The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-02-13
Legislative Notes.

Among the 7ueSlOuS OSiotS Tue ASkiS-.
lature that the solons are now wrestling
with are big scheme Of school legisla-
ton, an effort to break up Trust or trade
combinations, Baltimore's effort to gain.
control Of her liquor license board and
also for increased representation, anti
vice legislation, assault on race track
gambling and bill to reach common
cheats who refuse to payljust debts.
In line with the school legislation, for
which nearly two score bills already have
been introduced, the Democratic mem
bers are giving very serious consideration
to taking the appointment of members Of
the State Board of Education out of the
hands.of the Governor The Executives
right to name members of the county
educational boards: also is being consid-
cred. Many county school commission
ers' terms expire this year. an the Dem
ocrats assert that it would not be to the
interests of public education TO turn this
important part of State administration
over to Republicans, with danger Of the
negro question getting the upper hand.
This old negro campaign bugaboo is
being groomed for all it is worth by the
Democrats. who pretend TO believe that
in counties where the colored vote is
large the Republican boards would be
under pressure to give large proportions
e -. - rAa 80 Al,
to the detriment of the white children,
Another consideration is that the State
Board. through new members put on by
Governor Goldsborongh in filling vacan-
cies occurring since his election, is now
controlled by the Republicans, who are
understood to contemplate throwing out
M. Bates Stephens, when his present
term as State Superintendent expires.
The State Board. ..as'swell as the Assoc
citation of County Superintendents and
County School Commissioners are advo-
eating among other measures, mandatory
Statewide compulsory school attendance,
the requiring of teachers to have peda-
gogic training at least the equivalent of q
summer school course, requiring the
State school tax Of rs cents to be devoted
entirely to elementary schools, providing
for the establishment of a teachers
training course as elective in one ap-
proved high school in each county. re-
moving all doubt as to authority of
comfy boards to consolidate schools. to
relieve the county superintendent of the
duty of issning child labor permits. the
construction by the State and Worcester
county of building at Ocean City for
general educational meetings, and in
creased appropriations for the mainten
ance of the three State Normal schools.
A bill has been introduced to increase
the salaries of public school teachers.
First class teachers, 8 years experience,
$3.50; year teachers, $500; year teach
ers. S55o;5 years experience and second
class teachers, $425; s years and second
class, $3.50. The minimum salary is fixed
at $375 year.
Delegate Wilkinson, of Baltimore, has
introduced d bill to increase the city's
representation to 20 Senators and 60
delegates Such.a law has been agitated
for some time but has always met with
violent opposition from the counties.
Senator Beck has introduced bill
providing for earlier primari.s. The bill
fixes the time as the second Tuesday in
June, except in Presidential primaries
the delegates are to be selected the first
Monday in May.
A bill of much interest in this comfy is
one introduced whose provisions exempt
Cecil county from the law which requires
all new Corners into the state to file with
clerks Of courts declarations of their in
tention to remain in the state, these dec
laratious to be filed IL months in advance
ofregistration.
Several bills have been introduced
during fine present session to give magis-
trates power to accept declarations of cit
liens that they intend to remain citizens
of the state. The object of these bills is
to save new corners the time and expense
involved in visits to county seats and
there file their intentions.
What our lawmaking body is costing
the taxpayers may be ascertained by the
report of the Chairman of the House
Claims Committee, of the expenditures
Of the Legislature for the month ending
February s. The total for the House and
Senate was $4o,57o. AT this rate the
three months OF the Legislature would
cost $3.50, 700, or about $3o.ooo less than
usual. However, the monthly average
will show increase Some of the legisia-
tors have no. drawn their salaries, the
State House cleaners have not been Maid