The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-06-02
DEMOCRATS ARE P|L|NG
UP costs ON THE PEOPLE.
Party N Power Making Elections Far
Too Expensive.

mary elections are required Tor the NOM
ination of all candidates, congressional.
judicial and others, is the addition of
great costs to elections. These costs
fail not only upon the taxpayers direct
~ but also upon the candidates, and
instead of paving the way for poor men
to enter politics and to seek public office
the direct primaries, involving double
campaigns, are really impossible barriers
to the ambitious man not abundantly
supplied with capital.
For these additional costs incidental
! to elections and participation in politics,
as well as for other expenses which have
crept into local and state governments.
the Democrats are primarily response
BILE. An opportunity awaits the real,
genuine, sincere reformer, who will
lead crusade for abolition of useless
Offices and in the reduction of the num-
Der Of members Of topheavy boards and
commissions. Under the Democratic
regime there has been a steady increase
in the offices. At the last session Of
the General Assembly the sum Of over
$85, 900 annually was added to the ap-
preparation list for the support Of the
public service commissioners, automo-
bile commissioner and assistants. bank
ing commissioner and assistant.
Governor Crothers brought before his
cabinet the other dav the suggestion
that it might be advisable to consider
whether one police commissioner could
discharge the duties now falling to the
three commissioners. He mentioned
the Police Board only to Illustrate his
point. He might have gone further
and mentioned the Police Examiners,
Road Commission, the Geological Sur
vey, the She!Ifish Commission, and
later, perhaps, the Public Service Com
mission. He has already taken steps,
by the creation Of central purchasing
committee, to make possible in the
future a reduction in the membership
of the boards Of directors Of the several
state-supported Institutions, including
the hospitals for the insane and the
penal Institutions.
The expense Of the new primary cleo
ton law as interpreted by the Attorney
General and accepted unwilHngly oy the
Democratic State Central Committee
because it had no other course open to
it imposes hardships on candidate. who
are required to pay assessments before
they can have their names printed On
the ballots
Here is the provision Of the law m
posing this assessment.
Each candidate for nomination for
public office at a primary election shall
pay the sum Of twenty-five dollars l$Z5l
for each county or legislative district o.
Baltimore city in which his name APP
pears upon the ballot, provided that in
any county where the salary Of the Of
tlce for which nomination is sought
is three hundred dollars $500
or less such payment shall be ten dol
lars tSlul and if candidate for Cover
nor. Attorney General, Comptroller. or
Clerk of the Court Of Appeals Of the
state, then he shall pay the sum Of ten
uolLaIS .Slu' loT eSch county OF leRISI4 Ia
mo his reenective c,er,ifc.tes' LII he
Board Of Supervisors Of Elections; and
the Board OF Supervisors Of Elections
a ao1 oa,''ilio'e Wy Snai! pay over 1ng
civ Council of Raltir,0re I'D tba
Board Of Supervisors Of Elections for
each county shall pay over the amount
50 eFele ga 20 .'.e cou'l'y ooi,i'iss,oli IN
Of the exnarses Of Zach If ssid rT nm
elections in Baltimore city shall be paid
by the Mayor and City Council Of Balti-
iii'' &
tits only with candidates for Congress
with whom the law deals this year,
though there is no specific mention Of
congressional or judicial candidates in
the law. Thus, IN Southern Maryland
each candidate will be required to de-
post with the election supervisors $25