The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1910-01-22
MARYLAND
LEGISLATURE

The State Legislature, after a pro-
longed adjournment, reassembled on
Monday evening last, and in an atmos-
phere which had been cleared up and
made placid. No outbreaks marked
this opening session, such as marked
the one OF the previous week. In
deed, there seemed nothing to ROW"
over, inasmuch as President Gorman
of the Senate, had managed to arrange
his committees without stirring up
the animals" as Speaker Peoples did
by the announcement OF his commit
tees. In the Senate. Jesse ID. Price,
of Wicom;co county, is chairman OF
the Finance Committee and therefore
the Democratic foor-leader. Senator
on the following committees Art. g.,
Sect. "a OF the Constitution, Expendi-
lures for Printing and Other Pur-
poses Public Institutions, Insurance
Fidelity and Loan Companies, Judicial
Proceedings, Railroads and Canals,
Engrossed Bills. Executive Nomina-
tions. The following bills were intro
duced in the Senate: By Senator Lin
thicum-To Amend the Constitution SO
as to provide for increased renresenta
ton for Baltimore City in the General
Assembly. BY Senator Crothers-To
Amend the laws regarding State Au-
ditor, so as to enlarge the powers of
that official BY Senator Crothers-
To amend local law of Cecil County
as regards County Commissioners.
In the House the Anti-Saloon
League introduced its general local
option bill and asked for date to be
set for a hearing The bill is identical
with the one presented at the last ses-
sion.
In the Senate, Senator Zihlman
presented petition from the Alleg
heny Bar for the extension of the
term OF Chief Judge James Alfred
Pearce, and the same petition was pre-
sented to the House. as W re petitions
from the Bar OF Talbot, Queen Anne
and Cecil, to the same effect
\ NEW PRIMARY LAW.
NThe new Primary Election Bill was
troduced on Tuesday in both the
nate and House. We herewith pre-
an outline OF the measure, which
work quite revolution in our
zeal methods il it shall become
Fl measu.. is intended to st,pplant
IN. oi 1908, and follows the recon-
menTfations OF the Governor, who, in
his recent message to the Legislature,
urged a law that will require nomina-
tions OF candidates for elective offices
10 be made by the direct vote of the
people.
Under the provisions oi the bill poll
tical parties that poll or have poled
10 per cent OF the total vote cast in
Ihe State at a general election must
.A,minate all candidates for public
S5fiic es and elect all delegates to con-
ventlons. members OF managing bod
les. precinct, ward, city. county and
State executives by primary elections.
The nomination OF any candidate BY
party n convention is prohibited. as is
the selection or appointment of party
Official, executive or manager. The
powers OF conventions are limited to
taking action upon all the interests Of
the respective parties save the nomina-
ton OF candidates for public offices or
party managers or executives.
The primary election, it is provided,
shall be conducted br Judges and clerks
appointed by the Supervisors OF Elcc-
tions for the general election The
nominating contests OF the different
parties are to be held on the same day
and at the same polling places. with
provision, however, for separate bal
lots OF different color and separate
ballot boxes ior each party. The vot-
ers must be registered in the regular
registration books, and provision is
made for the recording OF their party
aftlliation. This system. the bill pro-
vides, will apply to elections through
out the State The elections are to bc
conducted in the same manner. as lar
as practicable. as the general elections
are held
In effect. the bill extends the provi-
Sions OF the Baltimore CITY Primary
Lection law throughout the State. eli
mlnatmg. however, in that city and all
the counties any nominations by con
ventlon 1t "rovidcs that all aspirants
for State offices may submit their can
didacq TO the direct vote OF the people
to express their choice in the selection
OF candidates for State. Federal and
local Offices. The adoption OF the
measure will mean that in addition to
candidates Tor elective Offices party
managers and executives will have to
be selected by the direct vote OF the
party members. Members OF the State
central committees aud other party
boards will have to be chosen by popu-
lar vote, and this reform was strongly
urged by the Governor. who said a
better electorate would follow its
adoption.
Primary contests must be held mot
later than the third Monday in Sep
tember OF each year, but the dav for
holding the elections need not be the
same in the city or several counties
In Baltimore, however, the candidates
OF the various parties and their State
central committees, party managers
and officials must be chosen by the di-
rect vote of the party members in the
same polling places. The printing of
ballots OF the different parties on paper
OF different colors and the separation
OF the voters of each party will facili-
tate the casting OF the votes.
10 have his name placed, on the bal
lot as candidate for nomination for
public Office or sspirant for the post