Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-03-01
THE GOVERNORS APPOINTMENTS.

v
In making his nominations to the Senate
of school commissioners and justices Of the
peace Governor Goldsborough did not state
to the Senate who each Of his nominees
was tosucceed. This omission has precipi-
tated an interesting situation at Annapolis
The law provides that the Governor shall
nominate and with the Senate appoint
the school commissioners, who shall hold
their offices for six years or until their sue
cessors are appointed and qualify, so that
in case of the failure Of the Senate to con-
firm a man nominated by the Governor for
school commissioner the old commissioner
would hold over, but in number OF the
counties the terms Of two commissioners
expire every two years. II in such cases
one of the new nominees should be 0bjec-
tionable to the Senate and fail Of con-
firmation, il would, according TO the way
Governor Goldsborough has sent in his
nominations, be impossible to ascertain
which one Of the old commissioners goes
OuI anu WHICH, vi w ahN Oa''~S'
1t is understood that some of the new
appointees are Objectionable to Senators
from their counties, and especially is this
true in Baltimore county, where the leading
Republican politician Of the county has
been named as a member Of the school
board. Justices of the peace, it is claimed.
are in the same position as school COM
missioners.
The constitution provides in one section
that the latter shall hold their Offices for
two years, but says nothing specifically
about their holding over until their sue
cessors qualify: but in another section,
referring to the terms of Office of all civil
officers, the language is such that some
lawyers contend entities justices of the
peace to hold over until their successors
are appointed and qualify.
In MONTGOMERY county the Governor has
appointed one-half Of the number of justices
of the peace provided for by law or who
are now filling the positions. The law fixed
a certain number for each election district.
In some districts appointments were made
to fill the full number of places, in others
none was appointed, and still in others
appointments were made to fill only part
of the places.
Assuming that none of the appointments
actually made is Objectionable to the Sen
ate, il the construction contended for is
correct there would be no difficulty in dis
tricts where the full quota was appointed
and confirmed. The new appointees would
take their places without question, and so
likewise of all the present justices would hold |
over in districts where no new ones had |
been appointed. But in the other districts |
il would be impossible for any one to know |
whose places the new appointees took.
and, consequently, who would hold over
To meet these difficulties Senator Lee,
asst week, introduced and had passed an |
,rder Of the Senate requesting the Governor |
10 inform the Senate who each of his nomi
1ees for school commissioner was to sue
,eed
The Governor promptly replied with re-
spect to justices Of the peace that the in
formation requested was immaterial. as,
according to authorities cited and in his
opinion. the terms Of all justices Of the
peace terminated absolutely at the expira
ion of two years from the date of their
but he said nothing about
school commissioners, and failed to furnish
he information called for by the request
If the Senate with respect to them.
Senator Lee then introduced another Or
Ter. renewing the request as to justices of
he peace and called attention to the omis-
ion of the Governor to furnish the infor-
nation requested in regard to school COM
nissioners. which the Senate had an I'M
Questioned right to have and which it was
necessary to have in performing its func-
ions in the matter Of combinations.
Senator Maloy, of Baltimore city. secured
an amendment to this order. requesting
similar information in regard to the Gov
snors appointees on the Baltimore city
boards. which. he commended. occupied the
same position as school commissioners.
All indications point to the refusal by
the Governor to give the Senate the infor-
nation requested as to any of his appoint
ments, and it is freely predicted at An
napolis that il he should pursue such high
handed tactics, there will be much trouble
in store for him before some Of his ap-
pointees are confirmed by the Senate.
PnnoEYEIT A NnIDApR