The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1907-11-22
THE WORK OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

There seems to be at present time
considerable activity in the prepare
ton of bills for the action Of the
General Assembly says the Balti
more "Sun." That body will meet
for the session of 1908 ON New
Years Day, now only about six
weeks off, and it is none too early
for public-spirited citizens and the
members of the Legislature to
formulate important measures. 1t
is good policy to have them prepar-
ed in advance, for several reasons.
Proposed laws affecting the great
body of the people, OR any large
class, snould be made public as early
as possible, so that the people can
have an opportunity to under stand
and discuss them thoroug bly, before
final action is taken. 1t is also ad-
visable that important bills should
be introduced at an early period of
the season. If their intro0u ction is
delayed until the great mass of bills
which always come toward the last
oil the season, fill the files, then these
important measures are apt either
to fall for want Of time or to be pass
ed without proper consideration.
The State Bar Association at it's
meeting last summer discussed q
number of measures which will be
presented, and a committee on laws
was appointed to frame these bills
and urge their passage. The associa-
ton favors an amendment of the Goa
stitution such as was rec commended
by Governor VARIED, and which
will do away with the engrossing of
bills upon the absurd sheets of paper
as big as tablecloth, that are now
used, and will also abolish the army
of engrossing clerks who are en-
-ployed all through the session.
Governor Warfield abolished the
extra force at the last session by
requiring the laws to be sent to him
for approval in the original copies
as passed by the Legislature. How
ever meritorious and sensible the
change proposed by the Bar Asso-
ciation-that is, to use printed IN
stead of engrossed bills fer the ac-
ton of the Legislature-it will re
quire persistent effort to accomplish
it. It would abolish some of the
petty offices in aud around the
Legislature and reduce the partron-
age which Is distribu5 ted among the
members. A large party majority
ir the Legislature always calls for
an increased number Of committee
clerks, folders, engrossing clerks and
what-not to GO around, so that each
member of the majority party can
have share.
The Bar Association recommend
ed several other measures which we
believe have been framed and are
ready for introduction at the begin
ing of the season. Among there is
a provision for a commission to re-
wise the criminal laws of the State,
and some others relating to practice
in the courts, of more especial inter-
est to lawyers. It is estimated that
the law committee of the Bar Asso-
citation will interest itself in oppos-
ing bad measures as well as in urg-
ing good ones. This is also a fine
field for activities and much good
may be accomplished by having
competent lawyers to point out de-
fects in bills or their vicious nature
before they became laws.
Several enabling acts for amend
ments to the Constitution have been
suggested, among them the follow
ing:
To increase the representation of
the city Of Baltimore in the General
Assembly.
To create the Office of Lieutenant
Governor.
To limit the elective franchise.
One of the important bills which
will likely be introduced at the COM
ing session is the volumlnious nea-
sure prepared by the commission to
revise the corporation laws of the
State. This bill was introduced in
1904, toward the end of the season,
and again in 1906, but upon both
occasions failed of passage. Wheth-
er it is advisable to enact that bill or
not, it causes be doubted that the
corporation laws of the State. in
many particulars need radical re-
qision. It would be well for some
competent lawyers and business men
9 to so owe: the bill carefully, reduce
it's volume to reasonable dimensions
and climate those sections which
would certainly arouse opposition and
probably cause the defeat of the ca
tire bill. :.
=----.--'---------.---------
Former State Senator Thomas u
McConica, one Of the best Know Il
torneys in Ohio, has been indio5a1
by the Hancock county grand jury
e T,r ab II 90 20 Er-s.,