Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1900-01-13
THIS PAPER
January Is. 1900.
SATURDAY =
A BILL
Entitled an Act to Overthrow the Will Of
the People.

the bill offered by Senator Williams OF
Anne Arundel on the second day OF the
sessions. We had heard of this bill, but
had not been able 10 see copy OF 1t un-
Ill it appeared in this morning s RebH6h-
cau. We cannot believe that one OF the
first acts of Democratic Legislature and
a Democratic Governor would be TO
lend their aid 10 a measure TO set aside
the will of the people of this county at
the behests of certain faction-for the
sole purpose of giving control OF the coun-
" affairs into the hands OF ring, which
has caused all the discontention in the
ranks and file of the Democracy of this
county. Brother Riley. of the Record. this
morning has so we'll expressed our senti-
ments on this matter that we copy below
his remarks in full:
The long-threatened bill to IN
crease the Board Of Commissioners
of Anne Arundel County TO seven is
now before the General Assembly.
It's merits will there meet with the
calm consideration that becomes the
lawmakers Of the Stateto exercise.
That our Senator should be the
mover Of the measurer is unfortunate,
but, in his behalf, it must be said
that he was committed 10 1t on the
platform on which he was elected;
yet the bill goes farther than even
our Senator can justify, and that is,
we are advised, that 1t makes the
Governor the appointing power OF
the four commissioners instead OF
the people, and, what is worse the
Governor need not ask the advice
and consent of the Senate on his
selections. The General Assembly
has, in this bill, the factional fights
of the Anne Arundel democracy
before it. Today the Democracy of
Anne Arundel has two OF the three
commissioners of the county; but
this does not suit the Organization
it wants, by hook or crook, both
men or majority there of one fac
faction. That one should dare to be
of faction opposite to the con-
trolling faction is enough to have
the clan invoke the aid OF the Senate
Democracy, and drag the foul and
obnoxious politics OF Anne Arundel
into the halls Of legislation
The question then is-"Will a
democratic legislature violate the
right of local self-government and
put the selection of county COM
missionerS into the hands OF the
Governor. in order TO make sure
that one faction has a majority of
commissioners in the county board
of Anne Arundel"
And here, too, we think the
movers of the project would tai
again, for we do not believe that
Governor Smith would sanction
such plan.
There is a number of reasons why
this measure should not become law.
The first is that it is dangerous
precedent TO assert, by law, that any
other power but the people can put
in office those who lay their taxes
and spend them when they are laid.
The second is that the County
Boards are local legislators and, UNI
der proposed reforms, will have this
power enlarged by the Assembly. 1t
is manifestly improper for the
executive to appoint Legislators for
the people.
The third reason is that 1t is
dangerous party measure. Such
course was adopted in Frederick
county, and the terms of incumbent
commissioners extended SIX years.
1t took just ten years for the
democracy of Frederick to recover
from the outrage that the legislature
had perpetrated on the people, and
to carry Frederick county again.
This platform of the Anne Arun-
del County Convention that initiated
the seven commissioner bill was
sprung on DR.. Williams after he had
carried tie county in a Spefia! SET of
primaries. At that time 1t was evil
dent that the regular democratic
nominee for county commissioners
was doomed to defeat This was a
case OF "ymayf" precision that
looked ahead to have a democratic
legislature to pull the ruling and
running faction of the democracy of
Anne Arundel out of the dilemma in
To which the votes of free people
had placed it. 1t remains to be seen
whether, or not, the Reform Demo
cratic General Assembly of 1900 will
begin It's work of "yedi" refc nm by
falling into the plans of the most
corrupt set of practical politicians in
any corner of the Union.
If the bill is to become law, We
pray our Senator TO have the title
properly amended 50 to have the
title and the bill conform, and be
free from the constitutional bjection
that the title does not disclose the
intent of the Act. The title should
be
"A bill entitled an Act TO overthrow
the will of the people Of Anne
Arundel county as expressed at the
late election, and to provide a
factional majority in the Board of
County Commissioners of said