Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-02-07
|. HOME RULE BILL IS
STARTED IN SENATE
Under Its Provisions Much Wider
Power is Given Counties
ADMINISTRATION MEASURE
Prepared by a Committee Appointed
Some Time Ago BY Governor Har-
rington- What it Provides For

Providing for the adoption Of regu-
lar charters, while operating under
which they would have much broader
powers than is now the case, the home
rule bill for counties was offered in
the Senate yesterday afternoon by
Senator Bennett of Wicomico. The
bill is designed to allow the counties
to take advantage of the Home Rule
Amendment to the Constitution rati-
fed by the voters year or two ago.
Il was drafted by a committee ap-
pointed some months ago by Governor
Harrington at the suggestion of At
torney General RitchIe.
The counties which desire to adopt
a charter under the Home Rule
amendment are given power to enact
local laws on matters covered by the
express powers given by the Legisla-
ture, and to have the power to enforce
ordinances and regulations by pre-
scribing penalties.
The counties are also given author
ity, il they desire it, to establish a
merit system in connection with the
appointment of all county officials
end employees.
II is provided that the powers grant
ed by the legislature shall only be ex-
ereised to the extent that they are not
provided for in the public general
laws, provided that no power to legis-
late shall be given to the county with
reference 10 licensing, regulating,
prohibiting or submitting to local
option the manufacture or sale of
malt or spirituous liquors
Among the powers given are to pro-
vide for the protection of county prop
erty TO provide for the acquisition and
condemnation of property for public
purposes. to dispose of real and lease
hold property belonging to the county,
to grant franchises to use county
property and franchises in relation 70
highways, streets. roads and lanes for
a period OF not lsnger than % years
The counties adopting home rule viii
also have the power TO establish hos
pitfalls, almshouses or other similar in
stitutions. county jails and reforma-
tories. and to make proper provision
for female and Juvenile offenders
They also have the power to provide
for county advertising and printing
including all ordinances and bylaws
adopted by the county council OF each
county, and shall have the power to
audit the accounts of all county Off
GERS
The counties are also given the au-
thority to provide for the drainage of
swamp and loW lands. to rearrange
and create election districts and pre-
cincts, to provide for court records. to
provide for designating Justices Of
the peace to a county court and to
fix their compensation; to prevent and
abate nuisances, to regulate the
places of manufactures which may
give rise to insanitary onditions. to
provide for grading county roads, to
| regulate live stock. to pass local fish
aud game laws, to direct the classes
or subclasses of improvement on reol
and personal property which shall be
made subject to the county tax levy.
ad nto provide for such levy; to pro-
vide for loans not exceeding in the ag-
gregate per cent. upon the assess
/ able basis of the county. and to issue
| bonds: to provide for the appointment
and removal of all county officials ex-
/ cept hose whose appointment or cleo
/ tion is provided for by the Constitu-
F ton and the public general laws.