The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1914-01-31

Equitable W IeOplS.
Nov, gentlemen, say it is for us
as the peoples accredited representa-
tives, to determine whether or not this
is equitable to the whole people of the
State. Let US grant, if you please, the
high efficiency Of the commission. Let
us grant the entire acceptability of
the roads which have been built,
(Which, by the way, | do not grant,
and which | find thousands of people
in this State unwilling to grant, but
granting these considerations for the
sake of argument, upon whom rests
the responsibility for final determin-
alton Of the question whether or not
the State shall tax the whole people
for $50, 600 900 to build one thirteenth
of the whole road mileage. | am not
arguing this question. ! shall bow
submissively to the rule Of the major
ity, but | am simply saying that it is
matter for our serious consideration
and for our sole determination. | am
further arguing that we should give
ourselves a fair amount of time in
which to consider this phase of the
matter For the State Roads Commits
sion to urge this Assembly to pass and
make available this new appropriation
of 100000 not later than February
Is, seems to me to have the appear
ance of attempting to crown the mour-
nerS. 1t Smacks too much in my
judgment, of the commission itself
determining that such appropriation
must be made and made quickly And
while | am on this phase of the sub
ject it might not be out of place for
me to bring to the attention of this
General Assembly the question of
what authority is located in the State
Road Commission. | am not going to
enter into detail, but there have been
some rather strange proceedings on
the part Of the Maryland State Roads
Commission.
"For example, if the legislature APP
propriates $5,000,000 for the work of
such commission and that commission,
without any other or further appro-
priation whatever, eXpends $6,000,O0O,
the commission itself has assumed the
authority which would certainly seem
to belong nowhere else than in this
body.
AS to Government.
THAT sort of action results in gov
eminent by road commission and not
government by the legislature, be-
cause taxation is the larger part of
government, and when road commits
sion assumes authority to be not
bound by any stipulated amount APP
propriated by any given legislature it
has assumed authority to impose tax
alton and has usurped the prerogative
of the very body which created t. |
am, ! confess, curiously impressed
with the fact that the present road
commission is entering into contracts
at the present time, based upon the
assumption that this Legislature will
undoubtedly make the appropriation
for which they ask That assump-
ton may be entirely correct, but it is
fragrant usurpation of authority that
the State of Maryland should become
bound under the terms of these con-
tracts to eXpend millions of dollars
before the Legislature of Maryland has
said or not said that these millions of
dollars shall be appropriated. Let me
suggest to you gentlemen that if this
sort of thing is proper or tolerable, it
is hard to say what the end thereof
may be. 1t is hard to see why a road
commission should ask for any definite
amount by way Of appropriation, why
it should not eXpend what it requires,
regards as proper and wise, and leave
the legislature simply to O. K. its bills
1t is hard, further, to see why it
should so urgently recommend that an
appropriation of a certain amount
in this case, February 16--in order to