The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-03-13
STILL INACTIVE.
Season of Probation Drawing
to a Close.
Our Solons at Annapolis Need a
Little Injection of Elixir of Life
Democratic Editors Assemble
Some Recent Passage of Bills.
[From our specisl Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS. March 18th, 1896.

[From our Special Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS. March 18th, 1896.
The most notable political event of the
capital this winter, outside of the extraor-
binary matters happening with almost peri
odic regularity in the Legislature, was the
meeting and banquet of the Maryland Demo-
cratic Editorial Association. The practical
business of the association was meagre, but
the political acumen displayed on the Occa-
sion was deep and successful. The invited
guests could, indeed, be no other than the
staunch Democratic majority in the Senate.
For once, if for no other time, Democrats
knew no wing or faction, and when the
business meeting broke up, and the editors
adjourned to the State House to escort their
invited guests to the banquet at the Mary
land, one of them was charged with especial
business of seeing that President, Bruce
came to the festive hall. He came, and
like one of old, he conquered too, some of
the prejudices that existed against him,
for, he made a most royalty loyal and Demo
cratic speech. He dare not say that he and
other independents had done wrong. That
was too much for public man to say; but
he went as close to it as was prudent, i'll de-
claring first that the Democratic Senators
were OIL all political measures a unit; sec
ond, that every Democratic Legislature that
had heretofore met at Annapolis was always
responsive to a healthy public sentiment !;
and third, that the present House was as
impervious to good public sentiment as a
rain coat, was to rain. He further prophe
sled an early return of the Democracy to
power in the State. Gov. Jackson, Treas
urer Jones, DIR. Herring and Senator Crothers
! all made piquant speeches, breathing har-
mOny and unity, and not one word of CEN
sure to the independents who brought the
present defeat on the party, who, no doubt,
feel keenly their error. Indeed, the whole
company parted at two o'clock in the morn
ing feeling that victory of Democratic hosts
was not only nigh but right at our doors.
This lifting of the Democratic banner in the
face of the victorious foe came well at the
hands of the rural Democratic editors, for in
all political contests they are the first in the
fight, and the last to leave the field Sena-
tor CrOtheTs recognized this when he paid
the high compliment to it by saying that
their arguments last fall were unanswerable,
that the ability they displayed surprised
their friends, and in the counties the De-
mocracy had held the enemy well in. He
hoped the rural Democratic editors would
be better rewarded in the future than they
had been in the past. And so mote it be-
Either the House or the Senate has to give
way or there will be no new election law
this winter The House bill provides for
annual registration in the counties. The
Senate bill demands revision only in the
counties. The Democratic Senators are
unit on this point, Senator Bruce being as
stalwart as any. This seems to be the only
substantial difference between the two
Houses
The House on Tuesday, added an inter
esting chapter TO the political imbroglio now
working between the Mayor and City Coun-
Gil 1t indefinitely postponed the bill to
give the Mayor the sole appointing power
over the municipal officers The Baltimore
city members of the House, as rule, are
violently opposed to Mayor Hooper. They
do not want any of his reform, and there
was great rejoicing among them Monday
night, when the news arrived of the passage
OF the ordinance stripping the Mayor of the
appointing power.
The tension on the local veto bill reached
the highest notch this week in the Senate,
when its consideration with all it's amend
ments was taken up. Party lines, as usual
on this question, were obliterated Sena-
tor Jackson, Democrat, and Senator Day,
Republican, were among the foremost cham
pions of the bill, and Senators Bruce, Demo-
GRAFT, and Wilkinson, Republican, were the
bitterest opponents of the measure The
friends of the bill claim fourteen votes for
it in the Senate, and also majority vote in
the House; but the session is so far advanced
that the opponents of the measure may be
able to talk it to death; that is, consume SO
nnch time ~ fhaf thn I LOTT 10
enact other important laws, may have to
abandon the local veto bill for this session.
In past years, Legislature in which
Uncle George Cotton " was not poten-
tial factor, rarely convened. He paid his
first visit to the Legislature of '96 in the
early part of this week, and met with quite
an ovation irrespective of party.
Since our last letter, Senator Norwood
has introduced bill to amend the Act of
1894, and provide for the election in 1897 of
three commissioners for Frederick County,
one to hold Office for two years, one four
years, and one for six years, and the cleo
ton OF one commissioner every two years
thereafter; to make their salary $500 year,
&c. Senator Norwood introduced bill to
give the aldermen and mayor of Frederick
authority to regulate the use of streets.
lanes and alleys, by railways, gas, telegraph,
UcIepuOnc anu clcctTlc HgnU companies. Mr..
Wood obtained leave to introduce local
option bill for Middletown, Frederick
County. When Senator Norwood called
up the bill to extend the limits of Middle
town, as amended by the special committee
to which it had been referred, it was passed
with but one dissenting VOTE that of Presi-
dent Bruce. Mr.. Markell has obtained
leave to introduce bill for local option in
Brunswick, Frederick County The House
bill to create a new election district in
Frederick County was nassed in the Honse