Evening star., 1954-09-13

TovoteonR Raise
For Governor
Measure to Be One
Of 9 Amendments
On BulIot Nov. 2
By Gene Goodwin


Maryland voters will be able
to elect a new governor and
raise his salary at the same
time when they go to the polls
November 2.
A pay raise for Maryland's
Governor-now the lowest sala-
ried State chief executive in the
Nation-is one of nine Consti-
tutional amendments to be voted
on in the general election.
Also to be decided are amend
ments to authorize absentee ball
lots for civilians as we'll as mill.
tary personnel, to give more
home rule to municipalities, and
to create new Circuit Court
judgeships for Prince Georges.
Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Bal
timore, st. Marys and Garrett
Counties.
The Governors salary amend
ment would raise his annual
wage from it's present $4,000 to
$4,000, about average for the
Nation. Idaho, which pays its
Governor $500 a year, Is now
the only State that even comes
close to Maryland's pay.
Maryland, however. provides
its Governor with a mansion,
automobiles, chauffeurs and
servants.
New York Pays $4,000.
Highest paid Governors are
those In New York. Pennsylvania.
California and Illinois. They
draw $25, 1000 a year.
Maryland also stands with
only five other States in its
failure to grant absentee voting
privileges to civilians as well as
military personnel who are out
Of State on election day.
The amendment to be voted
on would not automatically ex-
tend the franchise to absentee
civilian residents. It would,
however, permit the State Leg
islature to make such an extern
sion.
The home rule amendment
would give Maryland municipal
tiles the power to amend their
charters on matters relating to
the Incorporation, organization
and government Of affairs strictly
affecting their own incorporated
area.
The Legislature would be re-
quired to divide all cities and
towns into not more than four
classes, based on population, and
would be able to pass laws only
for municipalities as class.
Experts have estimated that this
will reduce the number of local
bills in the General Assembly by
about 20 per cent.
Final Say on Taxes.
The General Assembly would
still have the final say on any
new municipal taxes and in set
ting maximum tax rates. In
addition, towns could not re-
peal or evade any State laws,
specifically any Sunday blue laws
or liquor laws.
The judgeship a m n d m n t
provides that there shall be at
least one Circuit Court Judge
for every county except in the
two circuits on the Eastern
Shore. It further provides that
Montgomery and Baltimore
counties should add a third such
judge. and Prince Georges and
Ane Arundel should get Sec
ond Circuit Court judge.
The "at least one judge in
each county clause actually
affects only Garrett and st.
Marys Counties. They now are
included in circuits with less
judges than counties and, prob
ably because of their small pop
ulations, have been unable to
elect a home town judge.
st. Marys, Prince Georges,
Calvert and Charles make up the
7th judicial circuit, which now
has three judges. The addition
Of one in Prince Georges and
another in st. Marys. will give
the circuit five judges.
Amendments on Ballot.
Montgomery is in the 9Th Ju-
dicial Circuit with Frederick
County. The circuit now has
three judges, two from Mont
gomery and one from Frederick.
The amendment would raise that
number to three in Montgomery
and one in Frederick.
There are two other separate
amendments on the ballot which
provide that Montgomery and
Baltimore Counties would get
their third judge even If the
general judgeship amendment is
defeated.
The three other amendments
on the ballot propose that:
/. The salary of the secretary
of State be fixed by the Legis-
lature and an obsolete require
ment that he reside in Annapolis
be removed. The Constitution
now sets the secretary's salary at
$4,000 a year.
2. The salary Of the sheriff Of
Baltimore City. now established
at $500 by the Constitution, be
set by the Legislature.
8. Baltimore city get permis-
sion from the county involved
before acquiring land for port
development.
In addition to the State
amendments, Montgomery voters
| will ballot on county charter