The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-03-28
Legislative Notes.

Last Friday was the last day upon which bills
could be introduced in the Legislature, and
there was an avalanche of them, two-thirds
of which will get no farther than the committee
room. Delegate Ganter introduced two-one
to prohibit grocers in Carroll county from
selling liquor in quantities less than pint,
and the other to compel owners of lands lying
adjacent to public road in Carroll county to
keep fences alongside roads. The Senate pass
ed the bill authorizing the Circuit Court for Car
roll to appoint court stenographer. The SEN
ate adjourned from Friday until Monday night
aud the House held short session on Satur-
day morning.
On Monday night the report of the Con-
ference committee on the assessment bills &C.
cupied most attention.
Tim Governor approved "a number of bills
on Monday, among them one authorizing the
mayor and council of Mt. Airy to Issue bonds
for street improvement and one amending the
road law of Carroll.
Both the Senate and House passed nn TueS-
day the Herring Rankard assessment bill, the
bill as framed in conference. In the Senate
Senator Wilkinson. Republican, voted no
alone. In the House there was spirited de-
bate, but the bill passed by vote of y yeas
to s nays-the nays being Vunsant, Lee aud
Seneca, Democrats, and Smith Of Cecil
Holmes, Puizel, Applegarth and Pindell, Re-
pubioans. The bill is unsatisfactory to a
number of members of both houses, and they
voted very reluctantly for the adoption of the
conference report.
Gov. Lowndes appointed Richard NJ. Ven
able and Frederick W. Story, of Baltimore.
and jackson S. Ralston, of Prince Georges
county, committee to investigate and report
to the next Legislature the Torrens system of
transferring land titles
In the Senate an upfayorable report was
made on the bill TO establish bureau of imi
grafton, but consideration of the report was
postponed A favorable report was made on
the bill waving the States lien on the Chesa-
peake and Ohio canal in favor of claims for
labor. The bill fixing the rate of State tax
alton at l73 cents was passed.
In the House an unEavor,ble report was
adopted on the Senate bill appropriating S20,-
600 for repairs and Improvements to st John $
College, Annapolis. Reports by the election
committee confirming the election of the
Democratic members of the House, the judges
of the Orphans Court and the clerk of the
Circuit Court for Worcester county were adopt
ed, as were also reports declaring that the
Democratic clerk of the Anne Arundel County
Court and the judges of the Orphans Court
for that county were not duly elected and
ordering a new election April q next. An
unfavorable report was adopted on the Lee
home reassessment bill. The House
passed the conference committee assessment
BILL
On Wednesday the Senate passed anumber
of local bills, among them Senate bill TO in-
corporate the Farmers and Merchants Trust
Company of Carroll county; also general
bill providing that applications for building
bridges in the counties must be made by pc
tition TO the County Commissioners. The
House bill amending the charter of Manches
Ter was passed. In the House the House
bill was passed creating a new election district
in Carroll, by dividing Freedom district, to
be known as Berret district The House had
under consideration the appropriation bills,
and an amendment was adopted reducing the
academic appropriation to Western Maryland
College from $26O0to $500. The A p. AS
made vigorous fight against appropriations
to private institutions, but they were defend
ed by Birnie, Mudd and others. and all were
retained in the BILL
Thursday was busy day at Annapolis.
Both houses went with rush, mostly on local
bills. The House passed the Senate free
school book bill, with amendments, and the
Senate accepted the amendments and passed
the bill. The bill, if the Governor signs it,
will cost the people $150,000. Bills to issue
two loans, one of 100000 to build an insane
asylum at Springfield and one of $500, 900 to
complete the penitentiary, aggregating $780,
600, have been introduced in the Senate
By an apportionment of the state tax there is
likely to be a deficiency of $3.50, 900 annually
in interest and sinking fund accounts. The
building and homestead associations discOv-
cred that the assessment bill Impressed three
taxes upon the same capital, and bill to
remedy the defect was introduced in the
House. Another bill passed the Senate to
permit the Governor to appoint assessors
should the counties fail to recommend assess
ors through party organization, as provided in
the assessment bill. The House passed the
appropriations bills.