The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-10-30


proof to any unprejudiced mind of the iDjus-
tice of the allegations made against him by
his political adversaries.
Vote for the Constitutional Amen dments
We have explained, from time to tine, the
scope and purposes of the several PROF osed
amendments to our State Constitution, upon
which the people of the State will be called
upon to vote next Tuesday. These amend
ments are not party measures, nor will they,
if adopted, enure more to the benefit of one
party than another. They are in the line of
progress-chiefy to equalize taxation and
compel every corporation and every indivi-
dual in the State to pay their just proportion
of taxation. They were well considered by
the Legislature and set forth after earnest and
prolonged debate. Every one of them ought
to be adopted.
Constitutional Amendment No. empow-
ers the Governor to veto any item or items
in bills appropriating money. The general
appropriation bill has frequently been the
means by which the State has been defraud-
ed by corrupt men. The Governor has had
to veto the whole bill or suffer the schemes
to go through. Under this amendment, if
jobs should creep into the appropriation bill
an honest Governor could protect the State
from fraud without imperilling the appro-
priations for the support of the State govern
ment.
Amendment No. provides that no cor
poration shall obtain any amendment of its
charter except upon condition that it shall
first surrender all claim to exemption from
taxation, or from the repeal or amendment
of its charter.
Amendment No. is intended to equalize
taxation and compel every citizen who en-
joys the benefits of our State government TO
contribute to its support in proportion to his
ability. 1t exempts church property, free
hospitals and institutions for the care of the
sick or aged poor and educational associa-
lions from taxation. 1t would prevent
favoritism in taxation, by which certain manu-
facturers are exempted from the payment
of taxes upon their plant while others are
taxed. If passed it would place it in the
power of the Legislature to impose poll-tax,
which it cannot do under the present Con-
7stitution. 1t does not compel the Legislature
to do this, but merely grants the power if the
people of the State desire the exercise of it.
This amendment also empowers the Legis-
lature to provide for an income tax-the most
equitable form of taxation.
NJ A t0 tha TN
Comm issioners, and empowers the Legsla-
ture to pass law for any county whereby
part of the County Commissioners board
may be elected every two years, so that there
need not be an entire chaDge-some members
being left in each time. The advantage of
this is obvious.
Amendment No. 5 authorizes the Board
of Public Works to sell the States interest
in all works of Internal Improvement 1t has
been found by experience that the taxpayers
derive no advantage from the State being
stakeholder in railroads, canals, &c. These are
private enterprises in WHICH the State should
have no pecuniary interest. Where the State
has such interest favors are granted, often to
the detriment of citizens who are inter-
ested in rival corporations. Thus the
State is made to discriminate against her own
citizens.
Amendment No. re lates to the taxation
of personal property. 1t declares that pro-
perry of this kind shall be taxed where the
owner resides for the greater part of the year,
except goods and chattels which shall be tax
ed where they are permanently located. 1t
is intended to bring under taxation property
which now escapes because the owner is con-
stantly removing from one part of the State
to another. 1t also authorizes but does not
compel the Legislature to provide for the tax
alton of mortgages.
The Democratic ticket is printed with the
Amendments in parallel columns, 30 that
every voter can choose for himself whether
he will vote for or against all of them, or he
can designate those he wishes to vote for and
those he wishes to vote against.
The Republican ticket, apparently, is not
intended to give voters this choice. 1t is
printed 80 that it may be counted for some of
the amendments and against others whether
the voter chooses for himself or not. Is
this politicaltrickP
A Republican voter, for instance, may be
in favor of poll-tax. II he is he should vote
"For Constitutional Amendment No. g." He
will defeat his own wishes if he casts his
party's ticket as it is printed.
--->- >->---
in an opinion by Judge Bryan, the Court of
Appeals last Friday dismissed the motion for
new trial made by the counsel of the State
in the suit on the first bond of Ex-Treasurer
Stevenson Archer. In this case the State
claimed about $4,000 and recovered
judgment for 100000. The second bond
was declared void by the Court of Appeals
and there is still q suit pending on the third
bond, which was filed in February, 1890.