The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1914-01-10
TO LEGISLATE IN OPEN

ing 5ShSi al uoSC.
"We pledge reform in legislative
procedure in order to enforce prompt
and proper consideration of all bills"
At the State convention which
adopted this plank, Senator Lee SUBJ
mitted a plank pledging specifically
the reforms to be made. This was
not adopted at that time, there being
a disposition among the other leaders
to allow time for discussion of de-
tails. Since then large number of
nent members of the next Legislature
and have expressed themselves as
favorable to its adoption.
The Reforms Proposed.
Summarized the Lee plan, as pro-
posed at the State convention and
added to or slightly amended by SEN
ator Lee since then, is as follows:
That meeting of any committee
may be called upon petition of one
third of the members.
That the votes of members of COM
mittees on bills shall be reported on
the back of each bill.
That committees shall report, with
in 80 days after reference to them, all
bill introduced in the first As days of
the session; that all bills introduced
in the next 30 days of the session
shall be reported in 20 days after ref
erence, and that all bills introduced
afterward shall be reported 10 days
before the closing of the session.
That there shall be one exception
to this rule-the finance bills. which
carry the appropriations. These bills
shall have hearings during the first
so days of the session and then shall
be reported within 10 days. In the
succeeding 30 days of the session
they shall be subject to consideration
on the floor.
Then upon repOrt-favOrable or
unfavOrable-upOn bill by COM
mittee it Immediately shall be placed
on calendar and given number in
due order and shall be considered by
the Senate or House, as the case may
be, in its proper numerical position.
That instead of engrOssing bills by
hand, the authority to print them,
given in the amendment to the State
Constitution adopted in November,
shall be exercised, and that amend
ments to bills shall be indicated by
italics and sections stricken out shall
be indicated by brackets or some
other clear way.
That action in party caucus should
be made public.
Modern and Orderly.
Substantially, the Lee plan provi-
des that the course of legislation
shall be modern, public, orderly and
regular instead of Anticipated, capri
cious, secretive and involved
To End Haphazard Methods.
Under the existing system every
bill introduced in the Legislature
goes haphazard way. After it's in
PRODUCTION it goes to a committee
Then it is largely at the mercy of the
chairman of that committee. If he
objects to having the committee con-
slider it, he can lock it in safe. A
long delay follows and often drastic
lay it before the committee. After
committee the same situation arises.
port it, he often locks it up again
anu thele enoueS diioIHel lollR ueldy,
ended probably only by another APP
plication of drastic methods.
When it is finally reported, the
Speaker of the House or the Presi-
dent of the Senate has the power of
the committee chairman. If he does
not like the bill or the man who is
sponsor for it, he puts it at the bot
tom of the pile" and it becomes we'll
nigh impossible to get it before the
branch for consideration.
Power of Ruling Coterie.
This power of the committee chair
men appointed by the presiding Off
GERS and of the presiding officers
themselves has been the source of |
endless and monumental abuse and
corruption.
Good measures have been arbitrar-
lily buried and all the efforts of those
favoring them have been unavailing
to get even vote on the floor of the
Legislature. Senators and Delegates
who refused to obey the bidding of
the ruling coterie have been punished
by having their local measures buried
and others have been compelled to
vote with the coterie to get their
measures through.
Finally, under this system, the door
has been opened wide to the lobbyist.
If he could arrange with the ruling
coterie, he could advance bills favored
by special interests about as he pleas
ed or could smother bills to which
special interests were opposed.
To Cut Out Abuses.
The Lee plan would prevent much
of this. The provisions for prompt
action in committee, for prompt re-
port from committee and for prompt
action on the floor would eliminate
favoritism, caprice and abuse. The
printing of bills would largely pre-
vent changing bills after action on
them and similar downright rascality
that has been in vogue.