The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-01-20
FAVORS ELECTIONS
EVERY TWO YEARS
Senator Prices Bill Would Reduce
Number of Political Contests.

II ABOUT more tnan nalI the eleC-
tions now held in Baltimore city
r-7ud the State at large will be done
<.-way with. Senator Price stated
yesterday that he is preparing a
bill to be introduced in the Sen
ate as soon as he has it completed,
which will provide for elections IN
Maryland every two years, instead
of one in every year and two in
some years as is now the case.
The ground is taken by Senator
Price that the citizens of Mary
land have too much election, "
that a great many more are held
than are necessary and that the
saving to the State, counties and
the city Of Baltimore will amount
to several hundred thousands of
dollars. He believes that his bill
will meet with popular favor
among the members Of the legisla-
ture as we'll as with the public at
large.
Fer the last year Senator Price
has been giving the subject OF
elections in Maryland and other
States the closest investigation,
and although he will not go into
detail at this time regarding what
provisions his bill will contain, he
declared himself emphatically on
the subject, stating lis reasons for
wanting a change.
The whole truth is here in
Maryland we are overburdened
with elections" he said, land l
believe the State and its citizens
will be better off if we reduce the
number by more than half. The
number of elections we have in
Maryland is entirely unnecessary
and our method now of holding
election every year, and in some
years holding two elections, is an
absurdity:
THE bill l expect to introduce
will provide for elections every
two years and at that time such
\ officers as are needed can be elect
ed IN every part of the State.
Take the case of Baltimore city,
for example. There an election is
held in the spring for mayor, one
i'll the fall for city councilmen or
members of the legislature or
maybe it happens to be a guberna-
torial election. Why cannot half
dozen of these officials be elect
ed at the same time as they do in
other States?
The people have too much
election. Hardly is one oyer be-
fore another is at hand, and in be-
tween these come the primary
elections. The great number of
elections accounts to a very great
extent for the lack of interest
among the better class of voters.
Politicians wonder why they don t
go to the polls on election day.
It's all very plain to me.
Then a most important thing
to be considered is the great saw
ing to the State, which means a
direct saving of the taxpayers
money. l have given the subject
thorough investig alton. l have
received statistics from other
States upon it aud I am convinced
that the State would be saved at
least $500, 900 a year if we had
biennial elections only.
Down in my own county of
Wicomico we would save about
$4,000 a year, which would
mean from four to five cents on
the tax rate. If it means such a
great saving to us, what would it
mean to Baltimore city?
81 am now working on the bill
and hope to have it in shape in a
short time. ] have found, upon
investigation, that the Constitu-
ton will interfere with me to some
extent, but l believe that can be
overcome. The bill is one which
should meet with popular favor if
upon no other grounds than that
it means a great saving of the tax
payers money. The expenses of
the State and of every county and