The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-03-19
The Maryland Legislature.

1
On Friday of last week some legislation was
advanced. Tine only bill of general impor-
lance passed was the bill emitting the words
$50 help me God from official oaths. In the
House the assessment bill was further con-
sidered, and some local bills were advanced.
On Monday evening no legislation of a
| general character was disposed of in either
house. In the House the following bills per-
tanning to Carroll were passed-to regulate the
sale of liquors, to amend the charter of
Hampstead, and to sanction the beduests of
Savila Bankert.
In the Senate on Tuesday there was a
spirited debate on the bill to place the APP
pointment of school commissioners in the
hands of the governor, instead of having them
appointed by judges of the circuit court
Amendments excepting several counties from
the operation of the bill were voted down
and the bill was ordered engrossed for a
third reading. The bill fixing the terms of
county commissioners in Carroll was given
a second reading. In the House the assess
meut bill was further discussed. Amendments
were offered taxing mortgages and striking
out all exemptions except on church property
and grave yards, all Of which were voted
| down. Mr.. Haines, of Carroll, offered an
amendment, that was adopted, providing for
a sliding scale in assessing stocks, 6 per cent
| bonds to be taxed at their face value and
| these at less interest rate at less. The East.
| ern Shore Senatorial law was Indefinitely
postponed. Some House and Senate bills
were passed, among the former bill to in :
crease the powers of justices of the peace
The bill providing for the distribution of
| jurors in Carroll among the thirteen districts,
according to population, and reducing the
grand jury to thirteen, was vetoed by the
| governor, the governor regarding his own
judgement better than that of the five rep
resentatives from the county.
On Wednesday in the Senate among the
| bills introduced was one by Mr.. Bennett to
authorize husband who holds life estate in
his deceased wife's property TO distribute the
property among their children during his
| lifetime. AT the night session the Hayes
assessment bill was taken up. During its
reading Mr.. II yes clearly explained its
| features and showed wherein it differed from
the present law. 1t taxes all shares or in
| terest in vessels whether registered, enrolled,
or neither registered nor enrolled all money
belonging to residents of the State, the pro
| ceeds of sale of stock, bonds or other property
disposed Of for the purpose Of evading taxa
| tons. 1t taxes tunnels and subways at their
actual worth. 1t exempts the book accounts
or bills receivable of merchants; it exempts
| the plant of new manufacturing establish
ments for five years and no longer; it taxes
| the plants of newspapers and gas companies;
railroads according to their gross earnings;
it imposes a tax of two per cent on the gross
receipts of telegraph companies, putting them
on the same footing as telephone companies
In the course of these explanations Mr.. Hayes
INDUCED in many reflections upon the general
| questions of taxation. He said taxation is
the vital, burning issue of the day and how to
make the holders of invisible personal pro-
perry pay their proportion. While the per
| sonal property of the State is at least equal to
and perhaps double that of the reality, the
realty is paying IS per cent. of the axes.
| The people of moderate property are paying
the taxes for the millonaires and are with
ing under it. Mr.. Hayes said that the list
ing system is the life of the bill. Mr.. Hop
| kins, who has seen its workings in New York
fully approves it. The objection that is in
quisitoral comes from people who have been
secreting their property and don't want TO
| pay taxes. If you bring in personally the
! basis of taxation will be doubled and the rate
| reduced one half and will he burdensome
/ upon no one.
! In the House the assessment bill was fur
| Their considered. Most of the day session
was occupied in discussing an amendment
providing for the listing system, Mhich was
| hnally defeated by vote of As to "a. Dur
| ing the debate on this there was a little tilt
; beb"eeu Nol' DSiiS1 anu MI AtainSo 90 "
the value of property in Carroll and public
sentiment in the county on the matter of
taxation. Among the bills passed at the
/ night session were those making vlaid GER
tain acts ofthe Union Bridge Water Company,
| to authorize the Mayor and Council of West
minister to issue $3.50 in bonds to complete
street improvements, and to provide for haw-
( kers' and peddlers' license in Westminster.
/ These bills now go to the Senate.
I In the Senate on Thursday the Hayes assess
ment bill was taken up and discussed, inter
esting debates occurring on the taxation of
mortgages and the exemption of the plant of
manufactures. Amendments to tax mort
cages were voted down, although the vote on
one stood IL to Il. The House spent llost
of the day in discussing the Berret assessment
bill. 1t was finally passed by nearly unan-
imous vote and sent to the Senate,