The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1941-02-27
Pass Sees Bill

Delegate Charles NJ See is to be congrat-
ulated on his efforts to make democracy
mean something in Cumberland City elections.
He presented Bill in the Maryland Cen
eral Assembly to repeal the undemocrate
provision that candidate for the Office of
Mayor Of Cumberland must own property
valued at $1,000 or more and that an aspr-
ant for City Council must own assessible pro-
perty of at least $500.
The requirements are absurd. foolish. un.
democratic.
The present law tells us that any man who
has not succeeded in acquiring at least $1,000
or $500 of property is unfit to hold
trolling Office in the municipality. Mind you
it doesn't matter whether your father. your
grandfather or your rich uncle left you the
money or the property. it doesn't matter if
you obtained your property from your de-
ceased wife's insurance policy. or if you are
one of the gravy taking gambling racketeers-
as long as you have the property you fit
for nomination to local Office. But if you don't
have $1,000 or $500 you are barred from
even putting your claims to Office before the
voters or taking Office if they see fit to elect
you.
Even a candidate for the Office of Pres
ident of the United States of America
doesn't have to meet such an absurd re-
quirement.
Just take stock of your own acquaint.
ances. Do you Judge their capabilities or
their judgment or their fitness TO govern
on the SINGLE fact of whether they own
their own home or whether they own tax
able property?
The local press is trying &c kid itself and
their readers that property owners the
steady and dependable section of the commu-
nity By their own inference they declare that
all non-property owners are shiftless end ir-
responsible. not competent to play leading
part in municipal government We say their
argument 10 all wet and will not stand the light
of investigation. We say the requirement is
both ridiculous and undemocratic.
Have you ever heard of property owners
moving out of Cumberland to accept improved
economic conditionsa We have.
The whole proposition implies the fact
that unless you are property owner you
have no equity in the welfare of the city
property owner from running for public
Office. II further implies the fact that
non-property owners do not pay city
taxes, when the fact is that non-property
owners pay the vast majority of city
taxes. True they do not pay them in to
the city tax collector, they hand them
over in the form of rent to the profit
taking guy who happens to be the owner
rf khase nd
who is the only one fit to run for Office as
mayor or counciIman.)
Our opinion Of the abilities of the existing
Mayor and City Council is extremely low.
We think that as far as intelligence ratings go
they would be lucky to equal any of the school
children in the sixth grade. Their acquisition
of $1,000 or $500 of property would fail to
lift their quota one point.
Delegate See has fought hard for his Bill.
Faced with hostility in his delegation he
succeeded in getting the question before the
House of Delegates in spite of unfavorable
report
On the floor of the House the Bill was first
defeated. Delegate See managed to have
favorable vote for reconsideration. The vote
then went in favor Of his Bill for democratic
methods in Cumberland City Council elections.
The measure. at the time of writing this ed
torial. still has to pass the Senate. The CLIO
here has endorsed the measure and is pressing
the issue vigorously. The Clio representatives
and local unions intend to stamp those who
oppose it as subscribing to the absurd idea that
non-property owners in the City OF Cumber-
land are irresponsible and unfit to hold public
Office.
AS it is unnecessary to be a property
owner in order to sit in the Maryland
General Assembly il is quite possible that
some Legislators may stamp themselves
as similarly unfit for public Office If they
vote against Delegate Sees bill.
The Bill should be passed, unless of
course, there are State Senators who con-
sider that a place on the Cumberland
City Council 10 Of more importance than
enc in the Maryland General Assembly,
the United States Congress or the White