The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-02-23
MARYLAND Lagislature.

FRIDAY.-In the Senate, the Senate bill to
authorize the Comptroller to settle and adjust
all claims against the receivers of public
MONEYS for the use of the State which have
accrued during or before the year 1875, was
called up, and an amendment adopted chang
ing the year up to and during 1873. Senate
bill to define the duties of the Comptroller
relative to the apportionment of the school
tax fund, etc., was considered and then post
noned till Thursday next House bill requir-
ing that in non-prossed cases the plaintiff
shall paw the cost of the case before bringing
a new suit was discussed, and an amendment
was adopted 9'unless the court in which such
action was pending shall otherwise directs.
The Senate then adjourned until Tuesday
next.
In the House Mr.. Mitchell presented pc
tition from citizens of Baltimorein favor of
the abolition of the distraint law. Mr.. Brace,
of Allegany, offered an order for the appoint
ment of special committee OF five to thor
oughly investigate the management OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal; laid on the table.
A special committee of fue was appointed to
inquire into the report what legislation may
be necessary consequent upon the arbitration
to settle the boundary line between Maryland
and Virginia Senate bill authorizing the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company to
issue bonds to the extent of 100000 for the
purpose of putting and keeping the canal In
repair, etc., was taken up and passed to It's
third reading, all the amendments offered
being voted down. The House then adjoun-
ed till Monday.
MoNDAY.-The Senate was not in session.
In the House, Attorney General Gwlnn
sent in communication of his opinion that
Maryland and Virginia have equal rights to
fish the Potomac river, but neither can hsh
the shores of the other.
TUEsDAY.--ln the Senate, a nnmerously-
signed memorial was presented from the
the liquor dealers of Baltimore against local
A bill was engrossed to continue the corpo,,
rate existance of the Bank of Commerce, and
authorizing the cancellation of 300 shares
of its capital stock. A number of bills were
passed, among them one amending the law OF
inheritance by creating an annuity IN lieu OF
widows dover, and otherwise amending the
law as to allotmentsto parceners; also amend
atory of the attachment law, allowing the sale
of personal property pendente lite; also
amending the general incorporation law.
In the House, the bill to allow greater
rate of interest than 6 per cent. when special
contract is made was engrossed to third
reading. The enacting clause was stricken
from the bill providing for the issue of at
tachments before debt becomes due.
given to report a bill expunging the word
''white'' wherever it occurs in the code.
Unfavorable reports were adopted on the bill
extending jurisdiction of justices of the peace
to cases of petty larceny, and the bill to per-
nit person to testify in his own behalf with
out oss-examination tending to criminate
himself; also to prevent husband and wife
from testifying against each other; also to
repeal the law authorizing the appointment
of grain weighers. The Senate bill to con-
tinue the charter of the Bank of Commerce
was passed.
In the House, petitions were presented for
repeal of the law requiring Maryland planters
to send their tobacco to Baltimore for inspec-
ton and market. Leaves were granted to
introduce bill to transfer the States stock
in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company
to trustees of the preferred bondholders; also
to authorize the canal company to issue new
bonds in exchange for those authorized by
act of 1874; also for sale of the States inter-
est in the canal The Senate bill authorizing
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company to
issue 1000 of bonds was passed by a vote
of So yeas, Is nays. The local option bill
was taken up, and much discussion was had
on the motion to refer the bill to the ways and
means committee-pending which the House
THURsDAY-In the Senate bill was pass
ed changing the terms of the Circuit Court
of Baltimore county. The bill to prescribe
and define the duties of the Comptroller of
the Treasury, relative to the appointment and
of the school fund, &C., was call
led up and debated until the hour of adjourn
ment
In the House an order was adopted that
the judiciary committee examine and report
if the constitution permits the Legislature to
appropriate any sum to pay the agent, servant
or contractor who has done the State House
repairs. The motion to refer the local option
bill to the committee of ways and means was
called up, and the motion was rejected by a
viva voce vote; a motion to postpone the bill
was rejected-yeas q, nays Al; a
the bill was rejected-yeas IA, nays 55.
Further flibustering ensued, and the matter
finally gave way to the order of the day, the
second reading of bills. The House then
adjourned until Monday next.