Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-01-01
Mr.. Benson for Changes
Froa TIE BIlti,sare Sua

the vital question of granting Baltimore
its proper representation in the LegiSla-
ture see in the present agitation an oppor-
tunity for reconstruction of the whole
plan of legislative representation for the
State, Whether or not TO do this is practi-
| cal at this time is question which will
require consideration, but the suggestion
has been made and will be laid before the
Commission on City Representation which
Governor CrotherS has named to deal with
the proposition.
The enthusiastic manner in which both
party organizations in the city have taken
hold of the fight here for additional men,
berS of the Legislature, the favorable feel
ing toward the proposed increase among
county people, and the overwhelming, non
partisan sentiment back of the movement
are such as to convince most persons that
the next Legislature, whether il be con-
trolled by Democrats or Republicans, will
be compelled TO grant the demands of the
city for fair treatment. This situation, il
is contended, presents a chance for the re-
construction of the whole subject in such
way as TO satisfy the present demand of
the city to provide for the future growth
and development of the State and TO guard
against complications which, it is said in
some quarters, are apt TO arise.
Ms. BENSoN'S VIEWS.
One of the men who has thought deeply
on this subject is Mr.. Carville D. Benson,
of Baltimore county. who was Speaker Of
the House of Delegates in 1906. and DEM
ocratic floor leader at the last session. He
holds that the great danger TO be avoided
by those at the helm of this movement is
making the Legislature so unwieldly as to
render the progress of the bills through it
even more complicated, tedious and uncer-
tain than at present.
Mr.. Benson is strong advocate Of grant
ing the city an adequate representation,
and, if member of the next Legislature.
will stand with the city people for fair
treatment. But he points out that the
membership of the House now is l0l. and
the Senate 81. II. he says. Baltimore is
given the least that can be expected. which
is 40 members Of the House and IL Sena-
tors, it would bring the membership of the
Legislature up to total Of 1872, composed
of III members Of the House and IS of
the Senate.
He considers this altogether too large a
representation in both House and Senate
and believes that with such a membership
legislation will be impeded instead of ex-
pedited. Public sentiment. he says, cam
not be brought TO bear upon such a large
body with the force that it should have.
1t is with difficulty now. he points out,
that the present House of Delegates, with
its long roll call, can transact the work il
has TO do. With roll call of III or more,
instead of l0l, the contention is made that
in a session limited to 80 days il would
be practically impossible TO get through
much more than routine. The files of the |
House would become jammed with bills |
and the haste and lack of reflection for |
which Legislatures in the past have been |
condemned might become even more agra |
waited and conspicuous.
MIR. Benson's suggestion is that the COM |
mission named by the Governor, of which |
Senator j. Charles Linthicum is chairman, |
should take this condition into considera- |
ton and, while considering the question Of |
giving Baltimore City the proportion in |
the General Assembly to which its pop |
ulation and taxable basis entitle il, il |
should also take up the question Of the |
unwieldiness of the Legislature and give |
the whole matter careful thought from |
every viewpoint.
He SUGGESTS DISTRICT PLAN
He points out that Maryland is one OF |
the few-there being not more than three
or four others-States in the Union that |
give to each county one Senator. In Vir-
ginia. which is a much larger State than |
Maryland, and Pennsylvania, which is sew
eral times as large, the States are divided |
into Senatorial districts, and representa-
ton in the Legislature is according to
and not by counties. 1t is not
Just. Mr. Benson argues, to give county |
like Calvert the same number of Senators
as Baltimore county. which has more than |
100 900 population. In Virginia no arbi-
trary rule of representation from each
county exists either for the House or for
the Senate
Mr. Benson thinks the commission nam
ed by the Governor should look into this |
matter with care. IL should, he SUGGESTS,
obtain information as TO the methods of |
representation for counties and cities in
other States.
Exactly what should be done in the way
of rearranging the representation Of the
counties in both Senate and House Mr..
Benson is not prepared TO say but he does
think that now is the time to take the
matter up. To secure the city the addi-
tional representation il wants il will be
necessary to amend the Constitution Of the
the whole subject may as well be recon-
structed on a plain business foundation,
Like many others who have studied the
question Mr.. Benson believes the only
proper basis for representation Of the di-
visions of the State in the Legislature is
that of population. and in any reconstruc-
ton this should be made the basis. and
the system should be an elastic one that
would permit of the growth and increase
in representation of city as well as coun-
ties.
Mr. Benson puts these points forward
merely as suggestions He says he thinks
nearly every fair-minded man in the coun-
ties, as well as the city. recognizes the in
adequacy of the present representation OF
the city and will be willing to aid in cor
rectng this wrong. At the same time, he
the whole question from the
other viewpoints should be considered by
the men who have il in charge Now Is
the opportunity TO accomplish a complete
revision Of the whole subject. he says. and
TO correct many errors in the system of
State government.
OTHER CHANGES SUGGESTED.
One of these, il is commended is the cleo
ton every two years. instead Of four years.
Of the State Comptroller. and the election
every two years. instead of four years. of
the State Treasurer by the Legislature.
Students Of the present system say II would
be better to have the Comptroller and the
Treasurer elected at the same time as the
Governor. in the same way and for the
same term. To accomplish this the Consti
tuition will have to be amended. and Mr..
point is that when both parties
have been as is now the case. lined up
behind the proposition to amend the Con-
stitution so as to give the city additional
II offers a chance to secure
at the same time and with little additional
trouble the other constitutional amend
ments necessary to make the State Gov
consistent and businesslike.
Mr.. Benson is also an advocate Of the
election of members Of the House for longer
terms and at larger salaries. believing this
would tend 10 encourage better class Of
men to become candidates and would be
the means of accomplishing better results
from the viewpoint Of the people. He is
anxious 10 see some of the big men of the