The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1912-02-16
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.
SOME INTERESTING BILLS UNDER
CONSIDERATION.

work to do as In former years, De-
cause it has relegated large part OF
its duties to other bodies. All bills
affecting public service corporations
such an fixing telephone, gas and cleo
| tricity rates, railroad and electric
railway fares, and fri fact, affecting
corporations dealing in public util-
tiles, have practically disappeared.
The Legislature still has all the
powers which it formerly possessed,
but it realizes that the Public Service
Commission IL better qualified TO
handle them Hence Ill bills affect
ing the public service corporations
will die in the committee rooms or on
the files, and if passed they will prob
ably not be signed by the Governor.
Initiative and Referendum Amend
ments.
MFR. Henry a. Osborn, OF Hartford
county, introduced the amendment to
the State Contitution which provides
for the initiative and referendum. The
bill was sent to him by the Direct
Legislation League, which will make
. vigorous fight for it, passage
through the Legislature. The leagues
bill follows, to large extent, the
Maine plan of initiative and referen-
dunn. 1t provides that the people upon
petition can ask the Legislature to
pass any law which they desire. If q
proposed law, accompanied by the
petition, IL sent to the Legislature
and the Legislature refuses to pass
it the bill is then put in on the
ballots in the next general election
and if approved by majority of the
voters of the State it becomes a
law This same reference To the peo-
PIE i required if the Legislature
amends the proposed bill, and in
this case not only the original bill,
but the amended one goes before peo-
pie.
Compulsory Education.
The Compulsory Education bill
compelling children between and
IA years Of age to attend school
everywhere in the State was intro
duced in the House of Delegates
by Mr.. Elmer J. Cook, of Baltimore
county Tit was referred to the Com
mittee Oh Education The State Board
Of Education adopted resolution ap-
proving the compulsory educational
bill for the counties and will try to
have it passed by the Legislature
The Board considered a number of
legislative questions and many of
them will b. presented To the
Legislature. It was decided to
advocate an increase of the
minimum salaries for teachers
throughout the state. The legislative
committee of the board will take
up the matter and fix the minimum
figures. "a bill was also adopted pro-
viding for fixing the tenure Of
Office Of assistant teachers who are
at present unprotected. In the Sen
ate a petition from the Public School
Teachers Association of Carroll coun-
ty urging the passage of compulsory
education bill was received and re
ferred to the Committee On Educa-
ton
Harper's Primary Bill
Senator Harper introduced his
primary election bill which provides
for the election of delegates 20
national convention by direct vote.
This bill provides that delegates at
large must file with the Supervisors
of Election in each county and in
the city of Baltimore the same a
mounts now exacted from candidates
for state offices-that is, by COVER
nor, comptroller and attorney gene
ral which is $40 for each county and
legislative district in Baltimore city,
or 1910, and then take the chance of
being beaten. If successful he will be
obliged also to pay all expenses in
cidental to a campaign, and also
those NJ must incur when he attends
the convention He may get off with
$4O0, but the chances are the amount
will be nearer $500. The district
delegates, who are also to be
elected by direct vote, must also
pay $25 for each county or each
legislative district. tn the first dis
trict, where there are counties, a
candidate must deposit 1925 to get
on the ticket and then make a
fight for the honor if he is OPP
posed. His additional expenses will
probably reach 5000, 50 that it
would cost him $500.