Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1916-04-07
THE lHoIs-Aru,E OF 1910.

Ibe session OF tue legislature Ol
1915, is now past hist ny hnt the re-
suits Of commission aud omission are
matters for future decision rs ic
whether or not the people are salts
fed.
The sess OF started out llst Janu-
airy with both branches taking a
strong ground FIR economy ard fiji
cheney, par icularlJ IS far as the work
of the Legislature was concerned and
they have lived religiously " . The
excellent record they proposed to
establish in the legislative branch
The cost Of the legislature wa con
sid, rably less than that OF former
years and the usual last night orders
were consigred TO the waste basket
where they belonged The legisla
ture must he given ard is given cred
it for the economy praeticed by them.
The work Of the legislature as
whole was satisfactory though much
needed legislation was shelved and
left Cor future legislatures. Some of
the legislation suggested by the
Go ldnow Commission was passed
and some, uoiwiihstan ling its meri-
torousness fell by the way side
Some Of the pledges OF the Dsnio-
cratic platform were carried out and
others ignored. OF the latter class,
one in particular needs mentioning,
the adjustment of the fee system
which is recognized as one Il the
worst evils in our present dag gov
erument The fee system in this
state must be wiped out; the people
are demanding it ann the ignoring ii
this matter by the Democratic party
will be remembered by them two
years hence when they elect another
legislature.
The legislature did give to the
people some satisfactory Legislation
and this in the Budget sysiem whict
will be voted on by tie people mex
fall; organization of a state Law de
partmeni; conse, walton commission
redue ion of the board of road com
missions II; cOnso idatiOu of severa
offices; adjustment Of the office o
state fire marsha state road loan; u
ifoim system of accounting; reduc
tim ia printing laws and -repor,'
abolishmert Of envelope system Of
voting; registration tefore primaries
amendment of corrupt practices act
adjustment of continuing appropra-
tons and the state board of prison
control. These measured I'LL long
felt want in this state aud the people
are thankful for that muct. These
will, we believe, rebound to much
good to the stat4 and prove of prac-
ticaI benefit. While some offices
were abolished others were created
but on the whole as far as this mat.
ter is 'ucerned the state will be saw
ed much money and the burden Of
the pay err, if stronger w5rk a.
lolg this line is continued two v ars
hence, be greatly relieved There
are a number of Offices yet that should
be abolished and still others that may
BE- unsolicited with other branches
of the State government, but never
theIess that we have gotten a start
the people should be willing to look
forward to lnoie hopeful future.
Much other good legislation went
to the scrap pile, particularly the one
measure for which the people have
Ue'n clamoring for years the Hon e
rule measure. A constitutional a.
mendment was adopted last fall estsb-
fishing home rule and bill was IL
troduced in the legislature TO put it
into effect but it went TO the scrap
pile in the closing hours OF the legs
lature. This is one measure which
the failure to pass the people will re-
sent. No uniform ballot law for the
state was passed Notwithstanding the
promises and efforts along that lin.
There are others that co uld be mem
toned but space at this time will not
permit us TO deal iurtber with then.
On the whole the good we believe
overbalances the bal.
The good results accomplished are
due mostly to the persistent effors
Of the republicans in the legislatur',
notwithstanding they were in the
minority. The democrats had such
asmall msjo.ity that with the sin
cere and progressive democrats in
both branches the republicans were
able 10 force the passage of mvch Of
the useful legislation that the people
demanded.
From local standpoint we ere
satisfied. TIE bill providing for a
hospital passed; new schools will be
built to replace old D. IS at Mt Vie
toria and Benedict and permanent
..ol t,;If IL . -.,.... min. 6