The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1917-02-09
MIR. RalstOn's Letter.
To the Editor of the Prince Georges
Enauirer:-

Columbia who, in his stammering way.
would say of one of his associates:
"He goes around p-p-picking up PIP
pins when there are cr-cr-crowbars
lying l-l-loose." S lemnly celebrating
as to whether a few relatively unim-
portant offices may be consolidate ! CT
some little position done away with,
while ignoring $4,000. 90 year wasted
on polling places in private houses
when we should use our public build
ing for such purposes, and our whole
scheme of State or county government
distointed or without efficient head, it
is difficult to avoid the conclusion that
we have been picking up pins and over
looking crowbars. Even when we
adopt budget system to restrict legls-
lative abuses we seem to forget the
larger vices in administration because
of which we pay an immense toll.
AS have pointed out, the people ex-
ercise certain control over national
policies by simply electing President
and members of two houses of Con-
gfess. They largely lose control over
State affairs by undertaking to elect an
immense. number of officers whose
duties for the most part do not partlcu-
larly affect public policies.
Let US for moment imagine the stu
alton changed and consider the probable
result. Suppose our State method of
administration were adopted by the
Federal Government. We would pro-
coed to elect judges of whose capacity
we knew nothing, District Attorneys OF
whom we had no greater knowledge
Postmasters in every town with regard
to whom many of us might have know
ledge, but who would be Independent
largely of control and whose offices
would be made the football of politics,
United States Marshals we had never
seen and an Attorney-General who
might not be In sympathy with his
chief, Secretary of the Treasury who
would be at liberty to pursue policies
divergent from those of the President,
a great number of other Cabinet officers
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 his subordinaLes. Ec 'nomy.
continulry of policy and accountability
to immediate superiurs would be abso-
lutely 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 govern
ment exist proportionately in our State
Government. Compare, for instance,
our State judicial system with our
national. The purpose Of the Federal
administration of justice is to enforce
the Federal laws and to this end the
President is the capstone of the edifce.
Under the watchful care of the Attor-
ney-General, who him self is account
able directly to the President, are the
judges sitting impsrtially between the
United States and individuals, supervis-
ing the prosecution of all offensse
against the nation and the settlement
of all differences under national laws
between man and man; the District
Attorneys, Marshals, Clerks of the
Courts and as we'll all subordinates
looking after jails and penitentiaries.
There is unity, celebrity and control
over expenditures. All are paid by the
general government without special
charge to the State. Within our State
the Attorney-General is independent Of
the Governor; our Circuit Clerks are
equally independent; our sheriffs are
without direct restraint and our system
of jails. 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 Sheriffs are county officials,
while one Board controls the House
of Correction, and penitentary, and the
county jalls are the temporary domains
of the sheriffs.
Those engaged in administering
Fe leral 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
to the State for compensation and more
to the several counties, and are prac-
tically free from any danger Of rebuke
save that in certain gross instances the
grand or petty jury may be invoked.
The nation. wide law is executed in q
national-wide manner. The State wide
law is chopped up by county lines in
It's 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 Distriat of Maryland. all executing
Federal laws? Is it less absurd and un-
businessllke that the counties Of Mary
land separately pay for the execution of
State laws within their borders?
The advantages to be drawn from q
change of system, aside from the better
enforcement of justice. would be num-
erous. Our poorer counties, now
compelled to carry on a judicial system
expensive out of all proportions TO
their resources. would receive some
relief Very important economies of
administration could be introduced and
carried through under the direction OF
the Governor. Uniformity of admins
tration as between the different coun-
ties would be attained.
have not referred to the workings of
the Orphans Court. This institution,
scarcei " 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 ma.
terial power to the machine which par
GELS hem out. The duties Of the Re-
gistsr Of Wills should be performed by
the Circuit Clerk. The duties Of Jud.
ges eff the Orphans Court when really
judicial should be performed by cur
Circuit judges and when not Judicial by
the Circuit Clerks In the average coun
ty the entire labor now performed by
three Orphans Court judges and the
Register of Wills should occupy part of
the time of single assistant in the Cir
cult Clerks Office. and odd nom ants of
the time of judges. Our wastage in
this one particular in the State of Mary
land will probably amount to not less
than 100000 year, to say nothing of
the incidental loss and injury to the
public service.
In making the hacnges suggested, we
would not be trying and new or doubt
fui experiment. In New Jersey for in
stance, the only elected officer of the
State is the Governor and he iu turn, l
believe l am correct in saying. appoint
the prosecuting officers throughout the
State. In whole or in part, like sys-
tenn is adopted in other states. while we
have also the notable instance of the
Federal Government to fall back upon.
Orphans Courts are practically nom
existent in other states, al have said
We may get some light from analo-