APPOINTMENT, TENURE OF OFFICE, &c.
On motion of Mr. STOCKBRIDGE,
The convention proceeded to consider the
report of the committee on tenure of office,
duties and compensation of civil officers, &c.,
which was on its third reading.
Section one was read as follows :
"The governor, the comptroller of the treas-
ury and the treasurer, shall constitute the
board of public works, who shall exercise a
diligent and faithful supervision of all pub-
lic works in which the State may be interested
as stockholder or creditor, and shall appoint
the directors in every railroad or canal com-
pany in which the State has the legal power
to appoint directors, which said directors shall
represent the State in all meetings of the
stockholders of every railroad or canal com-
pany in which the State is a stockholder; said
board of public works shall require the direc-
tors of all said public works, from time to
time, and as often as there shall be any change
in the rates of toll on any of said works, to
furnish said board a schedule of such modi-
fied rates of toll, and shall use all legal powers
which they may possess to obtain the establish-
ment of rates of tolls, which may prevent an
injurious competition with each other, to the
detriment of the interests of the State, and
so to adjust them as to promote the agricul-
ture of the State; the said board of 'public
works shall keep a journal of their proceed-
ings. they shall hold regular sessions in the
city of Annapolis, on the first Wednesday in
January, the first Wednesday in April, the
first Wednesday in July, and the first Wed-
nesday in October, in each year, and oftener
if necessary, at which sessions they shall hear
and determine such matters as affect the pub-
lic works of the State; and the general as-
sembly may confer upon them the power to
decide; they shall at each regular session of
the general assembly, make a report to the
general assembly and recommend such legis-
lation as they shall deem necessary and requi-
site to promote or protect the interests of the
State in the public works, and perform such
other duties as may be hereafter prescribed
by law; and a majority of them shall be
competent to act; the governor, comptroller
of the treasury and treasurer shall receive no
additional salary for the services rendered as
members of the board of public works."
Mr. THOMAS. I move to amend this section
by inserting after the word "governor," in
the first line the words " lieutenant governor,
attorney general.'' I think it would be well
to have those officers members of the board of
public works. By reference to the constitu-.
tion of the State of New York, I find that the
treasury officers, together with the lieutenant
governor, are all, by virtue of their offices,
made commissioners of public works.
The question being taken on the amend-
ment of Mr. THOMAS, it was rejected. |
Section two of the report was then read as
follows:
"There shall be a commissioner of the
land office elected by the qualified voters of
the State on Tuesday next after the first Mon-
day in the month of November, in the year
eighteen hundred and sixty-nine, and on the
same day in every sixth year thereafter,
who shall hold his office for the term of six
years from the first day of January next after
his election. The returns of said election
shall be made to the governor, and in the
event of a tie between any two or more can-
didates, the governor shall direct a new elec-
tion to be held by writs to the sheriffs of the
several counties, who shall hold said election
after at least twenty days notice, exclusive
of the day of election. He shall perform
such duties as are now required of the com-
missioner of the land office or such as may
hereafter be prescribed by law, and shall be
keeper of the chancery records. He shall re-
ceive a salary of two thousand dollars per
annum, to be paid out of the treasury, and
shall charge such fees as are now or may be
hereafter fixed by law. The said commis-
sioner of the land office shall make a semi-
annual report of all the fees of his office,
both as commissioner of the land office and
keeper of the chancery records, to the comp-
troller of the treasury, and shall pay the
same semi-annually into the treasury."
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. Before we pass from
this section I would like to inquire of the
chairman of the committee on the schedule
(Mr, Ridgely,) whether any provision is em-
bodied in the schedule which provides for
any vacancy in the office of commissioner of
the land office, or of the librarian? I observe
that there is no such provision in this report,
and it may be well to have one inserted.
Mr. RIDGELY. We have made no provi'
sion for vacancies; only for the continuance
of those now in office until their terms have
expired.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. Not to delay the con-
' vention then, I will now give notice that
»hen we reach the report on the schedule 1
will offer a general provision in relation to
vacancies.
The PRESIDENT. I do not think that there
are any offices not provided for in that res-
pect, except the two named by the gentle-
main from Baltimore city (Mr. Stockbridge.)
Mr. CLARKE. It was the understanding of
the committee, I think, that there would be
some general provision which would cover
all cases not specially provided for. For that
reason no provision of this character was
put in this report.
Mr. STOCKBRIDGE. I move that the rule
be suspended in order I hat I may offer an
amendment to this section, as follows: add
to the section the words "in case of vacancy
from death, resignation, or any other cause
the governor shall fill such vacancy until the |
