The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-03-17
Maryland Legislature.


MARCH 9.-In the Senate, Mr.. Urner OBJ
tanned leave to introduce bill to prohibit
the sale of intoxicating liquor within one
mile of New London, Frederick county.
Considerable time was occupied in discus
sing the oyster bill.
The general assessment bill, reported from
the finance committee, came up on Its second
reading.
Mr.. Brattan submitted an amendment to
tax mortgages ard to deduct from the assess
ment of the land the amount of the mortgage
| thereon.
Mr.. Stake submitted a substitute to provide
for the taxation of all kinds of property,
mortgages and all other kinds of debts, and
to provide that all persons shall annually re-
turn 10 the tax officers all property OF every
kind in their possession.
Mr.. Wentz said: II do not see that either
of these amendments will improve the law.
They both practically exempt mortgages
from taxation. They will effect nothing but
infinite labor to the tax officers"
Mr. Stake said: "The bill as reported by
the finance committee is a re-enactment oil
the old system / believe the whole system
to be radically wrong. 1t has been abandon
ed everywhere else. 1t provides for no UNI
form valuation on property. Under the sys-
tenn of appointing assessors the whole tenden-
CIV of every portion of the State is to keep
down the valuations. As the representative
of the agriculturists-for the system propose
was adopted by the State Farmers Conven-
ton. and | was selected to offer i'll propose,
instead of the present system, that the tax Of
| fcers shall annually send out to all persons
blanks, which are to be filled up and return
ed under oath. / believe, and such has been
the experience of States that have tired 1t,
that no man will discount the value OF his lana
and holdings. 1t is folly to appoint this horde
of assessors. The system of listing which L
propose will get at property better than all
the assessors you may appoint. 1t IS OBJECT
ed that the system / propose is too inquisl-
torial. 1t is no more so than any other sys-
TEN of taxation. The taxation OF mortgages
is no more double taxation than the taxation
of any other kind of property. | assert that
all mercantile pursuits are taxed IN this State
double, ave, triple. The manufacturer, the
wholesale man, the jobber and the retail man
all pay taxes on the same goods. The exemp-
ton of mortgages came aboutin 1870 and was
concession to capital to prevent its seeking
investment out Of the State. Mr.. Stake
argued that mortgage taxation was not double
taxation. He said: agriculture is now
subject to unjust, unfair, inequitable and DIS
eliminating taxation. Our agricultural IN
terests are drying up and our other Industries
are barely struggling for existence: The
total value of the lands of the State will not
nav the money loaned on them. | want to
see eauality Of taxation" Mr.. Stake made a
strong and earnest speech for an hour and
a.half. and commanded the attention of the
Senate for every minute of his speech. The
Senate, on the conclusion Of the remarks,
adjourned till Monday evening.
In the House, leaves to introduce new bills
were granted.
The Joint resolution to strike from the
hooks of the State treasurer all old worthless
accounts was read the second time and
passed.
Among the bills reported favorably was one
to authorize the mayor and common council oil
Manchester, Carroll county, to subscribe to
the stock of the Manchester Branch Railroad
Company.
After the first and second reading of a
number of Senate bills, the House adjourned
until Monday evening.
MARCH l2.-Owing to the storm and rail-
road blockade there was not a quorum
present.
MARCH 13-In the Senate, petitions were
filed to place the management of the Agri-
cultural College into the hands of u board to
be appointed by the Governor.
Bills were introduced to consolidate the
Georges Creek and Pennsylvania Railroad in
MARYLAND and to amend the insolvent laws
Owing to the absence of several Senators
who were preveted from attendance by the
snow blockade, the assessment bill was post
poned until Wednesday.
At the evening session number OF bllls
were passed, among which were to amend
the charter of the German Reformed Church,
Manchester, Carroll county.
-. hill IVA nnsSpd-
In the House a number of petitions were
offered and leaves to introduce bills were
granted.
A number of bills were read second time
and ordered to be engrossed.
At the evening session the third reading OF
the Senate registration, supervisors and cleo
ton bills took place and led to much discus
sion.
MARCH 14-In the Senate the election bills
were passed. The mortgage bill was discussed
but no conclusion was reached.
At the night session number of bills were
passed, and reports received from the several
committees.
In the House a number of bills were re-
ported favorably; Senate bills read first and
second time, and number passed. The city
extension bill was passed.
The bill to lease the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal to the Western Maryland Railroad was
amended after lengthy debate, and ordered
to third reading.
At night session several Senate bills were
reported favorably.
House bill to appropriate certain sums of
money to schools and charitable institutions
was read the second time, aud, on motion of
Mr.. Webster, was amended so as to appro-
pirate 81 800 annually to the Western Mary
land College
MARCH l5.-This was busy day in both
Fl ouses, and an immense amount OF work was
finished.
In the Senate. bills were introduced to
amend the law of Baltimore county regulating
turnpike companies; to amend the law of hus
band and wife. The sergeant alarms was
directed to exclude lobbyists from the floor
of the Senate The taxation of mortgages
was discussed in connection Eiih the assess
ment bill.
In the House protest was presented against
inspeoting coal loaded in carts. Leaves were
granted for bills for high liquor license; to
establish measure for green peas; TO pro-
hibit the use of old barrels for packing flour;
to enable farmers to give liens on crops. Bills
were read the second time to impose fran
chise license on corporations, and appropriat-
ing $50, 900 for an immigration. commission for
eight counties of Maryland. Senate bill to
establish AN asylum and training school for
the feeble minded was read the second time.
The bill to redistrict the Maryland congress
sional districts was reported iavorably. I'M
favorable report was made on the electric light
bill, and the report was adopted. The bill
for Gettysburg memorial tablets was unani-
mousy passed.
House bill to sanction numerous requests
to charitable and religious institutions, which
is better known as the ''omnibus bill,h was
reported lavorably.
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