Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1878-04-13
TIE MINING JOURNAL.
j. B. ODER EDITOR
FROSTBURG, MD, APRIL 10, 1878.
TIE MARYLAND LEGISLATURE

Tie session of this body for 1878
closed Monday of last week, after
ninety days of continuous and ardu-
ous labor. The amount and quality
OF work accomplished is, of course, a
matter Of critical review by the peo-
plo. The voice of the press has al
ready signaled the vari- colored com
incubation and anathema, just as par
tisiaa bias has dictated. But it is
diff :dlt yet to ascertain precisely the
popular judgment concerning the
gen 4ral conduct of State affairs under
the direction of the Legislature. And
it is no part Of our duty or purposes
hel Gin, for good and manifest reasons,
to a:tcmpt any reflection of public
opinion upon this subject.
But it may be permitted to US to re-
Ter, without fulsome specif cation, to
tLspersennel Of the men and the char
sttcr Of their work, and to do SO as
All eyewitness, pledged, both by asso-
citation and participation, to accord
imraltia and disinterested estimates
Of our servants and their services.
In the Senate the State was repre-
scented with much ability. Many
meas1res which passed the House
we've turned down" or amended"
This was the effect perhaps of an
ovcrweening desire to permit nothing
to pass without the severest scrutiny.
This no doubt destroyed bad measures,
but it is safe to say several good ones
met the same fate. Among these was
tho bill amending the Public School
Law, which, barring few exceptions,
WAS inferior in merit to 10 other
measure offered in either house. Its
defeat was the most shameful action
of the session. Great credit is due
Hon Herman Stump, chairman, for
the ability and labor bestowed upon
this bill, and for the steadfastness
with which he stood by it to the last.
The most conspicuous men of the
Senate were Hon. Michael Bannon,
versatile, witty Irishman; Hon. R. M.
McLane, an elegant gen tlsman and
lawyer of considerable ability; Hon.
Clement Sulivane, speaker Of fault
less rhetoric and with opinions upon
all subjects; Hon. Lewis H. Steiner,
genial, popular gentleman, with ad-
vanced views and ability to present
them lucidly and forcibly; Hon. A. P.
German, quiet, sedate, calm speak
er, with his eyes and ears open, and
great sagacity constantly on the alert,
and Hon. James U. Dennis, nervous,
imprisoned orator, with great pene-
tration to find strong points and abil-
ty to present them with force and
effect. Our own Senotor, Hon. John
S. Combs, was watchful Of an faithful
to the interests of his constituents.
On general measures his votes will be
found to be consistent with his we'll
known regard for the business inter
ests of the people.
In the House of Delegates an I'M
usually strong array of forensic tai
ent was developed, as we'll also a
numerous body of sober, earnest
workers, such as Hon. Joseph H. Key,
Of St. Mary's, a well-spoken, clever
gentleman; Hon. Samuel Cox, jr., Of
Charles, an independent thinker and
orator, and good speaker; Hon.
Malcolm II. Johnston, Hon. John |.
Yellott and Hon. George H. Williams,
all Of Baltimore county-the first a
call: ,terse, deliberate speaker; the
second pleasantly sonorous orator,
al. always listened to with general
attention and pleasure; the last an
Influential, sledge-hammer gentleman
Ct Welsh descent, equipped with an
'haustless fund Of the happiest illus
,rations and endowed with the high
faculty of commanding a hearing;
H"1. Z. L. F. Hardcastle and Hon.
Philip Francis Thomas, both of Tai
lot-the former quiet, Industrious
worker and gentleman of the high
est character; the latter governor of
The State thirty years ago, with prev
ious legislative experience in Con-
gress, and though now sixty.seven
gears Of age. is in the heyday of
Int "llectual vigor and impressive ora
torica' ability; Hon. George G. Mer-
7; K, of Prince Georges, is howery
spea ker, well adapted to please the
femi. me masses and to carry away
the sympathies of many men; Hon.
William. TT H;nl,, tbo loo6or of 4ba