The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-08-21

majority evidently agreed with that mem
Der who wanted to pluck all the grapes
in the vineyard, and it is noticeable that
none Of the many motions made on this
subject contemplated giving effect to law
until full opportunity had been given for
plucking all the grapes Both the House
and Senate labored for weeks on civil ser
vice bills. As early as February 10th a
bill passed the House providing for the
appointment of civil service commission,
making elaborate regulations as to its OPP
erations and providing for vote on the
measure in the fall of 1896. But on the
following day, Speaker Mudd left the
chair. obtained a reconsideration and Of
fered an amendment exempting all the
counties of the state from the provisions of
the bill and making ii apply to Baltimore
city only. In this shape it was carried.
The bill however, never passed the Sen
ate. but towards the close Of the session
the two Houses reached an agreement, aud
decided that the reform should take the
shape of an amendment to the constitution.
The story of this legislation, and how it
was mysterously emasculated by the crafty
hand of some spokesman, is told in the fol-
lowing extract from the 8 Baltimore News
of February 10th, 1897
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
"The words of the proposed amendment,
as introduced in the House March Is, and as
supposed to have been passed by the House
March 30, were as follows
Appointments and promotions in the civil
service of the State and of all the civil divi-
sions thereof. including counties, cities, towns
and villages, except such appointments as are
subject to confirmation by the Senate, shall
he made accordicg TO merit and fitness, to be
ascertained so far as practicable, shall be cem-
petitiye: and the General Assembly shall pass
all such laws as may be necessary more fully
to carry into effect the provisions OF this sec
ton.
HOW 1T READS NOW.
The proposed amendment, as embodied IN
the law actually passed, and contained IN the
bound volume of the laws of 1896, reads thus:
Appointments in the civil service of the
State, in the municipalities and counties of
the State, shall be made according to merit
and fitness, to be ascertained so far as practi
cable bv examination, which shall be com
petitive, except appointments which are sub
iect to confirmation by the Senate; and the
General Assembly shall pass all such laws as
may be necessary more fully to carry into
effect the provisions of this section.
RADICAL ALTERATION;
1t will be seen in the first place that the
language here is decidedly slipshod, whereas
the original language was perfectly clear; and
secondly. that the scope of the amendment
L.. olfarad - 4 n.g1ut-
ments in the civil service of the State, in the
Municipalities and counties of the State,
seems to have as It's most obvious meaning
State appointment merely, as distinguished
from local appointments. 1t might even be
held that the words sin the municipalities
and counties of the State impose further
restriction. and make the provisions OF the
amendment apply only to State officers whose
functions are local, thus excluding not only
strictly local officers on the one hand, but also
general State officers on the other. II this
Interpretation is the correct one, the Offices
TO which the amendment would apply would
be not only few in number, but wonld be In
great part The very offices for which the ex-
animation system is least necessary, or IS even
undesirable.
LOOKS LIKE TRlcHERY.
According to the House journal, the amend
nent, in its mutilated form, was reported to
the House by the Committee on Amendments
to the Constitution on March 26. The change,
as above stated, seems entirely TO have es-
capped notice at the time, and seems erpia'"-
able oRly bg the suppositiOR Of hickery
Such is the law which is heralded by
Republican organizations as one of their
proud achievements, and such is the ques-
ton upon which the people Of Maryland
must 90 though the farce of voting next
November.
Instances of hypocrisy might easily be
multiplied did but space permit, but treat
ment of this subject would be imperfect
without passing observation on the re-
cent removal of Marshal Jacob Frey and
two surborninate officers from the police
force of Baltimore By partisan board OF
Police Commissioners. 1t is a universal
principle in the laws of the Anglo Saxon
race more ancient than Magma Charta,
that no person shall be condemned without
trial and an opportunity for defense, and
vet in the case of Marshal Frey no charges
were preferred ard no defense was per-
mitted. bat that officer was summarily dis
missed, ostensibly for not enforcing the
laws against policy gambling but really tor
partisan and political reasons alone. In
re.sard TO the charges against the two
subordinate officers, Bernard Garter, one
Of the most distinguished lawyers OF the
country, as counsel to the Board, IN a
written opinion formed after diligent study
of the testimony, said
Il have no hesitation in saying, with the
fullest sense of my professional responsibility
that the charge above mentioned rs, as re-
spects each ofthe officers named, so altogether
destitute of foundation that in my judgment
no tribunal competent to deal with the sub
iect. and governed by determination to deal
with it fairly and honestly, could find that
either of the officers named have been want
ing in any respect in the discharge OF their
respective duties in reference to enforcing the
law against lottery policy in the city OF Baltl-
more.
In the face of this opinion of their
learned counsel. the two Republican Com
missioners did not hesitate to carry out the
predetermined plans to dismiss the officers.
The widespread and outspoken Indignation
of the people of Baltimore is still fresh in
the public mind, and is a sufficient commen-
tary upon this act of fragrant injustice.
In discussing the removals the Baltimore
Sun makes this observation
IF we extend our vision to the national
field. we will behold the same spectacle of
earnest professions of fdev0tioh TO civil service
reform before election and of lax allegiance
thereto after election.
The following declaration on the subject is
written in the last platform of the national
Republican party, adopted at st. Louis, June
18Th, 1896:
"'Fhe civil service law was placed ON the statute
books by the Republican party, which has always
sustained it, and we renew our repeated declara-
ratlons that it shall be thoroughly and honestly
enforced and extended wherever practicable"
This plank of the platform was endorsed
by Mr.. Mckinley in his letter Of acceptance
in the following emphatic language
"The pledge of the Republican National Conven-
tion that civi! service law should be sustained
and thoroughly and honestly enforced andextended
wherever practicable" is in keeping with the posi-
tion of the party for the past p years. and will be
reforms They appear willing to abandon all the
advantages gained after so many years agitation
and effort They encourage a return to methods of
idYoritism which both parties have often denOunc-
people have repeatedly disapproYed, The Repub-
licn party earnestly opposes this reactionaTy and
entirely unjustifabe policy Ii will take no back
ward step upon this question"
After such declarations Of the national
convention and such emuhatic words from