Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-12-31
The LEGISLATURE.

On Wednesday next, the 9Th of January,
the Legislature of this State will meet
OF the composition of the body we con-
fess we know but little personally. We
fear it does not come up to the standard
of ability which has heretofore made our
Legislatures compare favorably with those
of our sister States. We are very sure
however that it is superior in material to
its predecessor, and will not disgrace it.
self by the passage of laws out of which
no sense can be extracted. The new body
has several members of ability and high
anding among its members, and we have
a right to hope something from these gen.
tlemen. Baltimore city, with the excep-
ton of one or two, has the meanest dele
CATION ever sent (and it has sent some
very poor ones indeed) to Annapolis. Our
neighbors of Prince Georges will be well
and ably represented. We only wish we
could say half as much for Charles. 1t is
true those who represent this county are
very fair representatives for the constitu-
ency which sent them, but that constitu-
ency contained but little, if any, of the in
telligence and responsibility of the county.
The session, which is limited by law to
ninety days, will be busy one. In the
first place, there will be the question of
the contested elections to be disposed of,
which must necessarily occupy much time.
Then there is the election of Treasurer,
which will doubtless absorb much inter
est and delay business until it is settled.
We have not heard any name, other than
that OF our esteemed countyman, Hon.
Barnes Compton, mentioned in connec-
ton with this place, though the papers
from Western Maryland insist upon it
that the Treasurer should come from that
section, thereby ensuring it representa-
ton in the Board of Public Works, which
is composed of the Governor, Comptroller
and Treasurer. 1t is to be hoped that this
officer win be speedily elected, because
experience has taught US that until the
LEGISLATURE has gotten through with its
elections, it never settles down to the real
work which the people are most inter,
ested in. After this matter is disposed
off, among other important subjects which
will require prompt action, is a revision
of the present registration laws. They
are most inefficient, and fail to accom-
plish the purpose they were designed for.
Instead of preventing fraud at the elec-
-tioGs they have become instruments in its
preparation. We sincerely hope that
prompt, yet most careful action will be
taken in the premises. As to the value OF
any measure presented much will depend
upon the character of the committees to
whom the different subjects may be refer
red, and the composition OF these commit
tees will depend very much upon the pre-
siding officers of the two houses. Who
these will be we do not pretend to say
Mr.. Lloyd, of Talbot, and Mr.. Knight, OF
Cecil, are spoken of for the Presidency OF
the Senate, and Mr.. Constable, of Cecil,
Mr.. Smith, of Washington, and our friend
Mr.. Hance, of Prince Georges, for the
Speakership. How the matter will be
arranged we do not know, or care, so that
we get the right man in the right place.
In due time we will have the new assess
ment law, the tobacco inspection question,
taxation of corporations, &C., presented
and acted upon. In the meantime the
3. & O. R. R. Co., will be sloshing around
about its small matters, and hungry lob
byists will have their eyes fixed upon the
$430,000 in the Treasury. So on the whole
we can well see how the session is likely
to be busy if not profitable one. For
the sake of the State, we wish ADLER men
were present to guide and direct the de-
alterations.