Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1939-04-13
1899 Assembly In
Passing 776 New
Bills Sets Mark
Time Will Tell Whether
Legislation Was Worth
while Or Not

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but its accomplishments will live on,
to help or plague the State, in pro-
portion to the soundness or lack Of
soundness incorporated in the more
than TOO bills that were passed, and
are now awaiting the signature Of
Governor Herbert R. O'Conor.
That Governor O'Conor considers
the work of the legislators well done,
is evidenced by his definite state
nlent, after a review of the admins
tration-sponsored and other legisla-
ton passed, that: II consider that
the General Assembly of 1899 has
written upon the statute books of
this State more sound and progress
sive legislation than has ever before
been enacted in one session in the
history of Maryland"
Governor OConor at the same time
paid tribute to the members of the
General Assembly for their conscien-
tious service, in which he included
the members of the minority party
who in many instances, he declared,
disregarded party considerations in
supporting what they thought best
for the State.
There should be cause for genuine
satisfaction, contends Governor
O'Conor, over the passage of labor
legislation affecting relations between
employers and employees, not least
among which is the changed set-up
in the office of the Commissioner of
Labor and Statistics. This official
must now give his full time to the
duties of his office and the new
legislation will assure improved func-
tioning of the office in the adjust
ment of disputes between workers
and employers.
Reorganization of the State Indus
trial Accident Commission will in
sure more prompt consideration and
decision upon workmen's claims.
Under the new law there will be
three associate members of the Com
mission. each authorized to hear and
determine cases arising under the
Workmen's Compensation Law,
which will make it possible to con-
duct more frequent hearings in var
ious parts of the State. Heretofore,
such hearings had to wait until
majority of the Commission could be
present.
From a county standpoint, aboli-
ton of the old justice of the peace
system with magistrates paid on the
obsolete fee method, and substitution
of some Is trial magistrates, located
at convenient points throughout the
counties, and paid by the various
counties, will bring lasting benefits
to the State, Governor O'Conor is
convinced. BY the sharp reduction
in the number of such magistrates,
and by the salaries to be paid the
new magistrates, Governor O'Conor
is confident much higher calibre Of
magistrates can be found, with con-
sequent benefit to every citizen of
the State.
The most vital problem that faced
the state at the outset of his admin
istration in Governor O'Conor's opin-
ion, was that of reestablishing the
States finances on a sound founda-
ton.
All this has been achieve. Gov
ernor OConor is happy to say, with
the result that the credit and finan-
cial stability of Maryland has been
definitely reestablished. By Septem-
Der, 1914, he further adds, a reduc-
ton of $4,000, 900 in the bonded in
debtedness of the State will have
been affected.
At the same time, the State has
provided $5,00O,oO0 for relief, an
amount which relief authorities have
declared to be adequate: and has
allotted large amounts for agricul-
tural pursuits in order to assist the
farmers, planters, growers and poul-
trymen. In addition, there now win
be available all the money which
has been saved for this purpose by
stopping the practice Of gasoline tax
diversion. AS result Of this latter,
Maryland from now on will have
more money to spend on its roads
than ever before in its history, it Is
claimed.
Concerning the Public School Sys-
tenn, there was enacted Law elevat-
ing the standards and improving the
classification and salaries Of teachers.