The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1916-10-06

PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CON.
STITUTION OF MARYLAND GREAT.
ING a BUDGET SYSTEM.

ING A BUDGET SYSTEM.
WHEREAS, at the January Session OF
the General Assembly of Maryland. held
in the year 1916, an Act was passed, to-
wit: Chapter 159 of sa1d Acts, being an
Act to propose an amendment to Section
81 OF Article III, title, Legislative De-
partment," Of the Constitution Of this
State; and which said Act is in words and
figures following:
CHAPTER 159.
AN ACT to propose an amendment to Sec
ton 50 Of Article III, title Legislative
Department, of the Constitution of this
ations By the General Assembly Of Mary
land in regular session, and to provide
for the submission Of said amendment
adoption or rejection.
Section !. Be it enacted by the General
Assembly Of Maryland (three- ffths Of all
the members Of each Of the two houses con-
curring), That the following be and the
ga sane 9 is hereby proposed as an amendment
Section 81 OF Article ftH III title Legislatye
State, the same, II adopted by the legally
qualified voters Of the State, as herein pro.
Ivided to become Section 50 of Article III of
the Constitution Of Maryland.
Sec. SO. The General Assembly shall NOT
appropriate any money out OF the Treasury
except in accordance with the following
provisions:
Sub Section A:
Every appropriation bill shall be either
priation Bill. as hereinafter mentioned.
Sub Section B:
First Within twenty days after the con-
the case Of q newly elected Governor, and
then within thirty days after his Inaugural
tom unless such time shall be extended by
the General Assem- bly, for the session at
which the Budget is to be submitted, the
lGovernor shall submit to the General AS
sembly two budgets, one for each of the ell
suing fiscal years. Each budget shall con-
tam complete plan Of proposed expendi-
lures and estimated revenues for the par
tIcular fiscal year to which it relates; and
shall show the estimated surplus or deficit
or revenues at the. end Of such year. Ac-
Icompanylng each budget shall be a state
ment showing: Q) the revenues and eX-
penditures for each of the two rscal years
next preceding; (2) the current assets, liza
blllt1es, reserves and surplus or uetcit of
the State; 90 the debts and funds Of the
tcial condition as of the beginning and end
OF each of the fiscal years covered by the
Two budgets above provided; (5) any eX-
PLANTATION the Governor may desire to make
as to the important features of any budget
and any suggestion as to methods for the
reduction or increase of the States reve-
nue..
Second. Each budget shall be divided into
two parts, and the first part shall be desig
shall embrace an itemized estimate of the
appropriations: N for the General As
sembly as certified to the Governor in the
manner hereinafter provided; (2) for the
Executive Department.; 90 for the Judici-
airy Department, as provided by law. certi-
fed to the Governor by the Comptroller;
(4) to pay and discharge the principal and
interest Of the debt Of the State of Mary
land in conformity with Section "a Of Ar
ticle III of the Constitution. and all laws
enacted in pursuance thereof; ~ for the
salaries payable by the State under the
Constitution and laws Of the State; TO- for
he establishment and maintenance through
out the State Of a thorough and efficient
system OF public schools in conformity
with Article VII! Of the Constitution ana
other purposes as are set forth in the
Constitution of the State.
Third. The second part shall be desle-
mated General Appropriations" and shall
include all other estimates Of appropria-
tons.
The Governor shall deliver to the presfd-
bill for all the proposed appropriations OF
the budgets clearly ttemized and classified
and the presiding officer Of each house
shall promptly cause said bill to be intro
duced therein, and such bill shall be known
as the Budget Bill" The Governor may,
before final action thereon by the Gener-
or said budgets to correct an oversight or
in case of an emergency, with the consent
of the General Assembly by delivering
presiding officers of both houses; and such
amendment or supplement shall thereby
become part Of said budget bill as an adj
,d1tlon to the items of said bill or as q
modification of substitute for any item
of said bill such amendment or supple
menI may aUecL.
The General Assembly shall not amend
the budget bill SO as to affect either the
obligations of the State under Section "a of
Article Ill of the Constitution, or the pro-
visions made by the laws of the State for
the establishment and maintenance Of a
system of public schools, or the payment
OF any salaries required to be paid by the
thereof; and the General Assembly may
amend the bill by increasing or diminish
ing the items therein relating to the Gen
W fhn
therein relating to the judiciary, but ex-
cept as hereinhefore specified, may not
alter the said bill except to strike out or
reduce items therein, provided, however
that the salary or compensation Of any
public officer shall not be decreased dur
ing his term Of office; and such bill when
and as passed by both houses shall be a
law Immediately without further action by
the Governor
Fourth. The Governor and such repre-
sentatives of the executive departments,
boards, officers and commissions OF the
State expanding or supplying for the
States money, as have been designated by
the right, and when requested by either
house of the Legislature, it shall be their
duty to appear and be heard with respect
to any budget bill during the considera-
ton thereof, and to answer Inquiries re-
lative thereto.
ub-Section c: Supplementary Appropria-
ton Bills:
Neither house shall consider other appro-
prlatlons until the Budget Bill has been
finally acted upon by both houses, and no
such other appropriation shall be valid ex-
Ieept in accordance with the provisions fol-
IpSi1 {: 90 a. 9,I Every suen appropriation
ed to some single work, object or purpose
THEREIN stated and called herein a Supple
lmentary Appropriation Bill; (a) Each Sup
Elementary Appropriation Bill shall pro-
vide the revenue necessary to pay the ap-
preparation thereby made by a tax, direct
or indirect, to be laid and collected as shall
be directed in said Bill; 81 NO Supple
mentary Appropriation Bill shall become q
law unless 1t be passed in each house by
a vote Of a majority of tine whole number
or the members elected; and the yeas and
nays recorded on its final passage; ~
Each Supplementary Appropriation Bill
State as provided in Section II Of Article
III Of the Constitution and thereafter NIL
the provisions Of said Section shall apply.
| Nothing in this amendment shall be con-
strued as preventing the Legislature from
passing at any time in accordance with the
provisions Of Section % Of Article III Of
the Constitution and subject to the Cover
Section II Of Article II or the Constitution
an appropriation bill to provide for the
payment of any obligation or the State Of
Maryland within the proIecIion of Section
10 Of Article l Of the Constitution Of the
United States.
Sub Section u: General Provisions:
First: If the Budget Bill shall not have
been finally acted upon by the Legislature
three days before the expiration of its reg
ular session, the Governor, may, and it
shall be his duty to issue proclamation
extending the session for such further
period as may, in his Judgment, be neces-
Sary for the passage of such Bill; but no