The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1922-01-20
new ELECTION MAY
CUT TERMS OF
OFFICIALS.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PROPOSED
AFFECTS STATE AND COUNTY OFF,
CERS.-PLANS SAVING OF $35O,OOO
FIRST ELECTION UNDER new VOT-
ING LAW WOULD Be HELD IN NOVEM-
Der 1924.

/ Philip b. Perlman, Secretary of
State. has, at the request of Governor
Ritchie, prepared for submission to
the fewer elections committee of the
| posed additional article to the States
! Constitution
1 The proposed article, which, in case
of its adoption, would be Article XVII.
provides for the holding biennially OF
elections for all State and county Off
GERS. the elections to be held in the
years Of the Congressional elections.
/ The proposed Article XVII is design
ed to carry into effect the recommen-
dations of the fewer elections COM
mittee. of which Carville D. Benson
is chairman. BY thus reducing the
number OF State and county elections
the committee has estimated that
S35O.O00 year will be saved.
The first election under the propos-
ed article would be held ION the Tues
day next after the first Monday of No
vember. 1924.
The adoption of the article would
mean:
That all State and county officers
elected in November, 1928, will have
one year pared from their respective
! terms as now fixed by law
That the same fate will befall all
officers appointed in 1924 by the Gov
ernOr by the County Commissioners
of the various counties.
That State and county officers whose
successors under the existing law
would not be elected until November,
1925 and 1927, will have their terms
shortened by one year so that their
successors will be elected in 1924 and
1926, respectively.
That the terms of all State and
county officers heretofore appointed
for terms which will not expire until
1925. 1926. 1927 and 1928, will be re-
duced bv one year.
That there will be a regular session
of the General Assembly in 1924 and
one in 1925 and thereafter biennially.
Many Officials Affected.
More in detail the effect of the pro-
posed article, would be:
That the Governor, Attorney Gener-
al. members of the Senate, Judges of
the Orphans Courts, among such 9TH
er State and county officers who are
to be elected in November. 1928, for
terms hitherto fixed at four years,
will serve but three years. The next
election thereafter to such offices will
accordingly take place in November
1926, in accordance with the biennial
plan.
CUnder another proposed amend
ment. for Comptroller is to be elected
for a term of four years instead Of
two Presumably. the effect of Arti-
Gle XVII would be to have the Comp
troller elected in 1923, serve but three
years.
That the members of the House of
Delegates and all other State and
county officers elected in 1928 for
term previously fixed at two years,
will serve but for one wear.
That the Registers of Wills, Clerks
of Courts and all other State and
county officers elected in November,
1923. for terms hitherto established at
six wears. will serve but five years.
That the State Treasurer, elected by
Joint ba Hot of both houses, will. in the
regular session of 1924. be elected for
but one year.
That the Governor shall submit one
budget for the ensuing fiscal year at
the regular session of 1924; and two
budgets. as now provided, at the regu-
lar session of 1925.
That the vote for taking the senses
of the people every 20 years about
calling a Constitutional convention
will be held in 1928 Gnstead OF 1920
and every 30 years thereafter.
That the General Assembly in the
regular session of 1924 will make such
changes in the general election and
urinary laws as may be necessary to
carry out the provisions of the article.
La