The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-10-03

familiar with the needs OF our peopIo
and with the history, development and
practical operations of the State gov"
eminent. The changes this plan
makes are such as will give greater
efficiency and greater economy, and
they square with those State institu'
tions. usages and practices which ex,
perience has justified and which ought
to endure.
?. This plan will give more eff
cient State government. 1t reduces
the 80 existing departments to IL
major departments and three minor
ones by combining those whose work
is related and by abolishing unneces'
sary offices.
8. 1t will give a more economical
State government. The saving in OFF,
Gals salaries and compensation alone
will amount to nearly $150,000 a year.
The savings from increased efficiency
and system are sure to be many times
this.
INCREASED REPRESENTATION.
The Democratic party takes just
pride in Maryland's great city of Bal.
more. Its relative Importance, its size
and population entitle it to a substan'
tial increase in its representation in
the General Assembly.
We declare for increased representa-
ton for the city of Baltimore by the
addition of two (2) Senators and (l2)
DELEGATES, which is an increase OF fifty
600 per cent, and pledge our party
to the submission to the people OF
constitutional amendment therefor.
We urge our party to support this
amendment at the polls.
REDUCED NUMBER OF ELEc-
TONS.
We recognize that elections in this
State are too many and too costly.
We favor abolishing 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 will accomplish this.
The plan drafted by the subcommittee
of the reorganization commission, OF
which Hon. Carville d. Benson Is
chairman, shows that this will mean
a direct saving to the taxpayers of ap
proximately $35O0O0 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
success. Every county OF the State
paid its share of the lateral road fund
and avaiIed itself of its allotment for
1920, and almost every county has done
so for 1921.
We pledge our party to the construc,
ton of needed extensions of and add1'
tions to the State roads system from
State funds and Federal aid, and to
the continued building of lateral roads
from State and county funds.
We were deeply concerned over the
terms of the Federal Aid bill foStered
bv the Republican National Admins
tration. because it would have taken
from the States the right to initiate
their own road projects and tcontalned
other provisions which would have de-
prived Maryland of Federal aid in the
future. Federal aid was lnaugurateo
bv the Democratic National Admins
tration several years ago, and any ces'
sation or impairment of its benefits
would be most unfortunate. We are
gratified that it was largely due to the
efforts Of the present Democratic State
Administration that the Objectionable
features of the Republican Dill were
eliminated, and the bill at last put In
shape satisfactory to the interests OF
this State We deplore, however, the
failure of the Republican Congress thus
far to pass the bill, because this failure
has deprived the State Of all Federal
aid for some months, and has delayed
the construction of roads which. h2o
the Fed raf 11rof1etv---beesr AZ. =
would now have been either completed
or else well under way.
We favor the extension OF the state
roads system through incorporated
towns and the reconstruction by the
State. where needed and as rapidly as
practicable, of those town streets which
furnish direct connection with State
highways, to a width corresponding to
that of such State highways, and their
maintenance to such width by the
State.
AGRICULTURE.
The prosperity of the agricultural
industry Is fundamental to the general
prosperitv of the State During the
reconstruction period this industry has
passed through a most difficult eXpe-
rience. The prices for staple agr1cul-
tural products have fallen much below
the cost of production. Every effort
has been made by the Democratic Ad-
miniStration to assist the State agen-
cies, the University Of Maryland and
the farmers generally to tide over tits
trying period. Beneficial legislation In
the interest of agriculture and az lib
eral appropriations as the State
finances would permit were given by
the last Legislature toward developing
this industry, special assistance has
been rendered, in response to the
urgent need Of the farmers, in arrang-
ing an emergency redemption fund for
the control Of tuberculosis among cat
tie.
We believe in all movements among
farmers which will benefit the industry
and be in the interest of the consumer.
While great progress has been made
during the past few years in the de-
VclOpueuL OIL our agricultural re-
sources, yet much remains to be done
in the field of education, investigation
and extension work among our people.
Through the proper development of the
agricultural agencies Of the State, the
productive capacity Of Maryland farms
and Of the industries dependent upon
them can be much increased.
We favor the continued development
Of the University of Maryland and the
State Department Of Agriculture, as
far az the States financial condition
will permit, as sound business in
vestment for the benefit Of all the
people.
We believe in fostering every agency
and promoting every effort of the
farmers in Maryland toward the adj
vertisement Of our agricultural re-
sources and the further improvement
of our agricultural conditions.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
We favor the further development Of
the public school system Of the State
and competent, well-trained teachers,
in full accord with American ideals, in
all public school positions, to the end