The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-12-05
Constitutional Revision.


State is seriously lacking as II means of guild
ance for the State Government. Times
change, and men change with them, and con-
ditions have arisen that render it imperative
for our people to understand fully the reforms
needed in our State Government. The peo-
pie rule, and it is to the people we must look
for the reformation of all abuses in the body
polite. Believing, as | do, that the people
should see and fully understand what init
mately concerns them and when so under
stood that they will act in accordance with
their sense of justice and right reason, have
ventured to call their attention to the lncom-
petent and inadequate constitution and for
these reasons respectfully submit the follow
ing comments:
THAT the levying of taxes by the poll is
grievous and oppressive and ought to be pro-
hibited."
~ This is in strict accordance with that
idea Of full and unrestricted liberty to the in
dividual with which view all laws should be
framed. but under existing conditions those
who are not worth 500 in realty or person
atty entirely escape taxation, yet this class are
entitled to the full benefit of our laws as laid
down by that principle of Jurisprudence which
asserts that Justice shall be had by every one,
freely without denial, fully without sale and
speedily will without delay They can OF
consequence go into our courts and sci IN
motion costly litigation whose expense must
be borne by the taxpayer. Without intend
ing TO dispute any ones rights it seems to me
there is a manifest injustice in this clause, for
all persons. paupers excepted, ought to be
made TO pay something toward defraylng the
expenses of the State Government and sug-
gest that a tax OF, say one dollar 81 per
capita, be laid on all who do not pay taxes
This is but in compliance with the principles
of equity and cannot be construed as against
vested rights, since governments can only be
supported by taxation of the governed, and
such taxes may be laid for the benefit OF the
community.
(2) In my own opinion the Court OF APP
pleals should be separate and distinct body
of judges, not exceeding five IN number, ana
every county should elect one judge TO sit in
that county alone and be paid in proportion
10 the number of inhabitants therein, say
800 per thousand; while the State should be
divided into two Judicial circuits, with two
Judges at large for each of the said cir
cults who shall receive fixed salaries and
be appointed by the Governor. These two
Judges and each county judge to consti-
iute the court in banc for each county OF
their respective circuits and one of these
circuit Judges TO be designated by the Gov
ernor as chief judge of that circuit, and
no Judge, whether elected or appointed, to
hold Office more than len years and to be
ineligible to reappointment, or reelection;
also, that the courts of Baltimore City be in
dependent. each chief judge 10 be appointed
by the Governor at a fixed salary, and each
associate Judge to receive pay in proportion
to the number of inhabitants of the city, say
ten (l0) dollars per thousand.
f2N The 0rnhans' COurtS IN he entirely
abolished, at least in the counties. Their
principal function seems to be to consume
revenue and their jurisdiction is SO very limit
ed that their duties could be easily performed
by the Registers of Wills, who are in reality
the court itself
a. The Registers of Wills to receive a
fixed salary and be ineligible TO more than one
term of service.
(5) Sheriffs to be ineligible for more than
one term, to hold office for four years from
the first Monday in January succeeding their
election and receive salary.
(6) The Attorney General to be appoint
ed by the Governor and be ineligible TO more
than one term.
(7) States Attorneys to hold office as
now, receive u fixed salary and be ineligible
to more than one term.
(S) Clerks of Courts to receive salary
and be ineligible TO more than one term.
(9) The Office of Superintendent of Labor
and Agriculture to be filled by appointment
by the Governor, to hold Office for four years
and be ineligible to reappointment.
| (l0) No county to have more than one
delegate to the General Assembly unless the
population shall exceed thirty thousand, and
| il in excess of that number, to have one ad-
ditional delegate for every ten thousand of
inhabitants over forty thousand and no county
TO have more than five delegates, and Balti-
more City to have one delegate TO every forty
thousand each member of the General As
semby to receive the sum of six hundred
$4,000 dollars per year, with such mileage as
may be reasonable and in no event shall such
salary be increased or diminished.
Oil The Office of Secretary of State to
be abolished and Lieutenant Governor to
be elected to fill his place. Neither the Gov
ernor or Lieutenant Governor to be eligible
for more than one term of Office, except that
the Lieutenant Governor be eligible TO cleo
ton as Governor-nor shall the governor he
eligible to election for Lieutenant Governor
nor any other Office in the gift of the people
of this State.
tl2) The Comptroller and Treasurer tc
be ineligible to reelection; they to make up
and publish on the first day Of every month Q
sworn statement showing receipts and eX
penditures and cash on hand.
NJ. J. HEBRON.