The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-02-08
TWO DELEGATES EXCITED.
A Personal Encounter Narrowly Avoided
in the Legislative Chamber.

ANNAPOLIS, Mp, Feb. 5.-The discussion
on the bill to repeal the Eastern Shore law.
which was on its second reading in the House
of Delegates today, came near leading to a
personal encounter between Delegates Smith.
of Cecil, and Rouzer, of Frederick. both Re-
publicans. In the debate Mr.. Smith became
heated and intimated that those who favored
the ignoring of the law in the election of Re
preventative George l.. Wellington as UniteI
States Senator were not sincere in their mo-
tive and had not proper regard for tho die
tates of their conscience.
Soon after Mr.. Rou2er went to Mr.. Smiths
seat. which is some distance from his own,
and said excitedly that he YVES tired of this
conscience business being brought into the
discussion whenever the subject was brought
up. and wished it stopped.
At this Mr.. Smith fired up aid told Mr..
Rou2er in emphatic language to mind his
own business. 1t appeared as if II personal
conflict would follow Immediately, but it
was prevented by the ilrmness of Speaker
Mudd.
Mr.. Rouzer walked to bis seat. The end
was not yet. When the House adjourned,
which it did soon after. Mr. Smith rushed to
Mr.. Rouzer's seat, and shaking his fist in his
face shouted that he was responsible for his
own acts and speech and he wanted Mr..
Rouzer to understand it. He was also able
to protect himself physically ON the floor of
the House or anywhere else. All the time he
was excitedly shaking his fist and rolling up
his coat sleeves.
Mr., Rouzer jumped from his seat, his face
pale with excitement, and il 'ooked rs if the
two Delegates would c!inch. The crowd
rushed between them. however, and sue
ceeded in keeping them apart.
Mr.. Smith was finally forced away by his
friends, but he kept reiterating MS defiance
to Mr.. Rouzer as he was backed out of the
hall
THE LAW DISCUSSED.
When the bill was taken up Mr.. Dodson
offered an amendment to provide that the act
should not take effect until after the election
of the United States Senator next to be
chosen. He explained that the Eastern Shore
would like few years more of their old
privilege; they would like to feel that the
House had not robbed them by legislative act,
at least, of their brthright.
Mr.. Markell said tnat in voting for United
States Senator he had felt bound by his oath
to recognize law upon the statute books,
but he had believed then and believed yet
that the law was unconstitutional, and he
believed also that the amendment was un-
constitutional. He thought it in the interest
of the Republican party and the Common
wealth that the law should be repealed.
Mr.. Applegarth said that as Il majority of
the House had repudiated the law it would
be inconsistent for any member Of that ma
jority to vote for the proposed amendment
The act of 1909 was not constitutional be-
cause it was opposed to the declaration of
rights Of the State and contrary to the consti-
tuition of the United States. The Eastern
Shore does not need such Il law. 1t has upon
its soil as geod senatorial timber as can be
found in any part of the State.
Mr.. Jones, of Anne Arundel, said he did
not believe in repeating the law. He would
not accord it so much recognition. He would
prefer to have it framed and hung in small
house labeled 'Antiquities.'
Mr.. Smith of Cecil objected to what he
termed ridicule of the Eastern Shore. The
people of the Eastern Shore did not get their
rights he said; they had endured much, but
they would not submit to ridicule.
Mr., Cook said he did not think it right
that the men who voted for Mr.. Wellington
for Senator should be accused of having
acted unlawfully and violated their conscience
AS for himself, he had clear conscience
throughout. He had been satisfied that the
law was unconstitutional and that he was
acting in accordance with the constitution
OF the United States.
AN AMENDMENT VOTED DOWN.
vote ON the amendment resulted in its
defeat by n vote of yeas 81, nays 40. The
members voted as follows:
Yeas-Messrs. Nicholson, Cheston. Cole.
Barber, Dodson, Hall, Wingatc, Hopkins,
Bradley, Smith, OF Cecil, Logan. White.
johnson, Taylor, Seneca, Whiteford, Clark,
Bye Etchson. Truitt and Catlin.
Nays Messrs. Mudd, Jones OF st Mary's.
Baker, Krems, Jones of Ammo Arundel, Nor
man, Whitaker. Dehoff. wilhelm, Herman
Householder, Carew, Holmes, Pyles. Schooley
Miller, Rouzer, Crum. Wood, Markell, Ford,
Janetzke, Cunningham, Burns, Schilling.
Padgett, Pennington, Abercromble. Apple
garth Huggins, Bankard. Kaufman, Koontz
Cook. Lamar, Chiswell, Dick, Ohr, Robert
son, Porter, Campbell, Smith of Carroll
Gunter, Cover, Birnie, Pindell. Black,
Hilleary and Otto.
The bill was engrossed for third reading.
1t will undoubtedly pass the House. but is
expected to strike u stumbling block in the
Senate. The concensus of opinion is that the
repeal will not be effected. The democrats
have already placed themselves on record by
the resolution adopted condemning the
election of George L. Wellington as United
States Senator in violation Of the Eastern
Shore law.