10,831

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that we are recognizing the general worth of the

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principle, but we are not saying that it is one which has

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to be strictly observed.

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That is the vice in this proposal which I see,

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and I urge you to vote against it. It will lead to nothing

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but trouble.

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THE CHAIRMAN: Does any other delegate desire

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to speak in favor of the amendment?

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Delegate Singer.

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DELEGATE SINGER: Mr. Chairman, and fellow

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delegates, the historical perspective is that the separation

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of powers has never been construed to be a separate and

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distinct separation of governmental power.

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There has always been in the history of this

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country a blending and merging of powers so that there

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have been, ever since we have had this principle, examples

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existing in which one branch of government exercised the

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powers of one or both of the other branches of government.

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We have had a provision similar to this in all of

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the state constitutions of Maryland from 1776. In the

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beginning it read that the legislative, executive and judicial