Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1891-04-30
Tho Proposed Amendments to the Constitution.

The Legislature Of Maryland, at
its session in 1890, passed six amend
ments to the Constitution, which are
to be voted on by the people next
fall. All of them are important and
deserve TO be carefully considered be.
fore being voted upon. They are as
follows;
lst.-Governor's Veto Power
According to the present interpreta-
ton Of the Constitution the Governor
must approve or reject an sppropria-
ton bill as a whole. 1t often hap
pens that during the closing hours Of
the session items are inserted in the
appropriation bill which are nothing
more nor less than gratuities. The
Governor must either sign the bill
with the Objectionable items in it, Or
reject the bill to get rid Of them. If
this amendment is adopted the Govern
or can strike out Of the appropriation
bill any item which he may think
wrong.
2d.-Corporations. amend
ment is proposed TO prevent all ex-
cept municipal or bank corporations
from being created in any other mode
than under the general laws, and also
to compel any existing corporation
seeking an amendment of it's charter
to surrender all claim to exemption
from taxation and to exemption from
repeal or modification of its charter.
3.-Taxes.-This is one of the mos.
important amendments proposed. It
declares that ell taxes should be uni
form upon all kinds Of property and
should be levied and collected under
general laws. It gives the General
Assembly the power to exempt, by
general IaiV. public property used for
public purposes. churches, their fur
niture. parsonages, burial grounds not
used for profit. and charitable and
kliiiss.." by kshigaiiqR4, e8Sdt lei tie upeEeE,
impose fines. licences, and taxes.
4th-County Commissioners.-This
amendment provides that County
Commissioners shall be elected On the
general ticket of each county, COM
menciDg in 1891, and for such periods,
not exceeding six years. as may be
prescribed by Law. This, if adopted,
would permit the Legislature to pre-
scribe the number of Commissioners
in any county, and enact law that
certain number af them shall be cleo.
ted every two years. 60 that the en-
tire composition of the board would
not be changed at once. Thus. if
three commissioners instead Of FIVE
were deemed beet for st. Marys coun-
ty, at the first election after the
amendment lie adopted, if the Legis-
lature should SO enact, one commits
sioner could be elected for two years,
one for four years and one for six
years. Every two years thereafter,
there would then be only one Com
missioner to be elected.
5th-Board Of Public Works.
This amendment is intended to give
ZIG oOdLu VI uUIIC "OIhc duluOIilJ
to sell the States interest in all works
Of internal Improvement and in banks
and other corporations, under such
regulations and conditions as may be
prescribed by the General Assembly.
Civilization of Personal Proper
ty.-This amendment proposes to tax
personal property Of the residents of
this State, in the county or State.
where they bona fde reside for the
greater part of the year. for which
the tax is levied, and not elsewhere,
except goods and chattels permanent
ly located, which are to be taxed in
county or city where they are so To-
Gated. It is also provided in the
same amendment that the general
assembly may provide for the taxa
ton of mortgages upon property in
the State and the debts secured there,
by in the county or city where the
property is situated.