The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-03-22
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM ANNAPOLIS.
The High License Bills-Maryland Blind
Asylum Troubles-The Imbecile
Asylum-The Passage of the
Marriage License Bill
Other Matters of
Interest.

criminate themselves; the idea being fastened In
their minds that if they buy liquor and then tell
on the fellow that sold it to them they are just as
bad and Just as liable to punishment. That way
of lodging the law they call justifabe mental
reservation. All of these counties have been car
ried for local option on minority votes in the ag-
gregate. I see that Talbot county is also moving
for a repeal of their local option law as total
failure.
There are two high license bills now before the
Legislature-one emanatng from Senator Hayes
and one from Senator Lane. The latter is a
cumulative license bill in which the fee charged
is graduated according to the rental value OF the
premises the number of inhabitants in the village,
town or city where the saloon is located, and the
value of the stock kept on hand. The lowest
license is $50 and the highest $500. Places SELL
ing only malt liquors pay one half OF these prices.
The party intending to keep the saloon must file
a bond with good securities that makes him liable
for selling to any person already intoxicated, or
an habitual drunkard, to any MINOR or to any per-
son whose mother, father, wife, sister, brother,
child or guardian has given notice must not have
it. Any minor who buys liquor, representing
conviction No peddler under any circumstances
shall be allowed a license or permitted to sell
liquor of any kind. And the law expressly
empts from its operations all counties, places or
towns now under any local option law. The city
liquor men are in favor of it, as they contend it
will break up the disorderly low sums and tin
cup shops. 1t certainly will lessen the number of
saloons, and the new billiard table law, requiring
licenses on ali billiard and pool tables, will pre-
vent great deal of what is called Stree pool."-
Now if some law could be passed breaking up the
free lunch and free treating SYSTEM another safe
guard would be legitimatey thrown up that would
take up drinking saloons out of the looseness into
which they have fallen and show how unnecesSa-
ry and uncaed for is all this fanatical bigotry in
the shape of local option laws which do but in
to mitigate and remove.
The House on Friday was the scene of some
rough criticism of the Maryland Blind Asylum be-
cause of publication in the Baltimore american
of that date, rejecting on the Honorable Speaker
of the House and Messrs. Ohutt and Brady, mem
bers from Baltimore county. These gentlemen all
characterized the foul aspersions upon them in a
proper manner, and must say that | think Mr..
John Glenn would not perhaps talk SO freely
about people if he could be physically brought to
account for his assertion. myself for years have
wondered which was the biggest fraud upon the
State of Maryland, the Blind Asylum or the State
Normal School, Mr.. Brady may comfort himself
with the thought the that only way in which Mr..
Glenn could possibly hurt body would be to
associate with him.
Short work was made of bill to exempt church
property from taxation. snake was found in
this in that it exempted all churches whose rove
nue. from inrested capital did not exceed $780,
How many churches have g "reyenue from inves-
ted capital of $500? believe every foot of land
and species of property ought to be taxed, even
cemeteries belonging to incorporated companies.
Exempt nothing and nobody, except private
graveyards in the country and mortgages, because
forming parts of property they are already taxed
once in the property.
The new oyster law is too lengthy to give more
than synopsis. 1t is a practical measure, regu-
lates the catching and taking, provides for good
license system and proper police force to protect
it, and also gets revenue from the sale of oysters
one cent on every bushel-which is calculated
to bring into the State at least one and a half
million of dollars annually.
The Maryland Central Railroad is earnestly
pressing for means to get into the city OF Baltl-
more, with station somewhere in the eastern Sec
ton of the city. The bill defines the route to be
taken as along Jones Falls to reach East and Gay
streets. They also ask for an act authorizing
Baltimore city to guarantee 100000 worth Of
bonds to enable them to build the road.
The pleuro-pneumonia bill has finally passed
both Houses and has been signed by the Governor.
nvTg beg tb dis
ments in the Belt just now, they would be clear
presents to the city. Even if the present city ex-
tension bill should be defeated the Belt is bound
to 60. Senator Rusk thinks it would have been
better to wait two years and get it for nothing
than to pay SO much for such a whistle.
The bill for better sanitary regulations for Tow
sontown, Waverly, Woodberry, &C., has been
passed. Also one providing for opening of new
roads in the 18th district.
lam almost afraid that nothing will be done
regulating the manner and costs of tax sales and
fees in the Treasurers Office. There has not been
and cannot be a legal tax sale made in Baltimore
county to-day, in my judgment, under the present
law. have long been in hopes that test case
might be made by some one in this matter.
The imbecile asylum bill came up on Tuesday
and led to the sharpest sort of debate and strug-
gle. Two elements oppose this bill. First, those
who do not think the State in any condition to
undertake such scheme now, and second
ly, those who oppose its location at Pikesville.-
1t is evident to any one who knows the arsenal
property that it is not only unfit for the of an
imbecile asylum, but it can never be made suita-
BILE. There is no doubt of the necessity of such
an institution. Is it expedent to increase the
State levy to establish it properly? Messrs. Brady
and Ofutt made strenuous and persistent fight
against the location of the asylum at Pikesville.
The final result of the struggle over the bill was
the defeat of the location at Pikesville and tho
appropriation of $4,000 instead of $4,000, as
originally asked for. The bill will not 60 through
the Senate l am sure. The fight lasted through
the entire day and into the night session, and was
met with the most persistent opposition on the
part of our delegates.
There is bill down here being pushed quite
Jerusalem turnpike company for misuse and
abuse CT the charter. My position and views with
regard to the Belair road have been so repeatedly
set forth in The UNION in tho past that this
movement of the people along the line of the road
requires no comment.
The bill for the establishment of station house
in the 18th district has been reconsdered.
Mr. Cockey is celebrating his bill for improve
ment of our roads. He proposes to take $3.50, 900
as special road fund; constitute board of three
practical road men; divide the county into three
districts each of this board shall control one
of these districts this $780, 900 is to be spent in
pikng, metalng or crawling roads-macada-
MIXING them in fact; stone-breakers are to be
bought and used; salaries to be paid these three
to compel them to give their whole time and at
tention to the roads.
The House, on Wednesday, was taken up with
consideration of the appropriation bills, the Will
kinson tobacco bill and the bureau of labor statis
tics bill. The first passed their third reading the
second was ordered to be engrossed for a third
reading, and the latter substituted for the un
favorable report of the Ways and Means Commit
tee, read a second time and amended to appropri-
ate $4,000 instead of $4,000. Innumerable bills
were read second time.
The high license bill, on its third reading, comes
up Friday as the order of the day. This is being
opposed by powerful and strenuous lobby, chief
y in the interest of the small dealers retailers.
The bill to prevent the sale of oeomargarine,
butterine and suine was again before the Commit
tee on Hygiene. This bill has excited as much
contention as the oyster or tobacco question:
There will probably be favorable report for some
restriction upon the sale of these authorizations.
The marriage license bill, reducing the fee to 60
CENTS passed the House on Wednesday. Having
already gone through the Senate it now only
| needs the Governors signature to become law.
In this connection 1 send you some anonymous
verses
| Let not the mighty men of State,
| Selected for their wisdom great,
To guide the Maryland ship of State
Through troubled seas of strife and heat,
Be hasty in their labors pure,
To legislate against the poor;
Injustice bars the marriage door,
Oppression go and come no more
Near by the State House lived maid,
Who to her lover, joyQqs sa;d,
The bill for our relief has passed,
What sad thoughts filed me now have ceased.
The day for you and to wed
Has come at last, the maiden said;
Delay no longer, glad she says
The license fee he quickly pays.
Tho people could no longer stand
This sort of thing in MARYLAND;