The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-09-22
legislative Reforms.

l6yI0I0llvC uCluI ND.
It Is only fair to the Demo
cratic State Convention and logi-
cal deduction from its Endorsement
Of the general principle of legisla-
tive reform, to assume that its fail
ure to adopt Senator Lees specific
plank on this subject did not i'm
ply any hostility to the program
outlined in 1t. The majority OF
the committee which framed the
platform had not the time or OPP
portunity to give thorough consid-
Grafton to all the propositions
which Senator Lees plank presen-
ted, and while absolutely clear
that there must be a radical change
In legislative procedure at Annapo-
liz. felt 1t to be wiser and more
prudent not TO tie the party down
officially to details. but to leave
them open for subsequent debate.
But those details must, Of course,
be agreed upon sooner or later,
and the campaign period is pre-
cisely the time to debate them and
to put behind them the force Of
public opinion.
1t is important that the Demo
cratic legislative candidates should
10; wait until they get to Annapo-
lis to make a study of the ques-
ton. They should take it up
at once and tell the people ex-
actly what they think ought to be
done. Some Of them possibly may
have. better scheme than that
proposed in Senator Lees plank,
but ne doubt it. not only because
Senator Lee has given great deal
Of thought to the subject, but be-
cause his thought represents the
thought of the clear-headed lead
ers Of the Democratic party in Con-
gress. where virtually the same re-
form has been adopted and has
justified ITSELF
Three things are aimed at, by
the changes suggested from pres
eut procedure: First. they would
protect the Legislature from out
side influences. which under the
present rules have often been en-
abled to use It's machinery to block
reforms and to delay or defeat the
expression of the popular will. Sec
one. they would protect the Legis-
lature from inside influences which
have frequently been expert and
dexterous enough to prevent the
course Of desirable legislation from
running smoothly by taking advant-
aGe Of technical points of procedure
to smother this or that measure or
member. or to put to the front
others In which some legislative
clique or faction might be inter
,setsd Third. they would tend to
14e 1ed tass ana procrazt!n n
90 E0n6 10 mt the work Of legis-
161lon on business basis. In 9TH
e words. the proposition is to
protect the public by making its
Aeent, the Legislature, less liable
to improper influence from without
or within. and to make 1t more
efficient working machine.
Everybody comedies that such a
reform 10 imperatively demanded.
And experience has shown that the
specific formulas prescribed by Sen.
Leo 60 to the very spots which
need amendment and cure. The re-
forms proposed would cut the
ground from under many autocratic
usages and would distribute more
svenly the power which has been
too much concentrated and centra-
Used. But they would make not
only for the public welfare. but for
justice and equity among members
themselves. and would help to
smAncfpate the Legislature from
the thraldom of obsolete and dan
0otOu1 METHODS.
We all know the evils and
Abuses to which the present sys-
TEN has given rise, and we cannot
emphasize too vigorously the vast
importance OF substituting for it
= modern one, which will eliminate
the serious defects that make them
selves felt at every recurring SEES
sion Of the General Assembly. The
next Legislature could not do any
thing which would render a more
lasting service to the State, or
which would more highly signallze
its work than the adoption Of this
reform. And the Democratic leg
1slative candidates who take up
the Lee plank and pledge them
selves to make 1t the special OBJ
1ect Of their efforts will earn a
strong title to public confidence and