Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1907-11-15
WHY NOT IA We A LIEUTENANT.
GOVERNOR IN MARYLAND?

The Democratic State Convention in Au-
gust last resolved that it was inexpedient
to call a constitutional convention, believ.
ing that "such changes in our present Con.
stitution as experience has shown to be
desirable can be better made by amendment
submitted to the people," In response to
this appeal the call for constitutional con.
Vention was rejected at Tuesdays election,
and the General Assembly will probably
find it advisable to "go" very slowly on all
amendments which are not clearly in the
public interest.
But there are some changes in the Con-
stitution of an entirely nonpartisan and
nonpolitical character which may be con.
sidered advisable, and among these is one
creating the Office Of acknowledgement.
The constitutional convention of 1857
seemed to make careful provision for filling
any vacancy which may occur in the Office
OF Governor, and yet the method is not en-
tlrely Tree from doubt and difficulty and is
altogether unsatisfactory. The provision in
the Constitution Tor filling vacancy in the
office is as follows: First, the Governor re.
mains in office until his successor shall have
qualified; second, in the case of death or
resignation of the Governor, or his removal
from the State or other disqualification, the
General Assembly, il in session, or If not,
at its next session, shall elect Governor
for the residue of the term made vacant. In
case of any vacancy during the recess Of the
Legislature the President of the Senate
shall discharge the duties OF the Office until
aGovernor is elected; and in case the Presi.
dent Of the Senate will not or cannot act
then the duties of the office of Governor
shall devolve upon the Speaker of the House
of Delegates. Third, for any vacancy not
provided for in the Constitution provision
may be made by law, and if the vacancy
should occur without such provision being
made the Legislature must be convened by
the Secretary of State for the purpose of
filling the vacancy.
There is one vacancy which may occur,
and to fill which no provision has been
made by law, in which case the expensive
and slow method Of calling the Legislature
together would be necessary. The Senate
frequently, indeed generally, elects as Its
President holdover Senator. IL that event
there is period of two months in each al.
ternate year when there is neither Presi-
dent of the Senate nor Speaker of the
House to perform the duties of the Govern.
or. On the day Of election the terms of the
holdover Senators end, and q man cannot
be President of the Senate when he is not
even Senator. The term of each member
Of the House ends on election day, and of
course that of the Speaker ends also. Should
there be demise of the Eexective during
this period it would cost many thousands
of dollars TO fill the Office for the brief space
of two months, as it could be done only by
calling the Legislature together.
The Legislature has authority to make
provision for such a contingency as this.
But the best way might be to amend the
Constitution by creating the Office of lieu.
tenant governor, and thus have always
ready to step into the Office Of Governor
whenever it is made vacant an official Sc.
lected by the people themselves for the very
purpose. Such an official might be clothed
with powers corresponding with those of
the Vice-President of the United States
that is to say, to preside over the Senate and
to have vote only in case of an even divis.
ion.
Under the Constitution of 1864 there was
a lieutenant governor, but the convention Of
1857 was very conservative body and did
not take kindly TO new ideas, especially
such as were imported into the State during
the war time. They accordingly omitted
provision for q lieutenant governor. Since
that time, we believe, the Office has been