Democratic messenger., 1894-01-06
COLONEL SMITH CHOSEN.
HOW THE SENATE WAS ORGAN,
lied THE PRESIDENTS PER-
TINENT REf1ARKS.

STATED Iiot 81, ANNAPOLIS, jan. .
Promptly at noon w g. Purnell
the secretary of the last Senate rapptd
for order and announced that the
time fixed by the constitution for the
Senate 10 meet for the legislative
session Of 1894 had arrived, and that
the Senate would now come to order
and he would call the roll of Senators
and Senators elect.
As soon us the Senators were sworn
in and other routine matters attended
To Senator Evans moved that the
Senate proceed to the election of II
President. which was agreed.
Senator HAYES said that the State
of Maryland had always been fortu-
nate in having rs the presiding officer
of the upper branch Of the Legislature
those If her sons who were distinguish
ell for their ability and marked fidelity
to duty. lie now rose TO place in
nomination distinguished gentlemen,
the peer in all these respects of any
nf his predecessors. lie spoke Of
Senator Smiths business qualifications
and his early life having become a
leader in all undertakings requiring
energy. fidelity and judgement. When
elected Senator, he had displayed the
same qualities and had always been
faithful to his duties, both a Il Sena
tor aud in committees. He nominated
Tor President Senator John Walter
Smith. of Worcester county.
The nomination was seconded bv
Senator Huhner. Of Baltimore county.
Senator Sloan, without any remarks.
presented the name of Senator Will
kin>on. III" Republican caucus n"mi-
nee. and his non iuation was seconded
bv Senator Parran.
After the vote had been announced
Senator Wilkinson said that as the
Senate had chosen one 20 able AMI
well fitted to preside and a> he expect
ed the minority would by him he
treated as courtcuuSlv and fairly a.
the majority. he would move that the
election be made unanimous. Senator
Parran seconded this motion and il
was at once adopted The President
pro TEN. then appointed Senators
HAYES and Wilkinson to conduct the
Pre>idcnt-elect to the chair. which
was done. and Senator Smith addressed
the Senate aS follows:
.Senaior<: In selecting me To preside
over your deliberations during the
present session of the General Assem-
bly, Of Maryland. you have conferred
an honor for which. both for myself
and my county, desire 10 tender my
sincere thanks. Recognizing rs | d"
the responsibilities and duties of the
office. accept the position with many
misgivings. shall rely. howevcr.upon
vonr forbearance. especially in deter
mining such parliamentary questions
is may from time to time he presented
for my decision. | shall enlcavcr to
discharge my duties fairly and impair
tally. and with due consideration To
the rights of all. trusting that with
your kind assistance | may he able 10
acquit myself satisfactorily t" Won
and with credit To the state.
We have come together for the
purpose Of serving the people. In
doing this we should have an eve
single 10 their best Interests. Our
country j. in the throcs of financial
>tringency which it seldom has been
her misfortune 10 experience. No
state in the Union has borne up more
noblv through the business troubles
Of the past year than our own. The
failures which have been visited upon
50 many financial institutions in other
states have not come upon ours.
Nothing speaks So we'll for the bust
ness ability aud conservatism of our
own people as this. II is Il matter Of
>inccrs congratulation that. thus far,
we have 50 largely escaped the ills
which have bciallcn our ncighbors.
1t is our duty To strive To continue
this wholesome condition in our state
h, the enactment of such laws rs will
encourage her industries and rebound
to the happiness and prosperity Of her
people. To do this i. should be our
effort, 80 far as possible, TO lessen the
burden of taxation bv the exercise Of
prudent economy.
Many matters Of important legitla-
ton will doubtless come before the
Senate Perhaps the most important
measure that you will he called upon
to consider will he a bill for new
assessment oi property for the purpose
Of taxation, Il measure winch the peo-
pie are cmpha,icaIlv demanding and
which they have right to expect at
our hands 1t is a subject which deep
" concerns every part "t our common
wealth. Such action should he taken
~ will give relief, 81 far as possible.
tn the agricultural interests of the
state, while. at the same time. other
industries may not sntlcr thereby
There is some apprehension that there
may he Il conflict OF interest between
the City Of Baltimore aud the counties
growing out of this question of taxa
ton. but such should not he the case
In meeting this question We should de
80 in spirit of fairness. hearing IN
mind tn" fact that each nf us. while
representing IN one sence a part only
of ih. state. should le.i>late for the
good of the whole.
/, i nrobable that "A bill tp furnish