The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-03-01
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM ANNAPOLIS.
Some Remarks on Temperance-City Elk
tension Gone Up-The Eight-Hour
and Other Bills-Demands for
Money-Other Matters OF
Interest.

Union II
.esnondent Canon" criticizing my expressions
an local option. hardly think it necessary TO
discuss the matter, for looking at the question OF
TEMPERANCE, or rather intemperance, from two al
ferent standpoints so widely apart, it would De
;mnossible for us to agree upon the proper means
TO cure it. 1 never drank whisky in my life. l
never wish to. I have the memory ana prign'
example of a sainted father, whom revere, STAND
inc ali the time before me. believe lntemper,
.ass rows go uown TO the bottom of a mans moral
nature He tells us "No drunkard can inherit the
kingdom Of God" canon" calls this "mild-
hammered, moral suason, milk and-water," &C.,
and proposes to substitute in place of these all
kinds of sumptuary laws, which invade every
private constitutional right of any citizen With
out any wish to get into any discussion on these
matters, 1 say with all soberness and truth, that
less fanaticism and more of the spirit of true re.
ligion is the right plan upon which to take hold
of the fearful curse of intemperance.
City annexation I consider dead, killed in the
house of its friends. The foolishness of Mr.. Ber-
nard Carriers bill, which proposed to gobble up
part of Anne Arundel county also, dragged into
the fight an outside element which had been play
ing Glands off," never have believed that the
cifv was in earnest-in fact was assured long ago
that the Mayor and city authorities took no in
terest in it, having other matters to occupy them,
but that the scheme was pushed by Mr.. A. 3.
Abel, of the Baltimore Sun, and Mr.. Hoen, OF
Waverly, Baltimore county, who each wished to
develop country property into town lots.
Added to Mr.. Carriers foolish bill comes the fact
that the eight-hour labor bill and statistical
bureau bill and other kindred matters, all are
supposed to emanate from the Baltimore city DEL
egation. These have had the effect of antago-
nizing the agricultural element in the House OF
Delegates and also of unpopularizng the city del
latter moves were defeated and the city delegation
put in the attitude of defenders and suppliants.
The west Baltimore street paving bill of Mr..
Brady's ought to 60 through. 1t has been referred
to special committee to visit the place and re-
port. This is much-needed improvement and
opens the way to the cattle scales. The street be-
ing State property, given to it rs way to the
scales. ought to be put into decent order, and the
81, 900 asked is small enough to be cheerfully
granted.
But the Ways and Means Committee is over
whelmed by the countless demands from all kinds
of institutions for gratuities and appropriations.
One would really think that the State treasury
was an immense bag into which every schemer
could dip his hands under pretence of backing up
some charitable or educational project, and grab
out fistful of money. The Legislature is run to
death for appropriations of money for all kinds OF
projects and frauds to give higher education to
children, whereas children nowadays need the
lower education of respect for parents, love for
homes and abilities to make good wives and use
full citizens, capable of fulfilling every duty which
may devolve upon them.
One of the best measures before the Legislature
this week is the bill authorizing the Comptroller
to make settlement of all unpaid accounts of State
officials 1t is said that there are standing on the
books of this department, due by past officials, the
enormous sum of 100000. More than one-third
of this in fact quite one-half, could be saved the
State if the Comptroller had the power which this
bill gives of making settlements by compromises
l. &c out nc
and no means of enforcing collection of dead
claims, every cent would be lost to the treasury.
Your correspondent, with the members of the
WAYS and Means Committee and others, was in
vited to take Chesapeake bay trip on the ice
boat "Maryland." Baltimore county was well
represented by Messrs. Brady and Cockeyj West
ern Maryland by Mr.. Grove, Of Allegheny; East
ern Shore by Mr.. Atkinson, of Kent, and many
others. Altogether it delightful time and
much enjoyed, owing to the courtesies of Capt
Griggs and ex-senator Cooper. The southern
breezes blew kindly and made us feel
"That the spring. time was coming"
The Colts Ball came off on Monday night. 1t
was magnificent in its display of costumes, and
the enjoyment of all participants will make it an
occasion to live long in the memory Of all who
were present. Your correspondent returns his
thanks to the managers, particularly Messrs.
Brady, of our county, Douglass, of Caroline, and
CAN'T, of Anne Arundel. Many visitors were
present from Baltimore county, the guests more
particularly of Messrs. Kelbaugh, Cockey and
Brady, who dispensed old-time hospitality.
On Tuesday the House of Delegates passed an
order appointing clerk to the Ways and Means
Committee This is intended to confirm VIM. ii.
Richardson in the position he has been filling
since the beginning of the session.
report of the Ways and Means Committee.
The report of the Hartford Road Turnpike Com
pany was submitted to the House. 1t shows for
two years total receipts Of $21 l9l.5O; expenses,
ST., 1854; dividends as profits, $4,000. The
Havre-de- Grace and Philadelphia road also sub
mitted report, showing receipts of SS,96650; ex-
penses, 81 286.5O; dividends as profits, 81 AL
Either reports will convince the public that toll
gates ought to be abolished.
The bill for taxation of mortgages was discussed
in the Senate on Tuesday. The eracting clause
was first struck out, but this was reconsidered and
the bill made the order of the day for Wednesday.
The Senate bill reducing fees for marriage
licenses to fifty cents, which was the order of the
day for Wednesday in the House, was warmly dis
cussed pro and con, and finally on vote of "a
yeas it was made the order of the day for Thurs
day, after voting down a motion to indefinitely
postpone. The Baltimore county delegation voted
against the bill except Mr.. Leib.
The president of the State Agricultural College
occupied the House of Delegates on Tuesday night,
explaining the uses and benefits Of the college to
the farming interest of the State. Messrs. Cockey
and Offutt, of our county, by their questions and
cross examination of President Smith, showed
themselves fully of the standing OF the col
lege in the late farmers convention, the memorial
from which had been handed into the House by
Mr.. Cockey. BILLY BARLOW.