Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-03

constitutionality. Republicans centend
that 1t Is In direct violation of the fifteenth
amendment, but the scheme is so ingen
lousiy worked out that it is believed no
real test can be made in the courts until
after the next state election. Gov. Croth-
erS says he will sign the bill
AFTER an exciting all-night session the
senate passed the bill at an early hour
thls morning by a strict party vote. and
the house passed it last night. There
are four bills in all.
Republicans Try Filibustering.
The republicans in both houses planned
TO delay the passage of the bills by
fllbustering, but they had to abandon
thelr enorts to save their own local meas
ures, the democrats threatening to kill
every bill offered by republicans if they
persisted In the filibustering The demo-
Gratis had prepared the disfranchiseing
scheme early in the session. but it was
withheld until last week. The bills. were
carefully framed in caucus. then sent tn
the committees after their introduction.
Ihey were sprung in the senate late Ia st
night and pushed through.
AS only two days of the session re-
main the republicans could not make a
long tight on them this afternoon in tho
mouse because Of the vast amount of
other important legislation to come I'M
ana to which they are committed. Some
o,'eSt opee.Iies, however, were made by
tne Republicans, In which the democrats
were charged with forcing upon the peo-
pie OF Maryland the most Infamous meas
ure ever enacted and of placing the state
IN the dfshonored position of violating the
CONSTITUTION of the United States
Senator Wilkinson Sarcastic.
Senator Wilkinson declared that this
outrageous scheme had been conceived
nj nn6 h1y
on Good Friday, when their time might
| have been devoted to better deeds. The
senator then gave the followers Of Sem
ator Gorman a dig by referring to the
1act that the man who had at one time
| endeaVored to diScredit their great lead
| er was now their directing head and
ADVISER. This great reformer, this apos.
| tie, was the person who was leading
| the members of the legislature to VIC.
late their oaths of office, for thew had
| sworn to protect the Constitution OF
| the United States.
1t may be possible to secure q de-
Glslen ny tho court Of appeals Of Mary
United States, If necessary, before the
fail election Of next year. The non
reg1Stration act will go into effect July
case upon the law, but its Violation
must be awaited before a test case will
| be available.
The first days registration will &C.
eur on the seventh Tuesday preceding
the November election day. A test can
| be carried through all the lower state
ana federal courts. to the state court
OF appeals and United States Supreme
| Court, respectively.
| Effect of Adverse Decision.
decision adverse to the MARYLAND
non-registration act would have the eff
feet of making again operative the
present registration and election laws,
| including! the Wilson ballot law. The
| fret bill repeats the existing registra-
t,cn laws The second enacts a new
registration measure providing that
| none but white men shall be registered
In the future as voters. The third car
ries The constitutional amendment de-
sisned to restrict registration for all
time to the white people of the state,
as 1t prohibits any future legislature
from extending the registration privi-
ieGe to negroes except those owning
$500 worth of rIcperty.
This amendment will be voted upon in
the fall of 1911 by white men only. A
provision has been inserted which will
permit the white voters, If they so de-
sire, to extend the privilege of registra-
ton and the ballot box to the negroes
owning and paying taxes on $500 worth
of property.
PROVISION IOr 6dlLlmOIG.
The bill also extends the terms of the
mayor and other municipal officers of
Baltimore so that their successors will
be chosen at the November state election,
spring elections being abolished. The bill
is based upon the assumption that the
fifteenth amendment is void, and 1t is de-
clared in the preamble that the exercise
of the election franchise by the negro is
n with his hest init g
or the welfare of the white race.
The present registration books are TO
be used for the congressional elections
this year. and the right of the negro to
vote at congressional elections is to re-
main undisturbed
The first registration will take place
for the general election next year, when
a governor and legislature and nearly
all state officers are to be elected.
The method and machinery for regis
traticn Of voters will remain practical
ly unchanged, as under existing laws.
Separate Registration Books.
The negro is not to be wholly disfran-
chised, as he will still vote at federal
elections-that is. for congressman. For
use at elections of congressman a dis
tinct set of registration books shall be
prepared in 1912, the present books being
used in 1911. and upon these books to be
III
sons entitled to vote for Congress Shall
| be entered. If any state officer is to be
| elected at the election for congressman. a
| distinct ballot must be used and onIy
| those persons qualified to vote at state
| elections will be permitted to vote for
them
! This will happen at the presidential
election of 1912, when representatives and
electors will both be elected. Presidential
electors are state officials and would be
voted on the state ballot.
| The present right of appeal from the
decision of officers of registration is re-
| tanned.
! 1t is provided, however, that a per-
SON appealing to. court from an officer
| of registration for registration under
the act, shall be deemed to have based
his right to register upon the act, and
is estopped to set up any claim or de-
Tense on any other ground. This is
| intended to prevent any appeal to the
state courts for claim to register under
the federal Constitution or laws of Con-
gress.
The bill also provides that the right
to register under it shall be limited to
white male persons. and if any register
20