meeting, should elect
him, it would be entirely agreeable to
him.
The board has never been able to Sc
cure a quorum at any meeting since, aud
the question has. therefore, remained an
open Que. TIE matter gave rise to con-
siderable correspondence at the time.
and there has been ever since very
strong political feeling against Mr.. AL
word He is the ablest and most accept
able president the college has had in
ears. In the two years of his service,
he has reduced the debt from $40, 900 to
3l3 600 has put the school buildings and
everything connected with the college
in first class condition. But he is
Northern man and Republican,, and,
therefore,. marked for destruction. His
removal would cripple the college meal
culably, just AS it is struggling out of
its troubles, and would be without justi-
tcation from every standpoint.
Mr. Alvord is one of the most experien-
csd men with agricultural college and
experiment stations in the coun ry. He
has been connected with the New Haven
Experiment Station, the Massachusetts
College aud the Horton
Farm, on the Hudson, the first place
where the agricultural experiments were
tried.