The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-12-03
GOV. BROWNS ADDRESS.

Our readers will find in another
column an address issued 10 the
people of the State by Governor
Brown, proposing what he terms
"convocation" of limited number
OF thoroughly representative men
from each county of the State and
from the city of Baltimore to con
slider in an open discussion in the
winter Of this year, at some con
v2nient place in Baltimore City, the
proper details of a new assessment
bill.
The procedure recommended by
the Governor, is what the lawyers
would term extra judicial, " and
without precedent, and as it already
has, it will continue to provoke both
favorable and unfavorable criticism
If the last Legislature of Maryland
had confessed its inability to tormu
late and pass needed re assessment
bill, and had provided for the
appointment of a commission by the
Governor, whose duty it would be to
sit in the interim between the sessions
of our Legislatures, and after the
performance of its duty as an
advisory" body, should submit to
the General Assembly in 1894 the
best me assure it could devise, it is not
probable that it would be adopted
by that Legislature, and the expense
of the commission would be that
much OF the peoples money need
iessly thrown away. But the last
Legislature did pass re assessment
bill, to the passage of which Cover
nor Brown pledged his party in the
campaign OF 1890. and for reasons
best known to himself, but which
the masses of the people of Mary
land, who are moderate property
holders, the farmers, the merchants,
the mechanics, the professional men,
did not understand, the Governor
vetoed.
He was charged at the time, as
being influenced in his veto, by men
known as TAX dodgers" persons
owning large personal and mixed
estates, the bulk of which was escap-
ing taxation.
Now, if the facts sustained that
charge, the Governor to be consist
ent, would naturally summon to his
"convocation," precisely the same
class of men which he consulted
before, and his "convocation being
in no sense an authoritative body,
might formulate whatever re assess
ment measure it pleased, but the next
Legislature would not accept it.
The leaders of that body would
resentfully repudiate the "convoca-
ton" as an audacious assumption
upon the part of the Executive
branch of the State government, of
the constitutional prerogative OF the
Legislative branch, from which as
freshest from the people, all mea-
sures of revenue and taxation must
emanate.
So, on the ground of practical
uselessness, if upon no other ground,
the Governors "convocation"
scheme is open to fatal objection.
We believe commission of ten
sensible business men could forma-
late better and more equitable
re assessment bill in one week, than
five score Of the average Maryland
Legislators could produce IN ninety
days session. But the last legisla.
ture authorized no such commission,
and the Governors "convocation"
cannot be substituted for it.
The fact is, the Governor is in a
"hole" over that vest pocket veto.
He confesses in his proclamation
that his "oeto br06abT (the italics
arc our OWN imposes upon him the
duty q 1s-s-s=s:.g some recommended
ton to the next general assembly,"
Mr.. Brown may make what
ever recommendation he sees fit,
but after his veto of the Hayes Bill,
the people will not lock to him for a
new assessment bill. And they, in
all probability will elect Leeisla-
ture next tall, that will see to It that
he has no finger in their re assess
ment pie, and that it will be baked
early enough in the session, to be
passed over his head. should he
again veto it.