Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-03-18
CHANGES IN LOCAL LAWS


In the first place it is idle to say that
we cannot save money by proper changes
in our local laws. In 1892 there was
maid to the magistrates of Annapolis city
bv the taxpayers, the sum of $2,O90.6O,
besides they converted to their own use
all fines paid by offenders, making the
grand total received by, them over $3 900
Since the passage of the Act OF 1892 pro
yiding police magistrates for Annapolis
city and requiring them to pay over all
fines to the county, magistrates Tor An
napols city have never cost the county
over $500. During the year 1893, they
received by way of salary $l,44O, ana
turned into the county 1888, making
their net cost to the taxpayers $701
as against $2,090,60, eleven years ago
when the population OF the city was
much smaller than at the present time,
thus saving by change IN our local laws
relating TO Annapolis magistrates In
eleven years the sum OF $l4, ll9.6O: Nor
is this ALL sheriffs' and constables' ac-
counts have been reduced in greater
proportion because the magistrates OF
Annapolis no longer dependant on them
for cases to make fees, have since the
passage of the Act, been able to refuse
them warrants when. in their judgment
warrants should not be issued. | men
ton this one case to show that by prop
er legislation taxes can be reduced
In the first place permit me to say that
our form of government, both for coun-s
ty and city, is in my judgment the worst
that can be devised and when we hear
our Republican friends make the declara-
ton that we must hold the Philippines
until the natives have learned to govern
themselves, we can rest assured that we
will hold them forever if they are to re-
ceiye lessons from Anne Arundel coun-
ty and Annapolis city.
REDIsTRIcT COUNTY.
We start our government from the
party caucus or primary and as the prim-
ary of Ae successful party is fairly
conducted and representative of what
is best in the party just so far and
no further, can we hope for good To-
cal government. If you will consult
the Sun almanac for 1904, you will find
AZ the Presidential election of last year
736 Democrats voted for Judge Parker
in Annapolis city, and only 3l3 voted
for him in the Second Election District
of the county, yet the 3l3 Democrats OF
the Second district will have the same
vote and power in the Democratic prlm.
ary of this year as the 736 Democrats OF
Annapolis city. In other words in the
city you are little less than half a Demo
Graf. or in the Second district you are
more thaa two Democrats whichever
way YOU are pleased to put 1t. In the
Republican party it is much worse. The
$50 Republicans of Annapolis city VINO
voted for Roosevelt will exercise the
same power in party matters as the @6'
Renublicans of the Fourth district, so
a Republican of Annapolis VIII, IN the
newt primary be less than one third of
Republican. Party representation IN
nominating conventions should be equal
10 voting strength and not based on
Imaginary lines which served their pur-
pose years ago, but which, by growth Oh
nur population in certain sections, has
made the political subdivisions of our
comfy an instrument for DISTINGUISHING
many of our voters in the primary meet
ing.
Our districts are too large, the county
should be divided into at least twenty
districts according to population and
geographical situation. Thus there IS no
Sood reason why, and it is positive
menace to the expression OF the popular
will that in their party primary the
farmers of the highlands, in the Eighth
election district are linked TO the water
men of the Swamp, or the farmers OF the
second district controlled by voters Nv
ing on the suburbs of Annapolis, and
the farmers of the upper part OF the flfth
district controlled by the persons work
inc in factories al Curtis Bay. Thus with
the county properly divided into dls-
tricts according TO territory and the COM
mnnitv of interests of the respective To-
raIities with each district represented In
the marty conventions according to the
actual vote of the party in the district;
the voters of the several parties would
~ enabled to have 3 voice in the seiec-
ton of their party candidates Ihere
are other reasons why our county should
he redistrlcted. Let US take fhe third
district of our county, and what IS SAID
of il will apply equally to other sections
of the county.
This district is thirty miles long ana
rms from Curtis Bay, IN sight of Baltl-
more. TO Greenbury's point, opposite An
nanolis city. To have fair and equit-
ahle road tax giving maximum benents
for minimum taxation, this one district
sbonld be divided into three districts.
one district composed of the territory
- the lower section, the people VINO
4 1f j.