Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1915-10-29
4 LETTER.
To the Editor Of the Maryland
Independent

ndependent:-
The Maryland newspapers have
very generally published the text of the
Constitutional amendments to be voted
, upon this Fail The State Democratic
Platform recommended all the amend
merts to the favorable consideration
If the people OF the State. The Repnb.
lican ilatfOrm recon mended tn Refer
eudnn Amendments and the County
Home Rule Amendment and is silent
butnot opposed TO the remaining amend
ments Therefore. we may anticipate
the adoption Of all the amendments by
overwhelming maj0rities. As one who
wants to see Maryland possessed OF the
latest we'll thought cut Improvements
in government, l rejoice over this, al
though at he same time recognizing
that much work remains to be done be-
fore Maryland attains that eminence in
tle. ADMINISTRATION Of its public affairs
we should all wish Il to possess.
It may be worth while bri, ily TO con-
sider what the proposition OF the peo-
ple OF the State OF Maryland will be
alter the adoption Of the several amend
meuts.
THE REFERENDUM AMENDMENT
! When this shall be adopted. II the
( Maryland General Assembly shall pass
1 aay law creating, for example, mono
poles obnoxious &c the people, or con-
veying away part Of " hat should be
our common wealth, without proper
compensation, or Infringing the liber-
ties Of the citizens, or creating useless
fiices as political or personal rewards.
without thought OF the public debts.
and Increasing our taxes in objection
BILE ways, ten thousand voters Of tbf
State, not more than five thousand from
Baltimore City, or any ons County. cat.
call bait by signing petitions within
sixty days alter the ADJOURNMENT OF
the Legislature, demanding that the
Objectionable proposition be submitted
10 the vote Of the white People before
a. shall be allowed u go into fun force
and effect Thereupon the Governor
viii cause the measure to be so sub
auitted and the people can direct pro
teet their own interests in such re-
spects.
In our several counties the Legisla-
ture with knowledge OF the fact that BY
tnis amendment ten percent within ths
counties can, as to local law, compel
its submission to the county electorate.
VII be slow to pass biiis multiplying
Offices, increasing county ex penses, or
ia any otter manner outraglng lpeal
sentiment Lawsof such description
have been passed By the Legislature.
affecting counties and As ever gone al
all versed in Marl iand politics well
knows, in thsir passage the wishes Of
the majority Of the citizens a the
Counties have been entirely ignored
All Of this will mean that hereafter a
lew public spirit will be created il
Maryland, The people Will feel them
selves directly part Of the government
and there will be a constant growth IL
political intelligence as people grow
accustomed 10 forming and expressing
their sentiments with regard to propo-
sitions immediately affecting their IN
terests. In this way, the people wi !
ia better prepared TO exercise their
powers under the Initiative when il
shall once be adopted.
THE COUNTY HOME RULE.
With the adoption OF this amendment
it will be the duty Of the next Legisla
ture to Determine land in this we must
hope il will be generonsl the subjects
over which counties shall have supreme
control with the result that great
mass Of legislation y hich now vexes the
General Assembly viii be determined
by the counties Immediately affected.
They will organize their own local gov
eminent and viii be in a position to
avail themselves Of the latest aud best
thought affecting IL. They will have
the power upon petition a twenty per-
cent 70 propose 20 each other changes
in such local government and laws as
they may once have ado2sed. IL doing
this they will be exercising a County