The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-01-27
THE DOLLAR IS AWAY
ABOVE THE FRANCHISE
Inconsistency of Democrats Posing
As Reformers.


bill introduced by Senator Speicher of
Garrett relating to the management,
maintenance and construction of Gar
rett county highways passed in the
Senate, it being the first measure to
receive the sanction of the upper Horse
this session. The bill comes under the
chaperonage of the Garrett delegation
in the House and Delegate Frank Lee
/ Carl by whom it will be urged for
passage and is likely to become a law
this week.
DR.. c. W. Baldwin and DR.. w. w.
Davis, the former the president and the
latter the secretary of the Mountain
Lake Park Association, are here in the
interest of Legislation, as are also State
Supt. M. Bates Stephens, Mr.. Arch C.
Wilson, Prof. Howard Hill and Prof.
John 7. White in the interest of legis-
lation for the public schools.
Delegat Bolden, of Oakland, pre-
sented bill which requires a magis-
trate in Garrett county to have his
office in the district for which he is ap-
pointed. The bill was referred to the
Garrett delegation and Mr.. Carl of
AlIegany.
Delegate Chappell of Garrett county
offered bill today amending the two
weeks pay law in Garrett county that
it might become operative. He said
the law was ignored and abused In
many instances if miner asked for his
pay semi-monthly, he received it all
right. but with it was a summary dis
charge. The bill was referred to the
committee on corporations
Described by nm as a Labor bill, 8"
Mr.. Wittig will soon introduce in the
| House measure to make the office of
mine Inspector Of Allegany and Garrett
counties an elective instead of an ap-
pOintive position. The salary is to re-
main unchanged at 81 200 a year. Ac-
cOrding to Mr.. Wittig, the bill has the
endorsement of the 10, 600 miners in the
Georges Greek section, who are said to
feel that an elected Inspector would be
more in sympathy with the miners
without prejudice to the operators
than an appointee, and that they should
have voice in the selection.
At every recurring session of the
General Assembly a great cutlery is
heard against extravaganza on the part
of legislators who spend the taxpayers
money in paying political debts. The
charge is made that the payrolls at
Annapolis are padded, many more being
appointed to serve the lawmakers than
there are places to be filled. That this
prac tice is reprehensible goes without
saying, but it is always condoned by
the people themselves when at a sue
ceeding election the party responsible
is returned to power. 1t is, therefore,
not at all surprising that the practice
is continued.
During the last campaign the Repub-
leans made it one of the issues, and
pledged themselves if elected to correct
this evil to which attention was direct
ed, but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
The Democrats were again intrusted
with the reins of government and the
protestants have no one to blame but
themselves when the dose is repeated.
The most remarkable feature of the
whole business is that the leaders in
the movement to reform conditions have
not only themselves been benefciaries
when the pie was handed around, but
they made it impossible for the people
who would have chosen differently to
give expression to their will at the
polls. Even now while criticising the
course of their colleagues, some of
those who advocate more economical
methods do not fail to profit from the
states generosity. They are not slow
in taking their share of the spoils, as
the roster of employees will bear wit
ness.
The journals will show that when
Governor Crothers was a member of
the legislature he was always present
when the goods were delivered, and the
names of not few who are now railing
at the practices for which there are
! time-honored precedents made no out
cry when given their allotment of the
spoils. Now they are reformers-re-
formers within the party which they
by aiding in the enactment of out
rageous election laws enable to con-
tinue In power.
Had the Governor needed the protests
made against the arbitrary actions of
the supervisors he appointed, made it
possible for the Republicans and indie
pendents to get square deal. the cleo
ton would not have been one sided and
enough men elected to the General AS
sembly to enable him to carry out the
policies he so vociferously advocated.
Instead of protecting those voters,