Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-04-06
WORK DONE
FOR STATE
Progressive Measures Enacted
By Maryland Legislature

The Legislature of 1912 passed enough
real constructive legislation to make it
standout prominently in the history of the
General Assemblies of the State. Every
pledge made in the Democratic platform
was redeemed.
As the result of the Legislatures
work many measures which are expected
to aid greatly in the development of the
State were placed on the statute books,
while much was done also for charitable
and educational institutions. Road i'm
provements will continue. Advance
ment in humanitarian enterprise was
made.
The most important political measures
passed or amended were
The Senatorial Primary law.
Amendments to the Corrupt Practices
act.
A new measure to succeed the Wilson
Ballot law.
Amending the Primary Election law
so as to provide for complete prefer
entail system of voting and for a recount
of ballots without the furnishing OF
prima facie evidence of fraud and ex-
tension of the party utilization system
over the entire State.
The Presidential Primary law.
The Wilson Ballot law was repealed
before the inauguration of Governor
Goldsborough. The new law for the
counties in which the Wilson law was
effective provides for uniform ballots
and the arrangement of the names Of
candidates in alphabetical order. Party
designations are not to be printed after
the named of the candidates and sample
ballots are prohibited.
Amendments to the Corrupt Practices
act greatly reduce the amounts of money
that candidates can expend legally either
in primary or general contests.
The Presidential primary. while af-
fording voters of the State opportunity
to express their preferences for Presi-
Dental nominations. is regarded as being
in many respects weak measure. Be
cause Of the vigorous opposition of most
of the politicians of both parties TO this
measure il was impossible TO get
through an effective measure, and a
compromise was accepted by its advo-
Gates. Fight for better measure will
continue, and before 1916 it is believed
tndt MAR lduu VIII HaNt a iSai AeSi-
Dental primary law.
Among the measures passed which
carry large appropriations are:
Establishment Of a school of technol-
ogy in connection with Johns Hopkins
University.
Purchase Of land and the construction
of New State Normal School.
TO provide for the care of all its lnol-
gent insane in the State.
For charging the Hospital for Con-
sumption at Sabillasville.
Providing for continuation OF road
building by the State.
The State has provided bond issue
of 5000. 600 for the erection of new build
ings for the Normal School. which will
probably be built in the vicinity of Bal
timore.
For the school OF technology the State
has authorized "A bond issue of $500, 600.
to be used in establishing the institution,
and also continuing appropriation Of
$50, 900 year. II is generally believed
that this movement on the part of the
Legislature will do more toward the
development Of Maryland than anything
that has been undertaken for years.
The appropriation for care Of the insane.
amounting to $500. 900. will be met by a
bond issue. New buildings will be
erected at the present State lnstitu-
tions. and new institution will be
established on the Eastern Shore. The
bond issue for the comsumptive hospi-
tai will be 500. 600.
The appropriation for roads. under a
new loan. over which the Senate dead
locked with the House. is 81. 965. 900 for
the next two years.
Under its provisions the Roads Com
mission is compelled TO spend s625. 600
in Baltimore city. $300.0O in Charles.
Calvert and ST. Mary's counties. $500 900
in Baltimore county and $40. 900 for re-
building the old Post road in Cecil county.
Among the humanitarian laws passep
are:
Employers Liability act.
The Ten-Hour Working Day law for
women.
The Compulsory Education law.
The Child Labor law,