Middletown transcript., 1918-02-16
MARYLAND
LEGISLATURE
Home Rule Bill.

Annapolis
The Administrators Home Rule
Bill was introduced in the Senate by
Senator Bennett. The bill provides q
grant of powers by the legislature to
the counties which may in the future
adopt a charter under the provisions
of the Home Rule Amendment to the
State Constitution. As introduced, the
measures represents the work of a
committee appointed by Governor Har-
rington at the suggestion of Attorney
General Richie and consisting of DR..
Frank J. Goodnow, of Johns Hopkins
University; Edward M. Hammond, of
Ellicott City; J. Frank Harper, Centre
vile; William Mines Maloy, Balti-
more City; T. Scott Offutt, Towson: F..
Neale Parke, Westminster, and Jack
son H. Ralston, Hyattsville. Assistant
Acknowledgement Ogle Marbury and
Mr. Richie assisted the' committee in
framing the bill.
The counties which desire to adopt
a charter under the Home Rule amend
ment are given power to enact local
laws on matters covered by the ex-
press powers given by the Legislature,
and to have the power to enforce ordi-
nances and regulations by prescribing
penalties.
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 prop
erty and franchises in relation to high
ways, streets, roads and lanes for a Pc
Rod not longer than Is years. The
counties adopting home rule will also
have the power to establish hospitals,
almshouses or other similar institu-
tons, county jails and refornatories,
and to mae proper provision for fe-
male and juvenile offenders. They
also have the power to provide for
county advertising and printing, in
Guiding 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 draining 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 conditions, to provide
for grading county roads, to regulate
live stock, to pass local fish and game
laws, to direct the classes or sub
classes of improvements on real and
personal property which shall be made
subject to the county tax levy, and
to provide for such levy; to provide
for loans not exceeding in the aggre-
gate per cert. upon the assessable
basis of the county, and to issue
bonds; to provide for the appointment
and removal of all county officials ex-
cept those whose appointment or cleo
ton is provided for by the Constitu-
ton and the public general laws.
The counties are also given author |
[ty, if they desire it, to establish a |
merit system in connection with the |
of all county officials and
employees.
It is provided that the powers grant
ed by the Legislature that they are not |
for by the public general laws,
provided that no power to legislate
shall be given to the county with ref
erence to licensing, regulating, pro-
hibiting or submitting to local option
The manufacture or salt of malt or
;pirituous liquor.
Annexation Through The House.