Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1922-05-27


and why is it proposed that it should
IT, done? The passage by the people
o. these amendments will enlarge the
SIZE of the General Assembly now un-
wieldy, and make it more unwieldy,
and will increase the representation
Of the very class of people more unfit
than any other class in the State. 1t
will change time and mode of cleo
tons, and the terms and tenure of Of
fees. Like all drastic changes, it will
throw the whole machinery of the
State government into confusion
and such confusion always lasts much
longer than is anticipated, and will
result in Generalization for some time
to come; and all for what purpose?
ostensably to save some money, but
such things usually result in increas-
cd expenditures, and what is saved at
one end is much more than balanced
by increased outlay at the other. 1t
is like the five cent reduction in the
tax rate, brought about by the section
of the last General Assembly.
AS soon as it was announced that
the amount of taxes levied would be
really reduced, the State, Tax Com
mission, under the law, it is time, or
dered a reassessment Of all property,
and this reassessment will so in
crease the taxable basis Of property,
that it is safe to assume that all tax
kills even under the reduced rate, will
be much greater than they were be-
fore. And a close study and observa-
ton of all the changes and reforms
which have been carried out in this
State, land the same be said with
truth of all other States) have added
very largely to the expense of all To-
cal and State government. The re-
form in the tax laws, in the election
laws, and in the almost innumerable
other laws, the establishment of bu-
reaus and Commissions to carry out
these reforms, have added enormously
to all public expenses, with out any
real compensation, benefits to the
public, and there is no one thing bet
ter known in connection with most re-
forms in laws and reforms in public
affairs than this-that the most ex-
pensive of all modern luxuries, is re-
forms. Wars are expensive luxuries,
public improvements are expensive
Injuries, but they are not equal to the
everlasting, ever draining, ever cry
! g for more, more, that have resulted
from the modern craze for reform,
end from the zeal and energy Of those
who have made the business of their
ife the reforming of everything, that
fleets everybody and everything in
sight.
Do the conservative people of Mary
land want all these changes? do they
-ant all these alleged reforms? do
they want all this overturning and
confusion, which will result from the
ratification of these amendments to
our time honored constitution, and
system of government? Do they in
tend to allow collection of self-seek-
ing, inexperienced theorists, most of
them alien to our people and alien to
all our ideas and ways of life, come
among us and force their views upon
US? Do they intend to submit to the
dictation of coterie of newspapers,
largely owned and directed by aliens
to our State, managed and edited by
men who are here today and gone to-
morrow? Do they intend to allow ev-
erything, laws, customs. methods of
living and teaching, to be changed as
if we were a community of half-civi-
lized heather and these people were
benevolent missionaries sent among
us to convert us from the error Of our
ways?
Isn't it time to call a halt, and let
things alone for awhile, so that we
may all have a rest from change re-
form and uplift, and remain in peace,
in our benighted ignorance and sin?
PAUL WINCHESTER.