The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-02-14
OUR ANNAPOLIS LETTER.
ANNAPOLIS. Feb. 18th, 1896.

U00uS, Wu0u IL put llS AOOO WV S1
phatIcally on the bill to refund thou
sand dollars to the owner of vessel,
whose captain was one of the notorious
conspirators, who some seven or eight
years ago entered into a compact to
attack and overcome the State Steam
er McLane, and to prevent the enforce
ment of the oyster laws. There was
about eight vessels in the affray, and
they made bullets whistle around and
into the McLane. Gallant Tom How
ard, now commander of the Force, was
in command, and he bore down on
the vessels all lashed together, and the
way he made the splinters fly was
terror to the evil-doers, who had to
abandon the attack. The people of
the State were delighted at this exhibit
ton of courage and determination on
the part of the Force. The plea to
pay the bill was that the owner was q.
widow and knew nothing of the
doings of the Captain. But this de-a
fence did not satisfy the House. ~
The proposition of Gov. Lowndes
for the Legislature to pass a bill to
give him power to appoint the three
members of the Police Board of Balti-
more, does not meet with favor either
with the Democrats or the Eepubli-
cans. The Democrats, in the opinion
of those who look at the subject from
a local government standpoint, see that
too much power already exists In the
hands of the Executive, and to give
hn ilft ant of
Board of that great city Baltimore, is
to present him with autoclatic power,
and which in the hands ola designing
and aggressive executive, would make
it an almost impossible event to GUST
him and his party from power. A
caucus is at hand on the Police Com
missioners and there is little prospect
of the best Republican material being
selected. The sentiment of the party
leaders, if indeed there are any, has
not been crystalized in the Legisa-
ture for the best in the party.
Civil service sentiments are not of
the Bonaparte type here. Indeed the
average Republican does not want
any civil service in City or State,
whilst the Democrats are in office.
He and his fellows might be for it after
they put all the Democrats out of Of
no doubt, the reason why the bill
hangs fire. Then again, if The Repub-
licans do pass this bill, the incentive
to the colored voter to vote on, and
hope on, that one day the white
Republican brother will provide
place for him, will be gone, for he cam
not hope to contend with the white
man in a race of intellect and eddca-
ton. Altogether, the chances for civil
service reform are very meagre indeed,
and if it is passed it will probably
have a referendum, and that will kill
it, for the people as body are not for
it. This fact has not escaped notice
that the great majority of the commit
tee who came here last week to urge
civil service reform are the very peo-
pie who come here to defeat re-assess-
ment and are known as the tax dodg-
ers. The public will not see much re-
form in these two opposite positions.
The Committee on Elections heard
argument today on the contest be-
tween DIR. w. q. Tuck and Dr. George
Wells, for tue office of Clerk of the
Circuit Court for Anne Arundel Coun-
ty. He had $50 majority. The parti-
sanship displayed in hearing the case
before the House Committee has been
something remarkable. The commit
tee would not print the testimony.
1t gave the one typewriter copy to
the counsel of DR.. Tuck, the Republi-
can contestant, and wanted to dispose
of the case without argume emit, when
Mr.. Monroe, DR.. Tuck's counsel, stop
ped that by saying that he would with
draw from the case if that was doue.
Then the one copy of the testimony
was given to DIR. Wells counsel tile
night before the argument. On this
state of affairs, Gov. Whyte, who had
been engaged to argue the case for DIR.
Wells, refused to appear, saying he
could not prepare for the argument on
such short opportunity, and could not
in conscience take Dr. Wells money
without rendering him proper service.
The manner of the committee was very
offensive to the contestee and his
friends.
The session is half over on Friday of
this week, and up to that date not one
law has been enacted, a thing probably
unparalleled in the Legislative ali=
nails of Maryland.
Every Democrat in the House voted
against the repeal of the Eastern Shore
bill, which was brought up by Mr..
Markell of Frederick County, but it
was nevertheless passed by the House.
There is no likelihood whatever of its
passing the Senate. Senator Norwood
has introduced bill to provide a
county treasurer for Frederick County
in place of the tax collector; to make
the office elective by the voters of the
county. and to define the duties and
powers of the treasurer. sss..s.se.--------~.s.,
The bill relating to police Justices ia
Frederick County was reported from
a select committee, with an amend
ment providing that it shall take eff
feet May LIST, next. The amendment
was adopted and it was also ordered to
be epgrossed. The House bill to
amend the charter of Mt. Airy, in
Frederick and Carroll Counties, was
passed.
The bill toextend the limits of the
town of Middletown. Frederick Coun-
ty, was before the Senate for several
days of the latter part of last week.
Mr.. HI. l.. Routzahn, resident of the
county adjoining the town, entered
protest against the bill on the ground
that it would work him an injustice.
Senator Norwood moved that the bill
he recommitted, and this was done.
s.zfterward it was referred to special
ns mmittee, who gave those interested
the bill hearing. Senators Her
OF e Il r