The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-02-27
ANNAPOLIS.
The Democrats Don't Want New
Assessment Law Passed.
ANNAPOLIS, Feb. rs, 1896.

ooFCl uol LOWuuco HdS 1ully IeCON-
cred and is himself again. The re-
fusal of Mr.. Tompkins to serve as
one of the board of license commits
sioners for Baltimore brought a
delegation down this morning, and
ooened up a very vexatious matter
that the Governor thought was off
his hands. Who will succeed Mr..
Tompkins it is impossible to say.
The office of State fire marshal
is also being much sought afGer, as
the inelligibility of Senator Wilkin-
son makes it vacant. Attorney
General Clabaugh is urging the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Ed. Lawyer, of
Westminster, to the place. Mr..
Lawyer is president of the State
Firemen's Association.
Mr.. Jas. M. Sloan, jr., son of
Hon. Jas. M, Sloan, State Senator,
came down to Annapolis to-day to
enter upon course Of preparation
for admission to the Naval Academy
to succeed Cadet Frank Hilleary,
of Cumberland, resigned. Mr..
Sloan has been selected by Hon. G..
l., Wellington for the position, and
will be admitted about the middle
of May.
A conversation with Senator
Sloan convinces me that with posi-
bly, one or two exceptions all of the
governors appointments will be
confirmed this week. There is some
opposition to Mr.. Laird and also
Mr.. Orr, but it may not prove strong
enough to defeat either of them.
The death of Senator Bond opens
up two important questions. The
first is whether, in contemplation of
the constitution, thirteen affirma-
tive votes is sufficient to pass any
act of legislation. The Senate is
composed Of twenty-six memb ers,
and maj ority of all the members
elected is necessary to pass q meas
ure. There were fourteen Demo-
cratic members, but the death of
Senator Bond leaves that party with
but thirteen. A number of lawyers
have fastened to be heard upon the
question, and several of them have
tried to convince the world that
thirteen Is majority of twenty-six.
But our school arithmetic argued
differently.
Another feature is, what becomes
of Mr.. Dowell's rights as a contes-
tant if new election is ordered in
Calvert county? Mr.. Dowell is
ready to prove that he and not
Bond was elected, and if new cleo
ton is ordered, how can he prove
his case?
The bill to repeal what is known
as the Ayirett inebriate act will pro-
badly pass the Senate to-day. At
the request Of several citizens of
Cumberland who are tired of this
exceedingly vicious measure, l spoke
to Senator Norwood about the mat
ter this morning, and he assured
me 1t should pass the Senate to-day.
Every effort will then be made to
hurry it through the House.
The appointment of MI. Orr, as
labor statisticlan, was withdrawn
from the Senate to-day. y com
mittee from the federation of labor
is now IN consultation with the gov
ernor, and the new appointee will
likely be either G. II. Myers, or a
gentleman named Wade, q printer
of Baltimore city.
Mr.. j. II. Holzshu, of Cumber-
land, arrived here this morning.
Mr.. r. r. Henderson has been here
for several days. Both are interested
in legislation.
\ caucus Of Republican members
Of the House has decided to give the
assessment law the right of way
until it reaches final action. The
officially with this measure is that
it is, and has always been, for that
matter, in the hands of persons who
persist in holding on to all the in
quisitorial features; they will hear
of no concessions, however slight
and will sacrifice the entire law