Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1915-05-21

organizations Of industry primitive.
The rule which was adopted at that
time and has theoretically existed up
to the present. that taxation upon all
classes OF property should be equal,
wh-n adopted, inflicted no particular
hardship or injustice.
With the changed times the Court
of Appeals in repeated decisions and
for the purpose Of giving effect to
legislative attempts to getaway from
the Constitutional rule has winked
at repeated violations of the Consti-
tuition. This should no longer be
the case. 1.-THE equal taxation Of all
classes Of property, irrespective Of
the effects on the community at large
is prejudical, as undoubtedly it il,
our Constitution should provide for
classification under uniform rules,
not allowing any institutions or per-
son to be the beneficiary Of special
favors from the legislature.
On the other hand, il all property
embraced within a given class be
taxed the community should not be
prejudiced by special exemptions.
Students of taxation throughout
the United States 10 their annual
conventions have recognized the
necessity of constitutional provisions
such as embodied in the proposed
amendment, and our State Tax Com
mission bias taken positions looking
in the same general direction.
We need a thoroughly modern
and up to date constitution in matters
Of taxation, for there ia nothing more
vital to the interests Of every indiyi-
dual citizen, and doubtless it was
with this thought in view that the
last legislature determined 10 submit
tins particular proposition TO the peo-
pie of the State.
One other proposition to be voted
on this fall remains to be considered.
This would grant to the General
Assembly power to provided suitable
general enactment foi the suspensio !,
OF sentence by the Court in criminal
cases. for a form of indcterminate
sentence in criminal cases and for
release upon parole in whatever
msnner the General Assembly may
prescribe.
As we become more humane and
more considerate OF the rights Of
others we discover that our criminal
courts arc often harsh in their trea'-
ment CT criminals and that our pen
alties prescribed for crime 10 an in
elastice way often serve to neither
reform the unfortunate who has been
found guilty OF crime, nor to terrify
evil disposed persons. We find too
often that our laws turn accid, ntal
criminals into permanent members Of
the criminal court class, and that
thereafter the wrong which we in
fiict upon them not merely Injuries
them but returns to plague society.
The thought underlying tn is
amendment IS one OF consideration
for the least fortunate and ofteh dis
regarded members of society? It'll
offers b, them a chance to reform,
and gives them the hope that when
they have Uecome duly disciplined
they will once more have a chance
to show themselves TO be capable Of
being useful to themselves and to
their fellow men. The purpose of
this amendment is consequently to
enable the State to avail itself OF the
latest studies in penology, and will
ultimately put Maryland in this re-
spect on par with the leading states
of the Union, in all matters relating
to the treatment Of criminals.
Having thus reviewed in your
columns all of the Constitutional
amendments proposed this fall, /
trust that it will te agreed that by
their ADOPTION. Maryland will liz mat
tiers of local self government, State
governmen taxation and social con-
troll demonstrate the citizens today
are worthy successors OF those who
one hundred an forty years ago con-
tributed to make it an Independent
and honored member of a new and
glorious political community.
JACKSON H. RALSTON.
Hyattsville, Md.