The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser., 1917-03-16

powers the counties were to exercise
and this subject was ignored While
the referendum amendment was self
executing aud on one occasion has bcen
since called into operation, the General
Assembly referred to should have fac
ilitated hv legislation the exercise by
the peopc Of this great power. The
constitutional amendment relative to
taxation made it the duty of the Gen
era1 Assembly to classify improvements
and personal property. This subject
was left untouched, only the classll-
cations, unscieHttic and entirely infor-
MAJ, W which prevailed without c"nstitu-
ti0nal authority b. fore the constitutional
amendment OF 1914; on the subject OF
taxation now existing. The General
Assembly Of 1916 should have gwen to
the courts the powers the people intend
ed the Courts to possess III criminal
cases. bat Tie evils which the people had
condemned at the ballot box by an
overwhelming majority remained un-
disturbed.
If the people possessed the right of
Initiating legislation-something | shall
desire to discuss on Il future occasion
this would not have been important.
The legislation of 1914 however, with
all of its good work, failed to submit d
proper initiative amen dment and the
people remain without power TO remedy
themselves the omission of those who
are called their representatives. The
one hope of the people until proper
initiative amendment is submitted and
adopted will lie in the chance that some
future session Of the General. Assembly
will be more considerate of popular de-
sire. In the present letter let me urge
the necessity Of legislation which Will
make effective home rule in the coun-
ties provided for by our constitution
and SO far denied by the General AS
sembly.
There is no state in the Union need
ins county home rule more tn IN Mary
land. The time of the legislature which
should Re devoted to matters OF general
import is now spent in the manufacture
of laws affecting only counties. The
last Assembly ground out TIA acts and
nine joint reso utions. The British
Parliament, representing Immediately
more than fifty millions of people and
controlling the destinies OF world
Empire, contents itself with passing
yearly oue-tifth as many laws as a ses-
sion of the General Assembly Of the
State CT Maryland. OF the numerous
laws provided for US at the last ses-
siun, II is safe to say that three-fourths
were local and should have been treated
oy the counties concerned without ever
consuming the time Of the Legislature.
We can readily imagine which chooses
the better part, the English Parliament
or our legislature.
Consider the kind of legislature 1879
men. bers of the legislature of Maryland
spend their time IN passing. Within
recent years, to illustrate, we have a.
AunaDoiis foi b dden the running o.:
swine ACROSS the Court House yard a.
Prince Frederick; we have made
criminal the hunting of Musk rats on
Naujemony Creek and the expiration
of mad toms and scaly cats from Wash
ington County. the delegates from
Baltimore City have Helped to provide
a license tax on dogs to create fund
to prott c. the sheep industry Ill Garret
County and the delegates from Somer-
set have spent valuable moments on bills
loc king to the repair OF public roads of
Calvert County; the delegates from
Wicomico have gravely voled eyes" or
mo" on the erection of school house
for colJred children in Calvert County,
and Prince Georges delegates have
helped determine the disposition that
Hartford County might make Of part OF
Its Aims House farm.
1t needs little argument to show that
Baltimore City should have the hight st
need of home rule and that Cecil CuuL-
ty should attend to its affairs and other
Counties likewise, without being SON.
trolled in 50 doing by Baltimore City.
The real interests of the State are
| falling to receive proper thought and
attention and are sacrificed because the
members of the legislature with their
| innumerable clerks and assistants are
occupied with local questions of the
nature of those above indicated, ques
Lions which should be determined by
| the counties. Consistent reform within
the counties is not possible to " anc
| no advantage NAV be taken locally OF
| the latest improvements in county gov
| ernment, no one having sufficient con
| tinued interest and power to accom-
pl;sh anything, legislative work being
| piece-meal and occasional.
Under the constitutional amendment
If it had been properly supplemented
| by legislation, the counties wauld have
|
| would have exercised-for the consti
tutional amendment gives it-a loca
initiative enabling the citizens of tn,
counties whenever 20 per cent petition
| ed for a change to correctt heir cwn loca
| government. Let US hope that the mex
legislature will not fail as did the las
in completing the necessary furtherins
Of county home rule.
There was no constitutional amend
ment that appealed more to the sympa
thetic interest Of the people of the
State than that which authorized tn.
General Assembly to grant the tria
courts judicious control over punish
ment of those charged with crime
Private interest, however, were allowed
to outweigh the Wellbeing of the State,
and the desires of the people were de
feated. 1t is to be hoped that the next
Legislature will rise above all petty
considerations, relieve the people of the
State and insure higher quality OF
justice than has often. been administer
ed in he past.
JACKSON H. RALSToN,
AZ y