The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1866-02-24
Mileage VS.. Postage Stamps.


If the object of the article in the last
wing, under the above caption, was to pre-.
judice the soldiers against the Cecil deega
ton, 1t was unjust.
In regard to the postage stamps it was
merely an order. and did not occupy more
than ten minutes The yeas and nays were
called and 35 voted for it and 81 against it :;
among the latter were McCanloy and Nc.
Cullough-Mr Kirk was not in his seat.
The members of the Legislature had al.
ways received mileage until the time of the
present members. The Legislature of 1864
voted themselves 500 each extra, and re-.
ceved it, and there was nothing said about
it. The Convention voted themselves the
same amount but the Comptroller refused to
pay it, and their good intentions received
not word of comment.
The Soldiers Convention for the State sent
Col. Vernon and others as a Committee to
Annapolis, asking the passage of law tax
ing all oysters taken in the State to raise a
fund to eqaalize the bountcs of soldiers who
entered the service prior to May, 1868. Ii;
was referred to the Committee on WAYS and
Means Of which Mr.. McCauley was a mem.
Der. and Col. Vernon and the other officers
will bear testimony, as well as the rest of
the Committee, that he took part for the sol.
diers from first to last as well in the Com.
mittee as in the House.
The bill went through the House with as
much dispatch as possible. 1t is not an
easy matter to get bill through both Houses
in session of 30 days, if it has much oppo-
sition. and particularly if it is not introduced
until considerable part of the time has
elapsed.
1t must be read on three different DAYS,
unless the rules are suspended which re-
quircs 60 votes. larger number than are
generally in attendance, so that in case
like this, where there is considerable oppo-
sltlon. the rules cannot be suspended. -
When the bill is read the first time, it is put
in the file Of second reading bills, and under
meath all the bills then in the file 1t is
reached when all the bills above it are read.
and then it is read second time. Then it
is put in the file of third reading bills, and
underneath all the other bills in the file. to
lake its turn for third reading. Some days
the morning business occupies all the time.
and second reading of bills is not reached :
and at night sessions so many Of the Balti,
more members have gone home, and others
are absent. that there are not members
enough in attendance to pass any bill where
there is much opposition. hone You will
see The difference between the time taken tn
adopt simple order and to pass bill
through both Houses. The above has refer.
ence to the time in one House. but the same
process has to be gone through with in the
other.
Still this bill was reached in the House
and read third time and passed all the
Cecil delegates voting for it. If it failed in
the Senate for want Ct time, or from any
other cause, it is certainly ungenerous to
charge with selhshness ahd neglect those
who stood by it from first to last. and had
the approval of the Committee Of the Sol
diers' Convention.
Whether this bill had it passed into a law
wonld have raised sufficient funds to IN eel
the object intended, in a reasonable time,
am not prepared to say, bnt it was the sub.
jiect Tor which the soldiers pehtioncd, and it
Was the plan which their Committee pre-
pared, ana as reasonable men they have no
% ,se to co,nrlain of their friends who did
all in their power to carry out their purposes
NJ.