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for Delegate Storm's amendment at the
proper time, if he desires to offer his
amendment.
Delegate Storm, do you desire to offer
your amendment A1?
DELEGATE STORM: Yes, I do.
THE CHAIRMAN: The pages have al-
ready distributed the amendment Al. It
will be marked Amendment No. 7.
Delegate Gullett, is it your intention to
offer Amendment P as a substitute for
amendment Al?
DELEGATE GULLETT: Yes.
THE CHAIRMAN: Will the pages
please distribute the amendment marked P
for Paul? Amendment No. 7 will be the
amendment that you have marked AL The
Clerk will read the amendment.
READING CLERK: Amendment No. 7
to Committee Recommendation S&E-2 by
Delegate Storm:
On page 2 section 2 Eligible Voters in
Municipal Elections strike out all of lines
4 through 9, inclusive, and insert in lieu
thereof the following words: "shall be de-
termined by the charter of the municipal
corporation."
THE CHAIRMAN: The amendment is
submitted by Delegate Storm. Is there a
second?
(The amendment was duly seconded.)
THE CHAIRMAN: The amendment hav-
ing been seconded, the Chair recognizes
Delegate Storm to speak to the amendment.
DELEGATE STORM: Mr. Chairman
and fellow delegates, I believe we can com-
promise our differences by the adoption of
this amendment. If there has been one prin-
ciple which has been clearly established by
this constitution, it is the principle that
we recognize home rule.
We do not therefore want to put into
this constitution any language which would
be unacceptable to some towns so that they
would immediately come in and ask for a
constitutional amendment.
Now, I can see why the last sentence in
the Committee Report as recommended
would be particularly upsetting1 to some
people. I submit that if the Committee Rec-
ommendation in its first sentence states
that the qualifications for municipal elec-
tions shall be the same as those for state
elections, it will eliminate the possibility of
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Garrett County towns enabling Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio persons who are domiciled
in Pennsylvania and Ohio from being quali-
fied to vote in the municipal elections.
Likewise, the District of Columbia peo-
ple who have summer cottages in summer
towns would be ineligible to vote.
Now, I ask you to consider first the
principle of home rule. Consider second,
the functions of a town government and
consider third, the fact that no govern-
ment, not even a town government, may
discriminate or violate the civil and con-
stitutional rights of its residents, so I
think we can assure any minority group
that it will be protected by the United
States Constitution and by this new Mary-
land constitution.
I think you eliminate the words in the
original committee report which are up-
setting to you. I think we accomplish the
main purpose that the Committee Recom-
mendation really aimed at and, above all,
we have adopted and maintained the prin-
ciple of home rule. So I respectfully sug--
gest that you give this careful considera-
tion.
I believe as Senator Della said, we should
leave it up to the towns to govern them-
selves. Only then will the real processes of
democracy be maintained.
Please adopt this amendment. I am sorry
I cannot go along with the Committee Rec-
ommendation. I do not believe that that
really accomplishes their objective. This
can be a common meeting1 ground for all.
THE CHAIRMAN: Delegate Koss.
DELEGATE KOSS: Mr. Chairman and
fellow delegates, I too am very sorry that
Delegate Storm cannot go along with the
Committee Recommendation.
Certainly we are sympathetic and sup-
port the principle of home rule for munici-
palities. But at the same time it seemed to
us that there are certain standards, in
terms of the eligibility for voting, that
municipalities should have to honor.
One of them is that qualifications could
not be established, say, that did not per-
tain to age, residence or the exceptions
which we have granted. We have recog-
nized the principle of home rule and the
right of the municipalities to determine,
within certain limitations granted, what
they need to best meet their needs.
Now, as far as residence is concerned,
the Committee was fully aware that under
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