The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-02-15

| ficers little known to the whole people
and Clerk of the Supreme Court of
the United States who would probably
be ignorant OF his duties and compelled
to rely upon bis subordinates. Economy,
continuity of policy and accountability
to immediate superiors would be abso-
lutsly unknown and naturally our as
sumed democracy would fall to pieces.
Face to face with foreign governments
we would be fatally helpless.
These evils which would seem so
obvious to US in our national government
exist proportionateIy in our State
Government. Compare, fer instance,
our State judicial system with our ma
tional. The purpose of the Federal ad-
ministration of justice is to enforce the
Federal laws and to this end the FRESH
dent is the capstone of the edifce.
Under the watchful care of the At
torney-General, who himself Is account
able directly to the President, are the
Judges sitting impartially between the
United States and individuals, super
vlsing the prosecution of all offenses
against the nation and the settlement
of all differences under national laws
between man and man; the District At
torney, Marshals, Clerks of the Courts
and as well all subordinates looking
after jails and penitentiaries. There is
unity, celebrity and control over ex-
penditures. All are paid by the general
government without special charge to
the State. Within our State the At
torney- General is independent of the
Governor; our Circuit Clerks are equal
ly independent; our sheriffs are without
direct restraint and our system of jais
is without central direction. The State
pays the Attorney General and the
judges; our States Attorneys are paid
by the counties, our Circuit Clerks and
Sheriff's are county officials, while one
Board controls the House of Correction,
and the penitentiary, and the county
Jails are temporary domains of the
shsriffs.
Those engaged in administering
Federal laws look to no State for their
salaries and are controlled by no State
officers. The national conception is
carried out logically. Those engaged
in administering State laws look some
IN tho Stata fOr co,,paneot;o,, N =, I x,,osa
to the several COMMITTEES, and are pra ctl-
cally free from any danger of rebuke
save that in certain gross instances the
grand or petty jury may be invoked.
The nationwide law is executed in
nation wide manner The State-w
law is chopped up by county lines in its
administration. One method spells
justice, certainty and relative economy.
The other spells injustice, uncertainty
and needless expense.
Would it not seem absurd to US if the
State of Maryland were called upon to
pay the salaries Of the United States
judges, marshals and clerks in the Fed
eral District of Maryland, all executing
Federal laws? Is it less absurd and I'M
business like that the counties of Mary
land separately pay for the execution
of State laws within their borders.
The advantages to be drawn from
change of system, aside from the bet.
ter enforcement of justice, would be
numerous. Our poorer counties, now
compelled to carry on judicial system
expensive out of all proportion to their
resources, would receive some relief.
Very important economies of admins
tration could be introduced and carried
through under the direction of the
Governor. Uniformity of administra-
ton as between the different counties
would be attained.
have not referred to the workings
of the Orphans Court. This institution
scarcely known of outside the State of
Maryland. gives on the average IN each
county. at least four absolutely unnec-
essary offices. These are pleasant to
fill and confer an additional and very
material power to the machine which
parcels them out. The duties of the
Register of wills should be performed
by the Circuit Clerk. The duties of
Judges of the Orphans Court when
really judicial should be performed by
our Circuit Judges and when not
judicial by the Circuit Clerks. In the
average county the entire labor now
performed by three Orphans Court
judges and the Register of Wills should
occupy part Of the time of single as
sistant in the Circuit Clerks Office, and
odd moments of the time of judges.
Our wastage in this one particular in
the State of Maryland will probably
amount to not less than $1,000, 900 a
year, to say nothing of the incidental
loss and injury to the public service.
In making the changes suggested, we
would not be trying any new or doubt
full experiment. In New Jersey, for
;r.toroa tba OpI,y alac+ad OAicar Of tho