Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1923-09-28

vote Of the people, will save approximately
$350.000 year in direct taxes for the
holding of elections.
The act providing for general registra-
tons in Baltimore city every four years
instead of every two years will save ap-
proximately $4,000 every four years.
Increased Representation For Baltimore.
The Constitutional amendment provid-
ing for this was passed by the Legislature
and ratified by the direct vote of the people.
Women.
The political disabilities of women have
been removed. and they are now eligible
for any elective or appointive office
State Tax Rate.
When this administration began, in 1920.
the State tax rate was SO SLIP cents.
For the fiscal year ending September 80.
1924, the rate is 80 2-l3 cents decrease
of over 6 cents.
This decrease is not offset by increased
assessments. Assessments have been in
creased every year for great many years
and new revenues have been added. too.
but the State tax rate has gone up
just the same. In 1907 the rate was
III cents. Since then it has steadily
mounted until for 1920 it was over SO
cents. The first year for which this ad-
ministration fixed the rate was 1921 AS
sessments were increased that year and
new revenues added. but beginning with
that year. and in spite Of broadened public
activities and higher costs. The rate went
down. and it has been going. down ever
since.
Increased assess ments since 1921 have
not yielded the State anything like the
amount which the tax reductions have
saved the taxpayers. While there was an
increase in assessments in 1923 over 1921
OF 10 per cent, (Which included new as
sessments as well as increases in existing
ones). there was decrease in the State
tax rate during the same period of is per
cent
Every dollar realized from increased as
sessments in 1928 and 1924. the period
Of the present budget. is. or will be, intact
in the State Treasury and available for
the redemption Of the State debt and the
further reduction Of State taxes. for which
purpose alone it will be used by US.
States Rights and Prohibition.
The fundamental principle Of the Demo-
cratic party has always been that over
Capitalization Of power in the Federal
Government and Federal invasioDs Of the
rights of the States are destructive Of our
form OF government and of the liberties
Of our people.
The provisions Of the Volstead act con-
stitute clear departure from this princi-
pie OF government. and we believe appro-
pirate steps should be taken by Congress
to turn the subject back to the States, so
that each State, within constitutional limi-
tations. may have the opportunity of set
ting 1t in accordance with the wishes Of
its own people; and until that time we
believe that the Volstead act should be
amended so as to permit the manufacture
and sale of beer and light wine where
permitted by local law. r
AS long as the Eighteenth Amendment
is part of the Constitution we recognize,
Of course. that it should be upheld and
respected. We are forced, howe YER, to
realize that the existence of the Volstead
act has caused disregard for law and
order and degree of actual lawlessness
unparalleled in this country. Particularly
is this the case in those States where the
Volstead act, lacking popular support, has,
nevertheless, been enacted as State
measure. As long. therefore. as the Fed
eral Government elects to interpret and
enforce the Eighteenth Amendment in
Maryland through the Volstead act we
feel that the responsibility for such en-
forcement here should rest on the Federal
Government alone; and we. therefore, be-
lieve that the task Of enforcing the pro-
visions of the Volstead act should not be
assumed by this State.
This does not mean that we depart in
the slightest degree from full recognition
of the right Of the people Of the various
political units Of the State to secure from
the Legislature and approve at the polls
such prohibition laws as they deem best fol
the respective counties and communities
in which they live. This is the Democratic
principle Of home rule, which has been
many times exercised in Maryland The
Maryland Court Of Appeals has held that
the local laws thus passed and approved
are still in force. While. therefore. we d.
not approve the Volstead act as an en-,
forcement measure in this State. we favor
the strict enforcement Of these various
State local laws and such amendment: