The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-08-28
The Unconstitutional Amendments.

There will be submitted to the voters Of
this State, at the coming November election,
six constitutional amendments, which have
been recommended by the Governor and adopt
ed by q concurrent vote of three-ffths of the
Senate and House of Delegates at the session
Of $780, After being duly published and pro-
claimed by the Governor, they are to
be submitted, at the November election,
to the approval or rejection of the people. A
new constitution is submitted as a whole and
adopted or rejected entirely. These amend
ments, however, must be separately consider
ed and the voter may decide, by his ballot,
whether any one or all of the amendments
proposed should or should not become part
of the organic law of this State. He may
vote for one and reject the others.
The adoption or rejection of these amend
ments is not party question, but simply a
matter of expediency relating to the good
government OF the State and they ought to be
considered in this light and not from any
narrow or partisan standpoint.
Every voter and taxpayer should read
very carefully the Governors proclamation,
to be found elsewhere in our columns, in
which each proposed amendment is definitely
stated. We shall, from time to time, between
now and the election, consider them in nu-
merical order.
The first one, stripped of its legal verbiage,
provides for the enlargement of the Govern
or's power of veto, giving him the right to
approve or disapprove of any item or items
in appropriation bills.
The appropriation bill passed at every
session of the Legislature contains specific
items appropriating sums of money for the
support of the various departments of the
State government, the payment of its just OBJ
legations, &c. The Governor, under the Con-
stitution as it now exists, can not separate
specific items which he deems unnecessary, Jun
wise or extravagant, and reject them while
approving others. He must approve or re-
ject the entire bill, as it comes to his hands
from the Legislature.
1t has long been the well-known custom of
INSCRIPTIONS members of the Legislature,
without regard to party, to take advant-
age of this state of affairs, and in the con-
fusion of the closing hours of the session
tack on to these appropriation bills items OF
very Objectionable character, which could
not have passed if public attention had been
directed to them and time been allowed
for their discussion. Members often feel con-
strained to let appropriations which they do
not altogether approve go through in this
way, for fear of having some local measure
defeated in which they or their constituents
are vitality interested. There are many de-
vious ways, besides, by which lobbyists and
log-rollers get reckless and thieving appro-
priations incorporated in the general appro-
priation bills. The character of these appro-
priations is not always discovered until the
closing hours, when an amendment striking
them out would have to 60 to the other house
and perhaps endanger the passage of the en-
tire bill
When the appropriation bill is placed in
the hands of the Governor he is in an
awkward position. He can only veto the OBJ
jectionable appropriations by vetoing the
whole bill. The veto of the appropriation
bill would have disastrous consequences. The
failure to provide means to meet obligations
would iDjure the credit of the State and the
wheels of government would be blocked. So
the bill must be approved, good and bad to-
gether.
1t is to remedy this evil that the first
amendment is proposed.
Objections may be urged that this is plac-
ing too much power in the hands of one per-
con. The right Of veto has often been ques-
toned but that power has stood the test of a
century of successful practice and has been
found TO be salutary check on unwise, ex-
travagsnt and corrupt legislation.
Let rs elect good man for Governor, en-
dow him with the right to protect the people
he is called upon to govern, and the best,
most salutary and benefcent results will sure
ly follow.
Therefore, we say, vote for the First
Amendment.