The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-04-12

sisted that the Legislature should
remedy the matter and renumber the
wards as they had existed prior to 1898
and reform the lines of the Legislative
districts by grouping together the
wards in their proper way.
THE Legislature of Maryland has
now done this and has restored to the
people Of the city the districts as they
existed prior to the trick Of 1898 and
which had been considered by Wings,
Democrats. Union men and Republi-
cans the fair and proper grouping for
the Legislative districts.
SEWERAGE SYSTEM.
Fifth. The special session having
been called for the four reasons above
given, the Mayor of the city of Balti-
more and others in authority consid-
cred the necessity for a sewerage sys-
tenn for Baltimore so great and urgent
for the preservation oil the health Of
the city that they insisted upon an
enabling act to permit the city OF Bal
timore to vote upon the proposition
whether they should spend several
millions of dollars for that purpose.
This is question of the internal gov
ernment of the city and does not relate
to the party division
NO FEDERAL QUESTION.
"But, Senator" the reporter said,
"what the general public desires to
know is the change in your registra-
tion and election laws. There has been
so much said in regard to these changes
that the impression has been made that
the legislation in Maryland is kindred
to that adopted in North Carolina and
and other Southern States
81 am aware of the fact that it has
been sought to create such an impress
sion," replied Mr.. German, 'but the
legislation in Maryland has no relation
whatever to tie legislation which has
been enacted in the States to which
you have referred There is nothing
in the law just passed which raises the
slightest question as to race, color or
condition. There is absolutely no
Federal question involved, as We have
dealt only with questions which affect
the internal government of the State
of Maryland"
"Will you describe how this is purely
a local matter, not affecting the Federal
Constitution"
"The Constitution of Mary land pro-
vides that all elections shall be by bal
lot and that every male citizen OF the
United States 81 years Of age and up
ward who has been a resident of the
State for one year and the legislative
district of Baltimore city or county six
months shall be entitled to vote in his
election district, except those who have
been convicted of larceny or other in
famous crime, or one who is under
guardianship, or who is a lunatic, or a
person non compos mentis.
"The Constitution also requires the
General Assembly to provide by law
for uniform registration OF the names
of all voters and makes the registration
lists conclusive evidence that the per-
son so registered is entitled to vote.
"This last provision is the first step
taken in our Election law. AS the law
now stands every male citiz having
the necessary qualifications can have
his name placed upon the list of regis
tered voters by appearing before a
board of two persons-one Democrat
and the other a Republican-styled
registers of voters These two regis
ters are selected by their own parties
and no action can be taken in register
ing person or refusing to register
him unless they both agree. In the
case of the rejection of any person
offering to register, or in the case of
the registration of any person improp-
erly an appeal lies to the Circuit Court,
which has jurisdiction in such cases.
So the courts finally determine any
contested case. This Is so absolutely
fair that it has not been questioned by
the most intense partisan ofany party.
PROTECTING TIE LISTS.
"When the republicans elected Lloyd
Lowndes Governor and majority Of
the Legislature in 1895, at the session
in 1896 they amended the Registration
law 10y repeating the provision of the
act Of 1890, which required actual bona
file residence in the State and the
actual pres, nee of the voter within the
State for six months preceding the
election, unless in cases Of temporary
absence the voter went before the
roper officer and made oath that he
Was only temporarily absent and in
tended to return and take up his resi-
dence prior to the election. This pro-
vision made it practically impossible
for any man in the State to vote unless
he was an actual inhabitant. When
the Republicans repealed it the door
was opened and it has resulted in the
registration of large numbers Of people
who have removed, with their families,
from the State, and who actually live
elsewhere. but who return annually to
the State to vote when they have no
habitation, no property interests, paw