The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-02-15
Legislative Notes.


ON Friday of last week the Senate in
definitely postponed consideration of the
House bill to repeal the Eastern Shore sena-
torial law by vote of Is to Z. This settles
the matter for this session. The negatives
we're Dober of Baltimore city, Emory of Bal
t;more county, Norwood of Frederick, Ran
daIl of Anne Arundel, Scott of Washington,
and Sloan of Allegany, all Republicans.
The House of Delegates on Monday night
passed the bill to require the commissioners
Of Carroll county to pay to the burgess and
commissioners of Taneytown one-half OF the
amount of road tax levied upon property
within the limits of Taneytown.
The bill to appropriate $1,000 to hold
farmers institutes was reported to the Senate
on Tuesday without recommendation and
Senator Herring moved to make il the order
for February 20, which was done.
Hampstead wants half of her road tax and
Delegate Ganter has introduced a bill to give
it to her, If there are any other towns IN
Carroll that want half of their road tax let
them hand up their plates. 1t must be re-
membered that the road tax comes off the
districts where the town is located.
A bill has been introduced in the House to
exempt from distraint for rent the property OF
sub-tenants and boarders. 1t ought to be-
come law.
Delegate Birnie, as the leader on the floor
of the House, met his first defeat on Tuesday.
He moved to take up the ree-school-beok
bill, but there was a report that there was a
snake in it, in regard TO the power to pur'
chase books, and the bill was committed to
the committee on education by vote of SO to
So.
The majority of the committee on Assess
ment, of which Senator Herring is chairman,
are Republicans, and made an untavorable
report upon it on Wednesday. Upon Senator
Herings motion the bill was substituted for
the report and was made the special order for
next Tuesday. On the same day the bill for
registration and election reforms, drawn by
the Reform League of Baltimore, was pre-
sented with some amendments. A synopsis
of the bill was published in the ADVOCATE
recently. 1t provided for four registers OF
voters in each precinct, but the amendment
reduces the number to two. 1t also provides
that not over 600 voters shall be at one voting
precinct, and if passed would require new
voting places in Taneytown, Uniontown,
Manchester, Wooery's. Freedom and West
minister districts, and consequently increased
expenses for registration and election. The
reform would cost Carroll about $1,000 extra
annually.
In the House on Wednesday favorable
report was made on the Senate civil service
bill for Baltimore, and the bill made the
special order for Tuesday next. The free
book-bill, which was recommitted on Tues
day, was referred to the committee on educa-
ton, was reported by that committee with an
amendment striking out the whole of the
original bill and substituting new one, which
Mr.. BRINE. author of the original bill, ex-
planned, in reply to question by Mr.. Lewis,
differed from the original in providing that
the books shall be purchased by the school
commissioners of the several counties, instead
of by the State board of education; that
competitive bidding shall be publicly invited,
and that the commissioners be privileged to
make changes in the list of books whenever
they so choose The amendment was adopted
and the bill ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading. Later the rules were suspended
and the bill was passed with but three dissent
ing votes two Democrats and one Republican.
The Senate on Thursday confirmed all the
supervisors of election named by the Gov
ernor. except Alex Mccormick, of Baltimore
county, The Free School Book bill was
made the special order for next Tuesday at
$50 p. M, and an unfavorable report on the
was made the special order for p. IN. next
Wednesday. The Senate had night session.
In the House an amendment was offered
to the Senate Civil Service bill substituting
the original Bruce bill, with a referendum
clause, and the measure was made the order
of the day for Wednesday next at l.30 p. m.
Action on the joint resolution to extend the
term of Judge Bryan was postponed until
Thursday next.
The Police Reorganization bill was made
the special order for Monday night next, and
the Pharmacist Practice bill for Thursday
next at p. m. A number of local bills were
passed
Governor Lowndes sent to the Senate on
Thursday the name of Colonel l.. Allison
Wilmer, of Charles county, for adjutant gen
eral of the state, and he was Immediately
confirmed.
The Senate Committee on Elections de-
cided on Thursday night to report in favor of
Senator Westcott, Republican, whose seat was
contested by James Alfred Pearce. The
House Committee on Elections decided in
favor of seating the Republican contestants in
the Calvert county cases.
The Republican caucus on the police CON-
mssionership was postponed until next Tues
day night.
A delegation appeared before the Senate
Committee on Finance and the House Com
mittee on Ways and Means in favor of the
Good Roads bill. Judge Stake, of Hagers-
town, gave his views in opposition to the
present measure, and suggesting different
plan.
The House passed the bill giving Manches-
ter one-half of the road tax paid in the town.