Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1896-02-04
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
LExow RESOLUTION OFFERED
One Third of the Session Gone and Lit
tie Accomplished The important
Measures to be Considered.

One-Third OF the Session Gone and Lit
tie Accomplished = The important
Measures to be Considered.
The Maryland General Assembly con-
vened at O'Clock last night, and was
in session about one hour. During this
period the files of both Senate and House
were cleared of all important business.
Immediately after the adjournment sew
eral committee meetings were held and
then about tifty members made a rush
for the Short Line dept and took spec
ial train for Baltimore.
Two months yet remain for the ses.
sion of 1896, and much legislative busi-
ness is yet TO be required. Governor
Lowndes is deeply interested in the pas
sage of a free school book bill, civil serv-
ice bill, re-assessment and election laws.
These have all been introduced. but that
is all. Only one, the civil service bill,
has succeeded in passing the Senate, but
it is expected to meet its death in the
House. The republican members of that
body are not in favor of civil service at
the present time. The re-assessment and
free school book bills have been intro
dueed in the House. The latter is on its
second reading, and 1T is expected a fav-
orable report will be made this after
noon.
1t is said that when the free school
book bill comes up III the House on its
third reading, a motion Will be made To
strike out the enacting clause. 1t is
charged that the amendment which the
ways and means committee added con-
.le. he it.f ia Inf ,,F
the big schOol-bOOk trust, inasmuch as
it authorizes the State Board of Educa-
tion to contract, without requiring com
petitive bidding, for the supply of books
for the whole State for period of three
years. This would mean that somebody
would get $3.50, 900 out of the deal. The
Smith bill allows each local board of
school commissioners to buy its own
books at competitive rates.
The passage OF all these important
measures, whose authors were originally
democrats, depends entirely upon the ac
tion of the Governor in regard to recog-
milton of the demands of the democrats
If Governor Lowndes refuses to appoint
the democratic supervisors of election
for each county as recommended by the
State Central Committee, there will be
a general hOld-up of appointments by the
executive, and a filibustering all around.
In this event the wheels of legislation
will stop and at the end of the session
little will have been accomplished.
The republicans make great pretense
of reforms all along the line, but when
it comes right down to business, they
shiTk their duty. The latest reform was
in the way of resolution offered by
Delegate Bye in the House last night
The resolution is for an investigation of
the affairs of public offices in Baltimore
city. The resolution says that legisla-
ton, State and municipal, appointments
to office and other action by public Oili-
GERS or bodies have constituted the sub
ject matter of bargains and traffic and
been otherwise corruptly influenced that
the State fishery force and other existing
departments are useless and expensive,
and have been often employed for per-
sOnal or partisan objects, and that many
other officers of the State are superfluous,
Overpaid or unfit for their respective po-
SltiOns.
1t asks for the appointment of a COM
mittee of five to make an investigation,
with full power to summon witnesses,
administer Oaths, call for the production
OF public or private documents, employ
counsel, stenographers, accountants and
other assistants, ia its dissection, and
generally, to do any matter or thing
whatsoever pertaining to the subject
matter of its inquiry, and which the
House itself might do. The committee
is expected to make report not later
than March 18th.
Senator Randall introduced bill this
morning to repeal Chapter 434 of the
Acts of 1894, of the code of Public Local
Laws, title "Anne Arundel County, y
subtitle County Commissioners, pro-
viding for the public printing of the cOun-
ty, to be given out by bids; also bill to
amend the charter Of the Drum Point
Railroad. Both Houses adjourned until
tomorrow at II o'clock, noon.