Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-03-30
THE A. A. TREASURER BILL.
lis Final Passage In the HOuse-Mr.
Chest0n's Parting Words.-It is
Rushed to the Senate and There
SleeDsi

Sleeps
When the bill TO make the treasurer of
Anne Arundel county elective came up
for its final passage in the House yester
day, hr Cheston, the senior member of
the Anne Arundel delegation said {:
Il regret very much that Anne Arun-
del county should have occupied so
much time of this House, but it is not
the fault of the delegation of that county
but of the men who have given the coun.
ty much trouble Hardly had you dis
posed of the bond bill to your satisfac-
ton, If not to the satisfaction Of the peo-
pie of my county, than you sneaked
bill in here at the eleventh hour of the
session, to make the Office of treasurer
elective. Where is the cardinal princi-
ciple of your party Is it the cardinal
principle of the democratic party to inter
fere in local matters as you have done,
TO pass bills unaccompanied by a single
petition Is it the principle of your
party TO legislate for one man against the
interests OF the people, as yeu are doing?
All but il may be the funeral of your
party, not of ours. If one man is to
come here and rule Anne Arundel coun-
~ through you, / say by all means APP
point him dictator of the county 1t is
good democratic principle to do unto
others as you would have Others to do
unto you; and in considering the bin fol-
low the golden rule, and let Anne Arun-
del county settle its own affairs
Mr.. Cambell claimed that it was not
local question, and cited as precedent
the fact that years ago, when 5000 repub
licans ruled 10000 democrats in the city
of Baltimore, the latter came to the Legis-
lature and asked the democrats of the
counties TO appoint the board of police
commissioners for their city, and it was
done. He said that the Anne Arundel
delegation had been coached by Senator
Randall
Mr.. Cheston. have been coached
| by no man.
Mr. Campbell. THE republicans al
ways followed party, and Senator Ran
| dali, ON one occasion during the present
session of the Legislature, had interfered
in Baltimore city matter in which a
political question was involved"
Mr. Duncan Until the counties inter-
fered and decided that the Belt should
be added to Baltimore city, | was thor
oughly imbued with the principle that
this Legislature had no right to interfere
in the affairs of any county. But now l
regard the question differently. ! con-
|
make laws for any county in the State"
Mr.. Cheston Then you are not in
favor of local self government r.
Mr.. Duncan -"Certainly am, but in
the case Of this bin the treasurer to be
elected is responsible to the State as well
as to the county for taxes collected"
| Mr.. Cheston Has the State been in
| jured %
Mr.. Duncan No, sir, but an ounce
of prevention is worth pound of cure. F"
Mr.. Hall-"In order to be consistent,
why not tack on Frederick county ?"
| Mr.. Duncan u don't want to answer
the question"
MIR. Cheston Go ahead; we are
ground down already"
Mr. Duncan. well, sir, if you must
know, | will tell you. 1t is because in
Anne Arundel county no republican can
be elected without the support of demo-
crat kickers, and to punish these kickers
is why we want this bill, which is in the
interest of true democrats. Applause I
Mr.. Robertson. in explaining his vote,
said: I'm explaining my vote | wish to
say frankly to the Anne Arundel delega
tion that If the united democracy of the
county desired TO have treasurer elected
next fall should vote for the bill, but
knowing as 4 Go tnat lnlS Oil Is asked lot
by the very people who four years ago
defeated the regular nominee of the demo
cratic party, (referring, as he afterwards
acknowledged, to DR.. George Wells.)
see no party obligation to vote for it. =
The vote was then taken, and resulted
in the passage of the bill by As to 8. The
negatives were Messrs, Cheston, republi-
lican, ewberry. Hall, Mackall Robert
son aud Wootton, democrats.
The bill was then rushed 10 the Senate
where it came up for first reading last
night, audan attempt was made by the
lobby to have it referred TO a special com
mittee After considerable debate un the
subject on motion of Mr.. Randall, it was
finally referred TO the Judiciary Com
mittee Mr.. Bannon who has taken an
active interest in the passage of this bill,
will go before the committee this even
ing and urge favorable report at once.
Speaker Upshur and number of mem
bers of the House were present as visi
tors, and they enjoyed the discussion of
this bill, of which they have had surfeit
in their own chamber. The final result
is looked for with great interest.
xxyryr1 - u0rr, nEcT zDTENJn