Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-02-05
Commission on Legislative Expenses
Submits Report


of retrenchment and reform which he hal
started, to complete its work is that O.
Legislative Expenses and Procedure, o.
which State Senator j. Frank Harper, o.
Queen Anne's county. is chairman. The
other members of the commission are
Messrs. j. Enos Ray, Carville D. Benson
Robert Moss. Noble L. Mitchell, Joseph /
France and John Writ Randall. This COM
mission held its final meeting on Thursday
of last week and definitely adopted its re-
port to the Governor, embodying a number
of recommendations which. if enacted, will
bring about radical changes in the next
Legislature and make it different from any
other session in the history of the State.
Some weeks ago Senator Harper sub
mitted tentative report to the Governor
The Governor gave to this report his ap-
prevail, and it was then submitted to the
commission. Some minor changes were
made in it at the meeting Thursday, but
as whole it was not altered, and the
scheme of reconstruction, as far as en-
ployes are concerned sremains as outlined
by Mr.. Harper.
All that now remains for the commission
to do is to embody its recommendations in
the form Of an order" for introduction in
the Legislature upon the first day of the
next session This is the plan that will be
followed, and it is believed that not only
the commission, but the Governor and pub
lie sentiment will be back of the order
The chief reforms proposed are as fol-
lows:
Limitations of the number of employees
in Senate to "a and in the House to As.
Taking away from the presiding officers
of each branch the power of appointment
and compelling all employees to be chosen
by election or order in the open Senate or
House.
Compelling all employees to report every
day to the Chief Clerk of the House or Sec
rotary of the Senate, and paying them SIS
each only for the days they actually work.
An examination as to their capacity by
officials of each branch before any engrOss-
ing clerk is chosen.
Shutting off from Unauthorized persons
the privilege of getting supplies and sta
tionery from the State Librarian.
Compelling every committee of each
branch to report each bill referred to it
within 10 days, unless the time be extend
ed by the branch.
No extra compensation for any employees
of the Legislature, and the presentation to
the Governor for signature of all bills be-
fore adjournment.
To award the contract for cleaning and
keeping in order the State House by COM
petitive bids during the session.
A bill proposing constitutional amend
ment so as to avoid the necessity of en-
crossing all bills by pen.
Employment of a legislative attorney to
scrutinize bills for legal defects.
These recommendations, the commission
believes. will save the State $4,000 alone
in the matter of legislative employees. 1t
will save about $4,000 or $4,000 in the
matter of cleaning the State House and
about $4,000 in the matter of engrossing
bills. So that, if the recommendations of
the commission, which are approved by
the Governor. are carried out it should
save the State $4,000.
Senator Harper has figures which show
that the expenses of the Senate at the last
session for employees amounted to $685.
1881 and that in the House $51,73L50.
When it is realized that the House has
nearly four times as many members as the
Senate and yet the cost for employees was
$14, 442. OF less, it can be seen to what ex
tent the present method of giving the pre-
siding officers unlimited authority to APP
point employees may be carried.
The change in the engrossins of bills will.
Of course, have to be proposed by the COM
mission in bill form. as will also their
as to a legislative attor-
ney. All the other changes, however. will
be presented to the Legislature in the shape
of an order" and they will be presented
on the first day of the session, so that
from start to finish the next Legislature
shall work under the new scheme.
The Governor proposes to do all he can
to secure the adoption of this order on the
first day of the session. He is greatly
pleased at the work of the commission and
at the promptness with which it has pre-
scented its report. His idea is that there is
now ample time to so fully acquaint the
public with what is proposed that when
the time comes for action by the Leeisla-
ture the force of public sentiment will be
such that there will be no question as to
its enactment.