The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-04-05
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM ANNAPOLIS.
A Deserted City-The Legislature and It's
Acts-Important Bills Passed-City
Extension-A Good Road Law
Didn't Get Much-Good Bye.

ANNAPOLIS, April LIST, 1884.
Messrs Editors deserted by the crowds that
have for weeks thronged the Capitol building, an
unwonted quiet reigns and broods over where SO
lately all was busting activity and fierce conten-
ton. Left to gather up the fragments of commit
tee and clerical work, feel that / am alone
"Whose friends are gone
And all but he departed"
aye Ancient City" has once more dropped back
attaches and tnf outsiders and
who have been hanging around more or less for
weeks past have all gone. Whilst the spacious
lobby of the State Capitol sounds no longer to the
feet of masses of people, but re-echoes only the
solitary football of some curious passer-by.
The legislative Assembly of 1884 has passed
away to be judged hereafter of its acts. It's char
acter for the most part was merely negative one
"a drifting passively with the tide. Its good
deeds, whilst few can be offset by the fact that its
msdeeds were not many. Whilst not prominent
for reforms it can also be said that it INDUCED in
no wastefu extravagances and if it did but little
to better matters it certainly laid no heavier bur
dens upon the people of the State.
The mostprominent acts passed might be briefly
summarized as the oyster law; the settlement of
the Potomac river dispute with Virginia as to the
catching of oysters there; the settlement of the
lease of the Susquehanna and Tide-Water Canal
to the Reading Railroad Company; the passage
of the Baltimore and Ohio elevated railroad bill ;
the passage of the Baltimore and Ohio lateral
branch railroad law; the three sinking fund acts !;
the executors commissions act the prevention of
the creation of future irredeemable ground rents ;
the pleuro. pneumonia act and the several labor
bills.
The city extension bill went overheard on the
last round in the House of Delegates. 1t came
over from the Senate loaded with more amend
ments coupled with the threat that if not accept
Cd aS osS as sasre anx should
failed, so did city extension, which on motion of
Mr. Robson, of the city delegation, referred
to that delegation, where
at sleeps its last sleep,
No sound shall awake it to glory again
This coup d. etat was followed by the slaughter of
Mr. Philip A. Kroh in the Senate by the refusal
to confirm him.
Senator Aliens sef-sharpener tax bill also died
about the same time, and after the House adjourn
ed the Senator from Hartford came over into the
House and held frst-class Irish wake and in
quest over the corpse, during which he announced
himself as candidate for next Governor, predic-
ted his own election by 10000 majority, and
promised to make "Bily Barlow" Secretary of
State.
The Maryland Central Railroad succeeded in
getting through their act for the endorsement by
Baltimore city of $500, 900 of bonds.
One of the most important acts which passed
was the special road act for the 18th district of
Baltimore county. It provides for a special tax
levy the assessabe property of that district of
10 cents on each 500 for the purchase of hard
material suitable for macadamizing the roads, and
gives property owners the privilege of paying this
tax either by the delivery OF material suitable or
by working out the tax on the roads, subject to
supervision Of the road commissioners. Such a
law as this in each district, backed up by Mr..
Cockey S road law amendment, requiring one-third
ba TOW for IN he
in matchmaking, may be a practical solution of
GLOW to make or get good roads Z"
The Baltimore county abattoir bill bursted up
early Monday morning. The city abattoir bill
died Monday night. Usual inquest in both cases
and many mourners. The first bill was sugared
to death. The second persisted for non-attentioa
ON the part of the wet nurse.
Baltimore county got but little legislation dur
ing the whole session. The city extension project
hung around the necks of delegates like a
milestone and disturbed even their sleeping hours,
which were few, with nightmare visions. Every
thing was sacrificed to beat city extension and to
make the best of it that could be made necessarily
so, as a matter of county honor and county pride
Yet the course of our delegates ,ohole makes
me safe in saying that it would be best if some of
them never came back here again if the interests
of our county are to be advanced. This not mean
ing any offense to those who faithfully, conscen-
tiously worked day and night to do what could
be done for the best interests of our county.
And now, farewell to your readers who have
followed me ss your correspondent. "BilIy Bar
low" thanks them for many kind expressions re-
ceived. We turn to new scenes, to new Duties
The SORROWS of the past gather about my heart,
and the mind, no longer taxed with the busy
scenes of the past months, no longer crowded with
the rapidly changing kaleidoscope of daily events,
now turns upon itself and thought joined with
memory goes back to the little graves lying out in
the calm and peace and repose of the "city of the
dead"-s'God's acre." The bright beams of the
sun, the warm spring showers, the gentle dews and
and moonbeams all fall upon these links that bind
us to the other world-the "silent land"-and we
long to be there. Goodbye, dear friends, good
bye! MY heart thanks you for the interest you
have shown in my letters. May we again talk to
each other is the sincere wish of
BILLY BARLOW.