The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1915-12-31
Friday, December 81, 1915
BIG PROBLEMS IN THE
LEGISLATURE.

1916, to meet IN AnnapollS OH
January 5, and to remain in
session 80 days, will arise more
and bigger problems than have
been before any legislature dur
ingrecent years. Among the
problems are the following:
Statewide vote on the question
of continued sale or no sale OF
liquor.
Annexation of the contiguous
and populous suburbs of Balti-
more.
The Sheppard oyster planting
law under which the state faces
the prospect of paying about
$500, 900 for oyster grounds
leased by the state, condemned
under the law and thrown open
to the public.
Amending the primary election
laws by which expenses of candi-
dates will be reduced and the
envelope system in the counties
abolished.
Hunt for new sources of public
revenue with which to meet the
constantly growing expenses of
the state.
Creation of a conservation
commission in which will be COM
bined the Shellfsh Commission,
Fish Commission and oyster
navy, several bureaus and sub
departments.
= Creation of State Board of
Agriculture.
Reform of public school system
along lines laid down by the
forthcoming survey conducted
by the General Educational
Board.
Additional provision for care
of dependent insane, including
new building and equipment.
Purchase of farm for in
ebriates.
mission.
Creation of a budget system,
by which it is proposed to lodge
i'm the governor the power to
frame all general bills carrying
appropriations, which cannot be
increased by the legislature ex-
cept in cases of dire emergencies.
By this innovation the powers
of the governor will be greatly
enlarged.
Reduction in legislature and
governmental expenses and in
PRODUCTION of economies all along
the line.
Creation of a loan of about
100000 with which to meet
the deficit in the state treasury.
Crertion of an additional loan
of probably 100000 with
which to complet the system of
improved highways as projected
amp to build necessary bridges.
Better system in making ap-
preparations for institutions
supported wholly or in part by
the state, including colleges.
academies and other schools,
reformatories, hospitals, depen-
dent insane.
The legislative session will
mark the passing and the COM
ing of new systems. The horde
of useless employees of the legis-
lature will be diminished. The
mass Of local legislation will be
materially reduced through the
operation of the new amendment
to the Constitution providing for
a greater degree of home rule
and through the budget system,
under which the governor will
frame bill carrying all appro-
priations, the total of the several
items to be kept within the in
come of the state. No governor
OF recent times will face as many
problems as will fall to Mr..
Harrington because of the de-
ficit in the state treasury, and
because of the increasing de-
mands upon the state treasury,
with almost every source of
public funds overworked.
incidentally, the process will
continue which has been sedul-
ously and insidiously cultivated
for several years by which the
people are surrendering to COM
missioners and boards their
legislative powers exercised for
them by their representatives
over whom they can have the
authority Of the recall once every
two years in the case of dele
gates and once every four years
in the case of senators, while
the boards and commissions 90
On forever with no power by the
people to reach them except by
tearing down a whole state
administration. The same sur
rendar iS CoinU on in other statos