|
belong. This leaves the comptroller's of-
fice with strictly administrative duties
within the executive branch, duties that
properly should be performed under di-
rect supervision of the governor.
I would earnestly hope at this point
that delegates would evaluate what they
have done thus far in the light of their
original aims and objectives of the Con-
vention. It was the recommendation of
the Commission which submitted the
carefully researched draft instrument to
this Convention that the office of comp-
troller be appointed under the governor.
A similar conclusion was arrived at by
the Committee on the Executive Branch
which heard further expert testimony.
Delegates who lost sight of the validity
of these recommendations because of in-
dividual personalities presently incum-
bent in these offices did a disservice to
the State and to future generations. This
is particularly true in the light of the
already accomplished transfer to the
legislature of the comptroller's one func-
tion, justifying his independent existence,
that of post-audit review. "
That is the end of the statement.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Robey,
your time has expired.
DELEGATE ROBEY: Before conclud-
ing, I would only ask one thing, that the
delegates to this Convention think twice
before making their decision on these
amendments.
THE CHAIRMAN: Does any delegate
desire to speak in favor?
Delegate Gallagher?
DELEGATE GALLAGHER: Mr. Chair-
man and ladies and gentlemen: For the
past 48 hours we have been up the hill and
we have been down the hill. We went up
again; we came down again. I think that it
is about time we make a decision and when
we make this decision, we make it in light
of the knowledge that we have and with a
fervent desire to see to it that the time and
effort that we have expended here results
in the passage of a constitution. It may
well be that nobody in this State will get
a document that he would have had, had
he written it himself, and that would in-
clude, of course, the governor of the State.
We regret that not everyone gets entirely
what he wants, but when I look at this
amendment, and I see agreement among 19
of the 20 members of a Committee, which
was irrevocably and sternly divided, which
indeed was at the blood-letting stage, which
|
was ready to go out and pitch camps and
fight a civil war, a "hundred year war, " I
think this means something. I see a former
comptroller of Maryland, who later became
governor. I see the President of the Senate.
I see a former member of the Court of
Appeals, an attorney general. I see liberals
and conservatives; I see orators and quiet
men; I see very productive men in the way
of delegate proposals, and I am convinced
that when this group has come together
and has decided upon a document which is
favorable to 19 out of 20, that we have
come a long, long way. I regret that for
Delegate Robey any impropriety may have
taken place, but I do not think that what-
ever may have happened could have caused
these men who were committed to points
of view and convictions which they held
dear to change. I think that they have
changed because they believe it is best for
this document and for this constitution and
for its ultimate passage. I say that we
have had enough. I say that we have other
work to do. I say that we have other sec-
tions of this document which are equally
important, and I say, move on.
THE CHAIRMAN: Does any other dele-
gate desire to speak in opposition?
Delegate Churchill Murray, do you de-
sire to speak in opposition to the amend-
ment?
DELEGATE E. C. MURRAY: No, sir.
I will wait to have an opportunity to speak
in favor of it. I remain on my feet because
otherwise somebody gets ahead of me.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Roger, do
you desire to speak in opposition to the
amendment?
DELEGATE ROGER: I rise to speak in
opposition to the amendment. The world is
much smaller today, yet the concepts of
freedom are much broader.
Our constitution must emphasize those
forms that will reflect these changes. As
free men, we must recognize the images
of this freedom. We must make sure that
our chief executive, like our legislature and
judiciary, are strong and are able to carry
out the programs and policies of their
offices.
I do not believe any man or his office
should be bigger than this Convention. I
have been told that elected officials would
be best even for my race. However, I be-
lieve that my shining hour will be in my
work for the future of my State, and for
my moral convictions. I, therefore, am op-
posed to this amendment.
|
