The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1908-04-04

The Leg stature adjourned on Mon
day night. That is the best thing Il
did during lis entire session. II e
thousand pities that ii didn't adjourn.
permanently three minutes after X
was organ xed. That would have been
better for the Legislature, better for
the State, and better for the Demo-
cratic party. Its continuance of life
only brought the Legislature itself into
greater odium, the State into deeper
debt, and the Democratic party into
the shame OF most uncnviabIc rec
ord. That party. by reason OF its
overwhelming majority in both Houses
must shoulder the responsibility Of
this Legislative record, and It viii not
be a pleasant or easy burden. Three
serious indictments lie against that
record Unscrnpulous Partixanship,
unprecedented Extravaganza, and In
defens Bile Infdclity. A cursory re-
view OF the Legislatures doings will
show the ground for these charges.
IUNsCRUPULOUS
PARTISANSHIP.
The Disiranchisement Amendment,
with the avowed purpose OF making
Maryland zone party State by
| Election machinery, was promptly
hearing to the Republican minority.
The Wilson Ballot Law. designed for
further DISTINGUISHING purposes was
extended beyond the counties TO which
il formerly applied. and forced upon
counties which bitterly protested.
Senator Harpcr OF Queen Anne's. did
have the grace to confess that such ac-
tion was against his personal feeling
but justified il as party measure.
The abolition OF the sample bal
lots" in those same counties, together
VIII hthe fake" Primary Law, was the
last and final step toward the Ma
chimes entrenchment in power.
UNPRECEDENTED
EXTRAvAGANCE.
Which began with the amaz 'ng request
for $2oo,ooo for the expenses OF the
session. This was aftcrward shaved a
little-$3o,ooo Topped off-and the bill
passed with an appropriation OF SI7o,-
| 600 for the purpose, an amount far in
| excess OF anything so appropriated
heretofore. But even this did not suf-
| flee, and at the close OF the session
bill was Introduced carrying $3o.ooo
| additional appropriation for the ex-
traord;nary expenses OF this extraordi-
| nary Legislature. Incidentally cool
| Sioo.ooo.oo was appropriated for statues
to ex-Senators German and Whyte--a
| mere nothing. to be sure, but a moth
ing" which good many taxpayers
| will not relish pay ng. especially that
part which goes for statue to Cor
man.
Life is too short to attempt TO enum-
crate the many additional .appropria-
tions for the various State Offices and
the brand-new Commissioner. II
there is anything for which a Com
miss on has not been created by the
recent Legislature, il must be peculiar
| ly insignificant or modest to have cs-
| capped the attention.
The Five Million Dollar Road Bill
is not matter to be considered from
| the sole standpoint OF dollars and
cents: but none the less II must be
very ser ously considered in the matter
OF State taxes Senator German
claims to have solved the problem by
| taking two cents off the school appro-
| priation and imbursing the latter
from the general treasury fund. solu-
| ton that does not look especially
promising for the tax-ratc problem.
| In fact. it will take some close figuring
to Save the face" OF the State from
| the effects of the Legislatures expen-
ditures without a substantial addition
to the tax rate.
INDEFENSIBLE INFIDELITY.
BY which We mean infdelity to the
party's own platform and the promises
made therein to the people. Cover
| nor Crothcrs put 1t vigorously when
he declared that the German Primary
Bill was not fulfimcnt OF the party's
| platform pledge. and that he would
rather resign and go back to Cecil
htan continue to hold an Office secured
by deceiving the people. We do not
know whether the Governor still con-
templates resigning his Office or not,
but we do know that the Go man Pri-
mary Bill was passed and the promises
Of the party platform thereby con-
temptuously disregarded Many promi-
nent Democrats. including the Balti-
more Sun. are protesting hotly against
this perhdy and the Machine. with
John Walter Smith at its head, may
vet find il has gone entirely too far
in its indecent disregard OF political
fonc.ty The same charge holds in
the matter OF Oyster Legislation. The
plank on that subject, in the Demo-
cratic platform. was written to catch
votes When II come to carrying Il
out, John Walter Smith and his Syne-
puxent Syndicate stepped in with de-
mand for the protection OF their large
Northumberland or no plank: and
what John Walter Smith wanted had
.o go in this Legislature.
Indeed. taken altogether. the late