The Washington times., 1906-01-28
WOULD REPEAL LAW
PENSIONING JUDGES
Leaders IN Maryland Legis-
lature Want Change.
OPPOSED BY THE FARMERS
AgTicultuIists Think Jurists Are Well
Enough Paid During Long
Term in Office.


Assembly Of Maryland has now been in
session nearly four weeks, and in that
time about fifty general. ana as many
local bills have been introduced. The
great majority OF these are of minor
Importance. but there are some that
concern the general public.
Among these is the bin repeating the
act of 1904, which pensioned the judges
who retired from the bench after pass
ing the age limit Of seventy years. Sen
ator German introduced the repeating
bin iL the senate, and Mr.. Brown of
Somerset presented IL in the house.
No law passed in recent years was as
unpopular as this one, and the members
OF the Legislature. whose constituent
cles are dissatisfied are Fastening to go
on record so as to repair the damage
The opposition of the county people is
based on the belief that the judges
receive more pay than other public Of
feials, are elected for fifteen years.
and in that time should save enough
money 10 allow them 10 live in clover
the years remaining 10 them after they
have retired. They are paid 5000 per
annum, the chief judges Of circuits. re-
ceiving $500 additional
AS Viewed by Farmers.
To the farmer who ekes out an exist
ence on about $500 a year this Is re
garded as munihcent pay for what he
considers easy work. He argues that
in fifteen years a Judge should save
half his salary. leaving him enough at
the end OF his term TO insure com
potency. Hence. when the State agreed
TO retire him on half pay. the legislators
who voted for the bill were denounced.
and some OF the ablest senators and
members who sought q reelection were
defeated. Arguments advanced 10 JUS
tify the action taken did not avail. The
agriCultUrists refused TO be convinced.
and now. fearing that unles the law is
rescinded there may be another out
break. IL Is proposed to repeal il
Tha city members. who realize the IN
fairness Of the proposition. are solidly
against repeal. but fl is feared they will
be in the minority The prediction was
made yesterday by a leading senator
there would not be six votes cast in the
negative in the upper house
Gorman's Position.
In Justice to Senator German. who in
troduced the bill. IL must be stated he
Is not influenced by the objections OF
the economists. He said he vas con-
vinced the act is unconstitutional and
should never have passed. The organic
law contains a provision prohibiting the
payment of pensions 10 any State OF
fetal. and rather than have the judges
pass upon a question IN which they are
directly interested. he favors a repeal Of
the law Said he: Il believe the judges
IN this State are underpaid. a iurist
like Chief Judge McSherry of the Court
of Appeals should receive not less than
so. COO but the constitution must be
amended before We can recognize his
valuable services by retiring him On half
paw at the conclusion Of his term. Let
US pass such an amendment. and I will
be glad not only 10 advance the salaries
Of the judges. but pension them besides %
When the bill reaches the judiciary
conmitte in the house IL will prob
ably be amended so as 70 deprive any
judge Of a State pension who accepts
pay from the Government. This is
aimed at former Chief Judge Alvey.
who is now receiving two pensions.
Four Election Bills.
There are now four election bills
under consideration, not one OF which
seems 10 be entirely satisfactory. and
IL is now very doubtful whether one
can be framed generally acceptable.
The Republicans want the emblem re-
stored, the independent Democrats and
Republicans prefer a straight ballot,
which requires a certain amount OF In
tenigence to enable a voter to mark
his ticket, and the Democrats advocate
% s,a D.,
use, except where local conditions. and
environments require a different one.
They will not hear Of a uniform ballot
the State.
Senator Brewington. of Wicomico. one
Of the leaders in the Legislature, said
he would go so far as 10 amend the
law by having the intent of the voter
considered by the judges of election, or
TO incorporate a mandatory provision
that all ballots must be counted when
the point OF intersection in the cross
mark is wholly within the square This.
however, is the limit. Should those
to which the Wilson law ap-
plies. as in Prince George. Anne
Kent, and others, insist upon
exemption from these provisions, he
would not force their acceptance. Sem
ator Brewington is the chairman of the
con mittee on elections, and his views
will carry weight with his Democratic
Mr. Rasin. the city leader. has sent
word he is not concerned about any of
the proposed changes. He prefers the
simpler form Of balIO;. ana would not
object if the arrangement were such
that a single mark would carry all the
candidates of a party. but he is not Of
ferins any suggestions. The Republi-
can leaders held a conference last week
at which they decided TO stand for the
OF the emblem and they
may be expected to line up soliGly for
their bill, which was introduced Friday
by Delegate Gordon the Republican
floor leader. With the view of getting
together on some kind of bill the Dem
Bcrats met In caucus and appointed
a steering committee, which will sug- !
gest a compromise measure.
Primary Law Fight
There will also be a long fight over
amendments to the primary
election law in Baltimore city. The
Democrats object to
the convention system or nominating
and have introduced a bill
providing for direct voting, like IN
AEor4pan,arSF and T{arFord counties