The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-01-31
BUR ANNAPOLIS LETTER


be House Committees been so long in
oming forth from the brain of the
peaker. Detachment by detachment
hey were formulated and given to the
public, and yet there are more to come.
t was significant to watch the process
Of incubation. The first committee
was the Committee on Organization
hat is the committee to give out the
,ffices, and this was modelled exactly
bn Democratic lines, one from each
bf the counties that sent Representa-
lives of the dominant party, but here
the parallel in committee making with
the Democracy ceased. Usually, all
the standing committees are annOunc-
ed at the first meeting after the first
recess; but only one was made the
next week even. This was the Conn
mittee on Claims and that was espec-
Tally suggestive without the Commit
tee on Claims the members of the Cen
eral Assembly could get no money.
OF course, the laborer is worthy of his
hire, even if he be legislative laborer;
but then he ought not provide a
paynaster alone; he ought to have set
in motion the other machinery of the
Legislature to earn his hire. 1t was
not go with the Democratic Senate.
The committees were all promptly an
nounced and that body has settled
down to orderly business.
The scenes in and about the State
House under the "Reform Regime"
differs only from the spectacles under
Democratic government 10y being con-
! siderably more pronounced in the
stratagems of political manipulations.
Car load after car load of Baltimore
politicians are constantly arriving at
the Capital to cajole members into the
support of their favOrite candidates,
while the Republican Judges who sit
on the bench, have been largely rep
resented here, as pulling the political
wires Indeed Judge Sloane, of Allie
gany. in the Wellington fight, camped
on the field, and led the cohorts of the
Iron Duke. On every occasion of a
caucus, an extra train is run from Bal
timore, and the political henchmen
swarm the rOtunda, and buttOnhole
the members in a manner never eX-
celled, if equaled, in the palmiest days
of the unterrified. Added to this spec
tacular drama, is the negro contingent
which never before invaded the State
Heuse, but now that their race have
few mental offices and their political
brethren in power, invade the State
House, and form a new feature to the
frank side of politics.
The Governor and Mrs. LoWndes
are keeping up the reputation for ele-
giant hospitality, which has character
lied SO many of the incumbents of the
State Executive Mansion. They have
entertained the Judges of the Court of
Appeals at a State dinner, and just
here let it be said that the Governor
showed delicate shrewdness in not
announcing the changes to be made
on the bench until after this notable
social occasion, so that there would be
no sprigs of rue to mar the garlands
suitable to this festivity. Several
smaller dinners have been given to cit
liens of Annapolis, irrespective of pol
itics, who have shown social attentions
to the Executive, and large recep-
ton, to which two hundred invita-
tons were issued, was given on Tuesday
night, to members of the Legislature
and their families and various citizens
The Executive Mansion is happily
adapted to entertaining on a large
SCALE and the reception was a very
beautiful and effective one. The Gov
ernor and his wife have also been the
recipients of social attentions from the
citizens, in form of dinners and teas,
and many calls, and here too it may be
said, the attentions comes from Repub-
licans and Democrats alike. A gay
winter is looked forward to by the
fashionable element, as many of the
social functions at the Governors Man.
sion will be returned or duplicated at
the Naval Academy. The Colts Ball,
meaning dance given by those who
are wearing their legislative honors
for the first time, which used to be an
institution rigidly kept up, has been
discontinued for several sessions past.
1t has not been determined upon for
this session, but may be given the latter
part of the season.
Here and there is seen Republican
legislator, who is at any rate going
through the form of trying to redeem
the many promises of reform made so
lavishly during the campaign preced-
ing their entrance into power, but the
majority make no pretence of advanc-
ed moral ideas, though not many have
the candOr of the member from Balti-
more City, who declared in opposing
the abolition of certain useless offices,
We've been thirty years getting mere,
and | don't believe in destroying the
vineyard before we get taste of the
grapes"
Since our last letter, the following
legislation affecting Frederick county's
interests, has been transacted: Mr..
Rouzer presented petition signed by
over three hundred citizens of Woods
boro' District, Frederick County, ask
ing for the passage of an act prohibit
lug the sale of Intoxicating liquors in
that district. Mr.. Crum presented a
petition of citizens of Brunswick, Fred
erick County, for the passage of an act
requiring the national colors to be
raised on the capitol each day in the
year, except Sunday. The Frederick
County delegation reported favorably
a bill introduced by Mr. Rouzer to
regulate the payment OF pensions in
Frederick County, which was passed.
The same delegation reported favorably
a bill introduced by Mr.. Rouzer, au-
thorizing the sheriff of Frederick
County to appoint a fireman for the
Jail of that county, which was also
passed; also, a bill by the same, to
regulate the employment of labor upon
the public streets of Frederick City.