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be one, a citizen of the United States,
two, at least 21 years of age, three,
registered in accordance with the pro-
visions of this charter and four, one who
for two years next preceding the elec-
tion, has been and is, at the time of the
election, a resident of the town of Ocean
City, having resided there in and having
been domiciled there in not less than an
aggregate of 12 months of said years
and/or one, who, for one year next pre-
ceding the election has been and is at
the time of the election assessed on the
tax books of said town with, and is the
owner individually or jointly with a
spouse of real or personal property of
the assessed value of at least one thou-
sand dollars and/or one who for one year
next preceding the election has been and
is, at the time of the election, the owner,
individually or jointly with a spouse of
part of the capital stock of any body cor-
poration, by body corporation has been,
for one year next preceding; the election,
and is at the time of the election, the
owner of real or personal property of
the assessed value of at least $1,000, at
the time of registration hereinafter men-
tioned."
You do not have to be an owner of real
property — personal property is sufficient.
This may also dispel some of the doubts or
fears that you have that only the wealthy
would be able to come in here. One thou-
sand dollars of personal taxable property is
also acceptable.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are you ready for
the question?
(Call for the question.)
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Mitchell.
DELEGATE MITCHELL: Mr. Presi-
dent, I would like to speak for the amend-
ment. It seems to me this again is a viola-
tion of the fundamental principle achieved
in the long evolution of this country of the
principle of universal suffrage and that
is that men and not property are the basis
of our government, and our electoral
process.
It seems to me that the widespread ex-
tension to non-resident property owners of
the right to vote in local elections is a vio-
lation of this principle.
In the 1867 Constitution, there were re-
strictions placed on the rights of women
and the rights of colored citizens to vote.
Those have been eliminated, but this ex-
tension of the right to vote based on prop-
erty is another relic of the days we should
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have left behind in Maryland, where prop-
erty is placed above men in giving the
right to vote.
You cannot have your cake and eat it
too, is an old saying and the answer to
those who want the right to vote is that
they should be domicile residents as is re-
quired of the rest of the municipalities in
the State.
I urge the delegates to vote against the
Committee Recommendation and for the
amendment.
THE CHAIRMAN: Are you ready for
the question?
(Call for the question.)
THE CHAIRMAN: The Clerk will ring
the quorum bell.
Delegate Clark.
DELEGATE J. CLARK: Are we voting
on the Storm amendment?
THE CHAIRMAN: No, the amendment
has not been ordered. The question arises
on the adoption of Amendment No. 6 to
Committee Recommendation S&E-2.
Delegate Storm may offer his amendment
afterwards.
The question arises on Amendment No. 6.
A vote Aye is a vote in favor of Amend-
ment No. 6. A vote No is a vote against.
Cast your vote.
Has every delegate voted? Does any dele-
gate desire to change his vote?
(There was no response.)
The Clerk will record the vote.
There being 45 votes in the affirmative
and 77 in the negative, the motion is lost.
The amendment is rejected.
Delegate Gullett.
DELEGATE GULLETT: I think it
would be appropriate at this time to mark
my amendment P and I would like to ex-
plain it.
THE CHAIRMAN: I think Delegate
Storm would have priority if he desires to
offer his amendment AL
The Chair would like to see Amendment
P to see if they can be offered in that
order.
Delegate Gullett, the Chair believes your
amendment may be offered as a substitute
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