The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1892-04-09
Senator Bennett's Response.
EFOr the Democratic ADVOCATED


MEssRs. EDITORS IL avail myself of the
privilege offered me by you to use your
columns for the purpose of replying to a
communication in your last issue, purportlng
to be from New Windsor tax payer, in
which it is strongly insinuated that, because
| did not report to the Senate Immediately
after 1t reached me, the bill known as ''The
Tramp Law | was seeking by delay ito
accomplish its defeat" because Of Fan undue
consideration for certain public officers who
might lose by it something in fees. Although
neither the article itself nor the circumstances
surrounding it indicated that it was written by
New Windsor tax payer, | shall hrst
answer it as if it were, overlooking for the
time its unmanliness and want of courtesy.
The bill reached the Senate, March 22d, and
was referred to a select committee of which
was the chairman, SO that 1t came Into my
hands on the 24th and was. as is said by my
critic, in my desk on that day. A consider
able number of the friends Of the sheriff, in
Guiding several gentlemen of influence and
acknowledged good Judgment came to Annap
oils and represented to me that the bill, as 1t
passed the House of Delegates, did him gross
injustice and determined to hold 1t until |
could confer with him and draw such amend
ments as would protect him in all his rights.
| was unable to confer with him before Mon
1 Qdys the ZJtIl, Wltn lOlu anu MS NoAhsSA
the purport of my amendment, which they
said would be satisfactory to them. This was
my consideration for public officers. Let
fair men Judge whether or not it was undue.
When / returned to the Senate on Tuesday,
March 30th, | found that during my absence
someone had broken into my desk and stolen
the BILL | went Immediately to Mr.. Sellman
| in tire House and got the original from which
it had been engrossed, intending to have a
copy made, and so endorsed, as to take
the place of the other on the files of the
Senate. Wednesday morning | found that
my desk had again been broken open and
this paper had also been stolen. As soon as
it coald be done printed copy of the bill
was procured from the files of your paper,
| and : new eBgrossed copy prepared. This
all the House and Senate endorsements on it
which were on the stolen bill. | determined
to take no risks with it, and carried it to my
room at the hotel when | left the Senate
Chamber. During my absence the desk was
broken open for the third time, but had the
bill safe with me. At the next session OF the
Senate my amendment was adopted, and that
same evening the bill as amended passed the
Senate. | used, if not ''all possible GER
tainly all necessary expedition in getting
the measure through" and made no effort
| ''to smother II, or accomplish It's ueieat.
Nv fellow citizens of New Windsor and
vicinity, who have known me all my life,
know well that neither in private nor public
station, have ever sought by indirection or
crookedness to perpetrate wrong or prevent
| a right. They know that whatever desirable
qualit es | may lack, | am at least a man OF
positive convictions, and act upon them.
do not dodge or evade an issue, but take my
side and stand there. | am convinced they
need no assurance of my manliness and
straightforwardness in dealing with all public
matters, and no question on these points
could have risen among them. If the writer
of the article in question is fair man, and
desires to relieve innocent persons from un-
lust suspicion of being the author of his
work, he will reveal his identity and tell the
public on what grounds he based his fear OF
nv disposition to smother the bill But it is
probably too much to expect that man who
attacks others anonymously will have the
courage to come forward and admit his error
when he sees it. 1t would, however, be re-
freshing if could have justice both from the
New Windsor tax payer and those who publish
his venomous reflections.
p. j. BENNETT.