The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-02-28
ALMOST ASLEEP.
Our Solons at Annapolis Must
Arouse Themselves.
POOR SHOW FOR REFORM.
Only a Short Time Left Till the
End-Will We Have Reassess-
ment and Other Good Things
PromisedP
ANNAPOLIS. Feb. 25th, 1896.

and there is practically nothing yet accom-
plished in the way of legislation, so Justify
promised by those who carried the banner
of reform so high in the campaign of '95.
The Civil-Service bills are so far apart in
the Senate and the House that it is hardly
probable that any committee of conference
can bring together the disagreeing votes of
the two bodies. The referendum is as far
as the House will go, and Baltimore City
without the referendum is where the Senate
stands on the question. To bring this
agreement together will tax the reformers
and civil service men. 1t is quite plain
that whatever the Democratic minority
really wants on the line of civil-service
| that the Republicans of the Legislature do
| not care for it, and that the referendum is
an easy way of giving it the rites of respec-
| table sepulture.
The Senate has gotten down to hard work
on the election bill. and there is no doubt
that Senator Randall, Republican, from
Anne Arundel who has charge of the bill
by being chairman of the Special Commit
tee on Civil Service Reform and Election
Reforms, is sincere in the matter, and with
|
to aid him, the bill will no doubt come from
the Senate good reform measure. What
the House will do with it is problem.
The Democratic majority of the Senate,
since the death of Senator Bond, of Calvert,
has had two phazes of the situation pre-
scented to them that causes them consider
able debate and no little perplexity First
Shall the Senate go on and conclude the
contested election case in which Senator
Bond was the contestee? Seconds thir-
teen now constitutional majority of the
Senate? The better opinion is that the
contest should proceed, and if Senator
Bond was declared elected, then vacancy
exists. If he was not elected, then his OPP
ponent may be seated or no election declar-
ed. The Democrats are hardly prepared to
say that thirteen is a majority of all the
Senators elected. Senator Bond was to all
intents and purposes elected, and if so de-
clared after thirteen had been working as
majority, it would be embarrassing. The
constitution says the quorum shall consist
of majority of all the members elected.
The Democrats of Anne Arundel are
somewhat mystified at the action of the
Committee on Elections of the House on the
Anne Arundel election cases. The commit
tee it was understood, had determined to
GUST the Democrats whose offices were con-
tested, and the Democrats of Anne Arundel
had begun to cut wood to fix up their fen
ces, and to call the roll of the unterrified
! for the impending conflict. Their blood
waxed warm and the Democracy began to
feel that they could leap over wall, and
all they wanted was to have a chance at the
enemy, when suddenly there came halt
in the Republican programme. WHAT'S
the natter" asked the Democrats. Two
whispers ran along the corridors of the
State House-frst, that the Republican
State leaders knowing the ebb-tide of pub
lie opinion was now against them feared
to set sail against the good old ship of De-
mocracy, knowing that they would be so
far distanced in the race, that it would be
a death-blOw to Speaker Mudd's congress
sional aspirations, for political disasters are
catching The second reason given is that
the Republican leaders are waiting to secure
the election machinery before the election
is ordered. The matter will soon have to
| develop.
The members of the Baltimore city dele
! cation have come in for some criticism from
their own party for the careless manner in
which they have made up their city APP
pointments 1t is not generally known,
though it is fact, that the Governor has
! to appoint and the Senate to confirm all the
auctiOneers in Baltimore city, twenty in
number. The list made up this year by
the city delegation and sent down to the
Senate by the Governor, contained not only
men out of business, but some that in the
churchyard lie. What was worse about
the local list of justices, they had amongst
| the appointees, two convicts.
There is tremendous rush at present
around the State House with everybody
! that has legislation in view. The members
being on several committees, often the same
man is wanted in several places at the same
time to make up committee, and chair
men of committees are seen ranting around
like the boys ON election day to bring up a
voter that he may secure a quorum. As
for the individual members, they are so
much in demand by those who have bust
ness before the Legislature, that Senator on
his way to the chamber has been known to
be half hour moving few yards, for as
soon as one let's go the lapel of his coat
another of his constituents takes hold.
Since the last letter from Annapolis to
the CITIZEN, the following legislation af-
tecting Frederick county, has been enacted:
In the House Mr.. Markell presented a Pc
tition of citizens of the First election dis
! trlct of Frederick county to change the
voting place for that district from Buckeyes
town to Adamstown. Mr.. Miller obtained
leave to introduce bill to provide that
an average attendance OF ten pupils shall be
sufficient to keep open schools for colored
children.
Senator Norwood has introduced bills
to provide that in uncontested cases the
plaintiffs attorney may state an audit
without the necessity of referring the case
to an auditor of the court; to correct an err
ror in the insolvent law; to prohibit the
sale of liquor within two miles of the pub
lie school of Licksville. In the Senate the
Senate bill to amend the charter of Middle
town, Frederick county, was read the sec
Ond time Senator Norwood, by request.
introduced bill to repeal the law prohib-
/ iting the sale of liquor at Hyattstown. Mr..
Miller obtained leave to introduce a bill to
amend the charter of Brunswick, so as to
provide for liquor license tax of $500 in
case liquor is allowed to be sold, and to
make further amendments. Senator Nor
wood introduced bill to prohibit the sale
of liquor in Frederick county within one
mile of any Sunday school picnic; also, to
sanction bequest from Peter Lugenbeel to
the trustees of Linganore M. E. Church.
petition was presented in the House asking
for new election district in Frederick
county. Mr.. Rouzer obtained leave to in
troduce bill to transfer the control of the