Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-10-06

legislation, New Educational Law,
Conservation Commission, State Board
OF Agriculture. Maryland Agricultural
College reorganized, State Law De-
partment State Board Of Prison Con
troll, Budget System, continuing appro-
priations abolished, uniform system Of
accounting, nnapolis-Claiborne Ferry
Baltimore and Rock Hall Ferry and
Baltimore and Love Point Ferry, War
Legislation OF 1917, Police Commission
er for Baltimore City. Central Purchas
Ine Bureau, State Merit System, Uni
yersity Of Maryland and Lateral Road
Law.
These two decades have constituted
period OF specific Accomplishment.
AS each new condition arose, the DEM
ocratic, State Administration has
stepped forward with the means to
meet It. AS each new need developed,
the Democratic State Administration
has supplied the need.
Inevitably these new accomplish
ments were not co-ordinated. From
the nature OF things they could not be.
Achievement was the instant and the
important thing. Not until the lapse
of some years was coordination pos.
sible, and the time ripe TO undertake
the work OF fitting each activity into
It's appropriate place in the general
order.
The constructive legislation Of the
past 20 years has, therefore, resulted
In a State Government conducting its
Important functions through about 80
separate departments, commissions
and officials. These are too many.
They should be co-ordinated. both 10
prevent duplication OF work and ef'
fort, and In the interest Of economy,
EFFICIENCY and OF an adequate, business.
like supervision over all State depart,
ments. The time for this has now
arrived.
There Is nothing peculiar to Mary.
land about this situation. Exactly the
same thing occurred and is bound 10
occur In every State. But Maryland,
under Democratic administrations, has
been among the frst OF the States TO
recognize It and TO apply the remedy.
Substantial beginnings have already
been made by our party with the adj
ministrative consultations, which
have resulted In the Conservation
Commission, the State Board OF Labor
Statistics, the State Board OF Prison
Control, the State Board OF Agricui-
ture, the unifcation Of that board with
the Maryland Agricultural College and
the State Law Department
Now the time Is at hand TO complete
the work OF coordination thus 30 well
begun and to recast the structure OF
the State government, so that we may
have q practical. working, well-bai.
anced whole. capable Of operating bet
ter than the present system and a.
less cost
To this end we pledge our party TO
legislation 10 promote coordination.
efficiency and economy IN the State
government, based upon the plan
which has been recommended by the
reorganization commission, appointed
by Governor Richie, OF which Hon.
". Charles Burke 10 chairman.
The plan this commission has rec.
commended has these outstanding fea.
lures:
l. IL "a distinctly a Maryland plan,
drawn by no outside experts, but BY
Maryland men and women, who are
familiar with the needs Of our people
and With the history. development and
practical operations OF the State gov.
eminent. The changes this plan
makes are such Oh viii give greater
efficiency and greater economy, and
they square with those State ingtltu.
lions, nsages and practices which ex.
perience has Justified and which ought
10 endure.
2. This plan win give q more efil.
Client State government II reduces
the 80 existing departments 10 is
major departments and three minor
ones by combining those whose work
10 related and by abolishing unneces.
sary Offices.
3. II viii give a more economical
State government. The saving In ON.
clals' salaries and compensation alone
will amount to nearly $4,000 a year.
The savings from increased efficiency
and system are sure 10 be many times
this.
INCREASED REPRESENTATION.
The Democratic party takes just
pride in Maryland's great city OF Bal
more It's relative importance, its size
and population entitle II TO o Bubstan-
tial increase In It's representation In
the General Assembly
We declare for increased representa-.
ton for the city Of Baltimore by the
addition OF two Cd Senators and l12)
Delegates, which is nm increase OF nifty
500 per cent, and pledge our party
to the submission 10 the people OF a
constitutional amendment therefor.
We urge our party to support this
amendment at the polls.
REDUCED NUMBER OF ELEc-
TloNs.
We recognize that elections in this
State are too many and too costly.
We favor Rbolishing all State and
county elections every second year
to the end that every other year
may be free OF elections. We
pledge our party to the passage Of
such Constitutional amendments and
legislation as win accomplish this.
The plan drafted by the subcommittee
Of the reorganization commission, OF
which Hon. Caryilis d. Benson is
chairman, shows that this WI mean
a direct saving to the taxpayers OF ap.
proximately s350,000 year.
ROADS.
We take just pride in the splendid
road system Of the State, inaugurated
and carried on by Democratic admin
istrations.
The lateral road plan, enacted by the
last legislature, has proved a marked