Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/237

MARYLAND 225 The Frederick and Pennsylvania railroad is to be extended to the Pennsylvania line, making the entire length 28 m. The Washington County line is operated by the Baltimore and Ohio company, the Worcester by the Wicomico and Pocomoke, and the Columbia and Port Deposit by the Philadelphia and Baltimore Central. The Southern Maryland railroad is in progress from Washington to Point Look- out, at the entrance of the Potomac into Ches- apeake bay, 75 m. The Chesapeake and Ohio canal follows the valley of the Potomac from Cumberland to Georgetown, D. C., 184 m., thence crossing the Potomac by an aqueduct to Alexandria, Va. A portion of the Susque- hanna and Tidewater canal, from Wrights- ville, Pa., on the Susquehanna river, opposite Columbia, to Havre de Grace, 45 m., is within this state; and also a portion of the Chesa- peake and Delaware ship canal, which connects the waters of Chesapeake and Delaware bays. The number of national banks in operation in the state in 1873 was 33, having an aggre- gate capital of $13,640,203; state banks, 10, with $2,913,013 capital; savings banks, 7, with deposits to the amount of about $15,000,000. There were 17 fire and marine insurance com- panies chartered by the state, having an aggre- gate capital of $2,651,568; assets, $4,967,378; liabilities, $1,048,797. There were 71 com- panies of other states and 10 foreign companies doing business in Maryland. There were 2 home life insurance companies, with $200,000 capital, $864,394 assets, and $601,770 liabili- ties; and 38 companies of other states doing business in Maryland. The constitution vests the executive power in a governor, who is assisted by a secretary of state, attorney gen- eral, comptroller, treasurer, state librarian, and commissioner of the land office. The governor and attorney general are elected by the people for a term of four years, and the comptroller for two years ; the treasurer is chosen by joint ballot of the two houses of the legislature for two years ; the other officers are appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, for four years. The governor must be 30 years of age, for ten years a citizen of the state, and for the last five years a resi- dent thereof. He grants reprieves and par- dons except in cases of impeachment, remits fines and forfeitures for offences against the state, and has a veto upon the acts of the legis- lature, which may be overcome by a three- fifths vote of both houses. He enters upon his office on the first Monday of January after his election, and has a salary of $4,500. In case of his death, resignation, or disqualifica- tion, the legislature elects a governor for the residue of the term. If that body is not in session, the president of the senate, or in de- fault of that officer the speaker of the house of delegates, acts until a new governor is chosen. The governor, comptroller, and treasurer con- stitute the board of public works. The legisla- tive power is vested in a general assembly, con- sisting of a senate and house of delegates. The senators, 26 in number (one from each coun- ty and one from each of the three legislative districts of the city of Baltimore), are elected for four years, one half retiring biennially. The delegates (present number 85) are elected for two years, and are apportioned among the counties after each census according to popu- lation. Senators must have attained the age of 25 years. The legislature meets biennially on the first Wednesday in January of even years. Regular sessions are restricted to 90 days, but the governor may call special ses- sions, which shall not exceed 30 days. Mem- bers receive $5 a day during the session, and the presiding officers $8, besides mileage. The house possesses the power of impeachment; the senate constitutes the court for the trial, two thirds being necessary for a conviction. The court of appeals has appellate jurisdiction only, and consists of the chief judges of the first seven circuits, besides a judge specially elected by the electors of Baltimore city. The state is divided into eight judicial circuits, the city of Baltimore constituting the eighth. In each circuit, except the eighth, a chief judge and two associate judges are elected, and in each county a circuit court is held, having general original jurisdiction both civil and criminal, and appellate jurisdiction of judgments of jus- tices of the peace. In the city of Baltimore there are five courts, viz. : the superior court of Baltimore city, the court of common pleas, and the Baltimore city court, having concurrent original jurisdiction in all civil common law cases (the city court having in addition exclu- sive jurisdiction of appeals from judgments of justices of the peace, and the common pleas exclusive jurisdiction in matters of insolven- cy) ; the circuit court of Baltimore city, with exclusive original jurisdiction in equity; and the criminal court of Baltimore, with general original jurisdiction of crimes. A chief judge and four associate judges constitute the su- preme bench of Baltimore, designating one or more of their number to hold the above described courts, and any three or more to hold general terms with certain appellate powers. Judges are elected by the voters of the respective circuits for a term of 15 years, and cannot hold office beyond the age of 70. Three judges of the orphans' court are elected in each county and the city of Baltimore for a term of four years. Justices of the peace are appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, for the term of two years, and have jurisdiction of most civil cases, not involving the title to land, in which the amount in dispute does not exceed $100. Under the constitution every white male citizen of the United States, of sound mind and not a convict, 21 years of age and upward, who has resided for a year in the state and for six months in the county or legislative district, may vote in the ward or election district in which he resides. Under the provisions of the