The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-04-04
ASSESSMENT Law PASSED
After a Hard Struggle and Pro-
tracted Conferences, and the Pass
age of supplemental Acts, Reas-
sessment is a Reality.

tracted Conferences, and the Pass
age of Supplemental Acts, Reas-
sessment is a Reality.
After several busy and exciting days an
assessment law, with several supplemental
acts. were passed and signed ON Monday, in
the very closing hours of the session.
About the last week in February the SEN
ate passed the Herring bill and four weeks
later the House passed the Bankard bill.
When the Bankard bill went to the Senate
it was amended by striking out all after "A
Bill and substituting the Herring bill. The
matter was then sent to conference COM
mittee, and this committee accepted and
adopted practically the Herring bill, and it was
then passed by both houses and presented to
the Governor.
The Governor was besieged by delegations
and urged to send a special message to the
Legislature suggesting amendments 10 the
bill. This he did, and the message was re-
ferred to the conference committee. 10 I'M
dertake to amend the bill was regarded as a
dangerous experiment, so it was concluded
to recommend the passage of separate bills to
cover the Governors suggestions. The Gov
ernor desired notifications of the bond-scal-
ing feature, u change in the taxation of rail-
way tunnels, exemptions for building and
homestead associations, repeal OF the
mortgage tax and several other changes.
Long conferences ensued between the Gov
ernor, Senator Herring, Mr.. Bankard and
other members ofthe Conference Committee,
in connection with John X. Cowen, F. New
conner and several others. The result was
an agreement to accede to most of the
changes, but the mortgage tax would not
ha bod bor
done so would have precipitated de-
bate and the whole scheme of assessment
would have come to naught. After getting
the Governor TO agree to sign the main bill If
the supplemental bills were passed, Chair
men Herring and Bankard went to work to
pass the supplemental bills.
A meeting of the conference committee was
called supplemental bills were considered
and agreed upon and were then presented to
the Legislature When the report of confer
ence committee was presented in the Senate
on Monday the chairman. DIR. Herring, said:
a have here two bills regarding the matter
in the message of the Executive. and | hope
the Senate will give them attention and allow
them TO come up on their final passage
The first bill was then taken up.
ut is perhaps proper | should state just
what this bill provides, said Senator Herring.
''In the case of building associations it en-
empis from taxation only shares held by
members on which mortgages are made by
members.
''The rolling stock of railroads is not to be
taxed only at the place where the main office
| is located. but in the counties through which
the line runs, according 10 the mileage in
eacn. This was recommended in the Cover
nor message.
another recommendation in the message
which we also adopted provides that eorpo
rations issuing bonds are not prohibited from
putting in them the customary covenant thai
| they will pay the taxes on them. 1t was
stated very forcibly to us that, if this clause
| was omitted, it might prevent the negotiation
of the bonds But we also put in proyisc
that this shall not affect the states right to
tax such bonds in the hands of the holders.
II also wish to say this, continued DR..
| Herring, ''the committee has spent a number
of hours in considering these bills. They are
approved by us and hope the Senate will
likewise approve them and send them over tc
the House"
The remarks of the Senator from Carrol
were attentively heard and then Senator
Michael inquired whether the report wa:
unanimous.
at is, so far as the Senate is concerned,
replied DR.. Herring, ''but two members of the
House dissented
A colloquy here followed between several
Senators and when it ended DIR. Herring con
tinued-
81 have something more to put before the
| Senate said Senator Herring; shut shall
not say much, for do not wish to delay, MOI
am in physical condition to speak long.
did not refer before to the second bill. which
| now have in my hands. 1t is measure to
tax bonds, all at their market value, for state
purposes, and at 80 cents on the 500 foI
municipal and county purposes. 1t is very
plain TO see that this would give the counties
1 nearly double the amount of the state tax.
There was some difference of opinion
about the constitutionality of this proposition
We have put it in a supplemental bill, and, il
there is any failure on constitutional grounds
we can fall back on the original bill. We are
losing nothing in enacting this.
''Now." said Senator Herring, ''the Senate
is in possession of the whole case. 1t seems
to me that we ought at once to pass the bill, il
we are going to act favorably upon it
The bills were passed in both houses by
almost unanimous vote and Gov. Lowndes
was on hand and promptly signed them.