Democratic messenger., 1893-12-02
GOSSIP OF POLITICS.
ALL EYES ARE TURNED TOWARD
ANNAPOLIS.
Speculation Over the Fate of Probable
Reassessment and Taxation rieas.
ures What VIII Governor
Brown do.
From SUNDAYS baltimore American.

From SUNDAYS Baltimore American.
"Watchnan. tell us of the Tax bill,
What lis signs of promise are"
This may he recognized as the tenor
ot the chorus which most politicians
throughout the state are softly hum
ming now. For, there will be TAX
bills. of high and low degree. of great
er or less severity and drastic power,
introduced in the legislature 10 CON
vene at Annapolis January ). This
will be the most important measure to
come before the General Assembly.
and il is already cclipseing the usual
gossip concerning appointments, ex-
cept with those who are more particu-
larly interested in the appointments.
Senator Hayes announced last spring,
through the columns of The american,
that his views upon the subject of re-
assessment and taxation had not
changed, and that at the earliest
practicable moment he intended IL
reintroducc his memorable measure
which met Waterloo two years ago
at the hands of Governor Brown.
This intention he reiterated in an in
terview published in Yesterday :
american, in which he stated his in
iention 10 introduce the original
Hayes bill, word for word, on the first
day of the coming session. Where
upon. il is probable that n most in
teresting and lively contest will cnsue
This preannounced determination
Of Senator Hayes was not intended as
a bombastic flourish of trumpts orl
the eve of hattie. Ii had been ru.
mored in political and business circles
about Baltimore that an agreement oI
compromise had been reached upon
this absorbing question of taxation
and rca. sessmcnt which guaranteed Il
Baltimore city the privilege of home
rule, while extending the features ol
the Hayes bill 10 the counties. The
demand for reassessment and tax
measure had become 80 pronounced
throughout the counties, the report
had il, that il was thought best to Civ,
them what they asked in this line. but
for Baltimore city different policy
was to he pursued. Home rule even
10 the extent of an exemption of per
sonal property->hould such cours,
bc deemed necessary by the city
fathers-was 10 he arranged. II wa,
rumored that Governor Brown wa,
not ignorant Of this arrangement, and
was not out Of sympathy with its pro
visions. Senator Hayes, however, an
nounces that he is ignorant of an,
such arrangement. and that no prop
usition To that effect has been init
mated TO him. On the contrary, h,
will cndeavor to force the origina
Hayes bill through with all possibl,
despatch, in order that il may reacl
the Governor in time for due consider
alton before the adjournment of III,
legislature.
POSITION OF THE FARMER GovEHNoR
For some time past it has beer
quietly rumored in political circle
that Governor Brown does not inten,
TO he caught mapping this session. mo-
does he intend to shoulder the cntir,
responsibility of deciding the fate o
another Hayes bill. While some sucl
bill seems 10 he demanded by tn,
counties, Judging from the fact that il
the maorit, of them candidates fol
the legislature were chosen principal,
upon this issue, yet il Is possible tha
the county members cannot he brough
together as unit upon any one lin,
o:r policy. Then again. the governor
of the state wields an immense inhu
ence with the county members Their,
are potent arguments always at hand
to induce an acquieScence in the view,
ot The chief executive. Just 10 wha
extent these arguments will he used i.
unknown, but il has been rumorct
that Governor Brown intends, if posi-
hle, TO prevent the passage of any such
measure as the Hayes hill.
The agitation for rcassessment bill
has been particularly apparent on th,
Eastern Shore, where marked discnn
tent with existing conditions has pre-
vailed. In nearly all the countie,
over there this question figured largel,
in the primaries and in the genera
election. The successful candidate,
were understood To be strai ghtout ad
vocatcs of reasseSsmcnt, whether Of tho
Hayes bill or not-at least of som,
form of satisfactory and adequate tax
apportionmcnt. Now. however, from
some sections of the Shore come re
ports of weakening along this line. or
rather, of a partial change Of views
\ newly-clected member of the nexr
General Assembly V who was IN Balii-
more last week stated that his view.
regarding this subject had undergon,
transformation, and that he no long
er enihused over the demands ior new
and siringent lax legislation. lie ais,
acknowledged that some correspond
cncc upon Ihis subject had cnsue,
between i,imsel: and certain h;gl
officials. aud lac had concluded that i
was wise to amend his views Thi
gentleman Is not alone in the position
IN which he now finds himself Other
are said TO have experienced Il chang
Of heart upon this subject also. 1t i
probable, therefore, that when Scna
tor Hayes rejuvcnatcd and rchabili
iated bill comes before the Legislature
il will meet with warmer reception
with more nf the adverse scntimcn
prevailing than has been suppose,
during the two years which have
passed over the grave of lis first debut