The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-04-01
Friday, April 1, 1892.
Hothed of Corruption.

The above IS The caption TO the following
special telegram from Annapolis published
10 Tuesdays Philadelphia Times, stalwart
Democratic newspaper:
This is the biggest Doodle session in the
history of the Maryland Legislature. Brib-
cry is open and above board. The man
ayers OF the lobby, who are the political
bosses controlling the votes of more than
two-lhiris of the members of both houses
have private rooms in the Capitol in which
they negotiate with representatives Of cor
porations and other parties who want legis-
lation assisted or defeated.
Messengers summon members from their
seats in both House aud Senate to appear
before the lobby bosses, where they receive
their instructions how to vote. They IN
pliciily obey the orders of their political
masters, but they do not share in the spoils.
The corruption fund this session will
amount to over $3.50, 900. Itcost oyer $780,
COO to defeat the bill regulating telephone
charges, and about $4,000 to put the gas
bill at the bottom of the file, where it will
not be reached again this session.
But the biggest pulp Of the session is in
the assessment bill. Special clauses we're
inserted in this measure for the express
purpose of bleeding the corporations. The
( bill will likely be defeated. The lobby
bosses say they will not permit it to pass,
Notwithstanding the fact that Senator Cor
man has said he favored new assessment.
It's defeat will cost the corporations over
100000, large part Of which sum, it is
said, has already been paid over 10 delay
legislation on the measure.
"A railroad man whose duty it is to
Hwork" Legislatures for his company says
that this is the worst nest of corruption he
has eyer struck. What surprised him most
was the supreme power of the lobby. 1t was
not necessary TO use either influence or cash
on the members of the Legislature. Gail
one has to do, said he, sis to fix things
with the bosses and they attend to the
members. A few of the members are kick
ing at the bosses for the way they are being
treated, but the majority vote as they are
told and say nothing. Even the kickers
are afraid 10 expose the disgraceful conduct
of their masters"
A prominent Baltimore business man,
who has had business with the lobby the
past week, says that The sum of $50. 600 was
paid into the so-called grandmothers' fund
two years ago to secure the veto of the
assessment bill, which then had passed both
houses of the Legislature, and that he knew
it would cost very much larger sum to
beat the bill this time, but the money was
ready when the job was done.
The MIDLAND JOURNAL "told you so''
last fall. The democrat party so-calleo
has been setting up this kind of legislative
merchandise in the State for 20 years, and
the people as subservient as dumb driven
cattle, meekly continue TO vote for it. Good
folks, how long do you propose to continue
under the drivers whip. Look at our
National Congress which has been under
the republican party as long or longer
Matters are not one whit better, bribery
and corruption stalk at MONDAY in the halls
of the capitol and monopoly legislation
rules, and everything else is excluded. How
long can the nation survive this system of
corruption? Another century think you !?
But do we propose to continue this lunacy !?