1930] OF THE SENATE. 61

ods, and thus enable them to avoid undesirable dates. Or the
law might be amended so as to authorize the Governor or the
Election Supervisors, when conflicts or emergencies occur, to sub-
stitute other days for those which the law prescribes.

These and other suggestions, however, involve matters of im-
portant policy, the wisdom of which is debatable, and they go
beyond the necessities of the present emergency.

It has also been suggested that the law be changed so as to post-
pone the quadrennial new registration required for Baltimore City
this year until 1934, and have only a supplemental registration.
This, however, would also involve an important question of policy.

The registration law for Baltimore City was enacted in 1896,
and it provided a new registration every year. In 1904 this law
was amended so as to provide a new registration every two years.
In 1922, in the interest of economy and the convenience of the
citizens, the law was further amended so as only to require a new
registration every four years.

It is to say the least a serious question whether the new general
registration should now be postponed until the end of eight years.

The question of a permanent registration for Baltimore City
is being considered by the Commission to Revise the Election
Laws created by the Legislature of 1929, and in the absence of
some necessity it would be a mistake to deal with this general
subject now.

There is no such necessity, and no occasion to do more than meet
the emergency which has required the extra session. This can
be done by the simple and direct method of prescribing new regis-
tration days for this year only.

This would avoid all discussion as to the adoption of this or
that permanent change in the law, or as to the advisability of this,
or that radical amendment. It would be completely adequate
to the occasion, and would involve no possible considerations of a
partisan or political character.

It would have the great advantage of enabling the Legislature
to meet, pass the necessary measure and adjourn all in one day,