The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-03-21
Legislative Notes.

The Maryland Legislature convened on
Monday night last, and both houses were in
session until late hour. The Senate passed
the House bill to authorize the mayor and
council of Mt. Airy to issue 1000 in bonds
for street improvement, if the people so de-
eide, and also the bill amending the road law
of Carroll, providing for one district road
commissioner instead of three. Senator Ran
dali introduced bill to submit to the people
a constitutional amendment providing that
appointments and promotions III the civil
service in the state and in all civil divisions
shall be made according to merit and fitness.
In the House Mr.. Cunningham offered bill
to amend the Constitution, providing for home
rule in taxation, and a bill limiting the debt
of any city or county to 10 per cent. ofthe as
sessable basis was passed.
On Tuesday i'll the Senate, Senator Herring
introduced bill providing for a stenographer
for the Circuit Court for Carroll. The local
veto bill was discussed and then made the
order for Thursday afternoon at clock.
In the House on Tuesday, the special to-
bacco tax, offered by the Ways and Means
Committee, was defeated bya vote of Al to 81.
The bill proposed an additional license tax of
$40 in towns of over 5000 inhabitants and of
So in towns of less than 5000, and Delegate
Birnie said it was thought the revenue pro-
duced would reach $4,000 The money, he
said, was wanted to help to deffay the cost of
free books. The Bankard bill, appropriatng
$4,000 to hold farmers institutes was discussed
at some length and passed by vote of 50 to
3, the nays being Hanway, Cook aud Birne
DIR. BRINE spoke against the bill, saying the
farmers did not want it passed.
On Wednesday in the Senate the bill Great
ing a department of roads and highways. with
its ornamental S25, 600 engineer corps, was re-
&. II
in public schools bill was ordered engrossed
for third reading by a large majority. The
bill to incorporate the trustees of the Confer
enee of the NJ. P. Church was passed, also
the Senate bill appropriating 500 to any
county where there are three or more district
school libraries to be applied in the purshase
of books. In the House very little but local
legislation was considered. The House bill
amending the game law of Carroll was passed.
The ways and means committee of the
House has reported the general appropriation
bills for the support of the State government
for the years 1897 and 1898 The appropria.
tions for 1897 show an increase of nearly
$l20, 900 over the bill passed f,'t the current
fiscal year.
The increases include a deficiency of S25,-
900 for the State National Guard. There is
also an additional appropriation of $1,000 to
the Naval Reserves, now part OF the State
National Guard. The adjutant-generals sal
AIRY is increased to 81, 900. The appropriation
for the maintenance of the militia is S45. 900
for each year.
The penitentiary is given a special appro-
priation of $50, 900 to be used in the new
building now under construction. The APP
preparation to the House of Correction is in
creased IS 200, making the total S25, GOO for
this year: the Female House of Refuge is given
nnQ additional. tho hoo nd nun,h A cxl,,r,
at Frederick s., 900 additional; the Maryland
Schsol for the Education of Deaf and Dumb
and Blind COlored Children 81 200 increase;
the State Library $1,000 and the Maryland
Asylum and Training School for the Feeble
Minded 81 500 additional There is also
given to the Spring Grove Asylum S29, 900
increase to meet deficiency in its running
expenses and S35, 900 for the maintenance of
the Insane Hospital No. 2, to be located at
Springfield" Carroll county. The appro-
priation bill for 1898 does not contain these
deficiency appropriations nor the increases
made to reformatory institutions for special
purposes. The bill cuts off SIS, $50 which
were contained in the appropriation bill for
this year.
The Conference Committee is at work ad,
justing differences between the Herring and
Bankard assessment bills. Much opposition
has developed in Baltimore TO both of them.
The conference committee will not finish its
work this week.
On Thursday in the Senate the committee
on corporations reported the Senate bill to
incorporate the Farmers and Merchants
Trust Company of Carroll County, with
amendments TO provide that the company
shall exercise its powers after all the capital
stock is paid up and that it shall be subject to
the provisions of the act of 1892, chapter 1903.
The local veto bill came up as the special
order at ] o'clock, and after amendment and
discussion was indefinitely postponed, which
is the death of the measure. The House bill
giving New Windsor one-half of its road tax
was passed, and now goes to the Governor for
his signature. Senator Crothers introduced
bill providing for the submission to the peo-
Pile in 1897 the question of calling a constitu
tional convention.
The House passed the militia bill, after in
ereasing the salary Of the Adjutant-G General
from 81, 500 to $1,000 This was in the in
terest of reform and economy(?) Many local
bills were considered.
Gov. Lowndes has signed the bill amending
the charter of Mt Airy.
Tax Dodgers are opposing the Herring and
Bankard bills, and quite delegation of them
appeared before the conference committee on
Thursday TO protest against certain features.
Up to date not one single bill of general
importance has become law. The civil
service bill is dead, and the prospect for an
assessment law is not very good. The Senate
has been business body from the beginning,
and from the beginning the members of the
House have paid more attention to Office and
politics than to legislation.