The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-02-07
OUR ANNAPOLIS LETTER.

vember, and caused them to thlnK
they saw in the elevation of the Re-
publican party to power in Maryland,
the road to reform, begin to fall from
their eyes. The latest aid to restora-
ton of healthful vision is Mr..
Birnie's free school bill. 1t pro-
vides that the State Board of Edu-
cation shall buy all the school books
without advertising for proposals,
and this mild looking clause is
said to be the coils of huge serpent
that is to recoil $3.50, 900 from the State
Treasury and put it in the pockets of a
favored few-the ring it would be
called if Democrats had anything to
do with it. But Mr.. Brine is sweet
scented Republican from Carroll. 30
an effort is to be made to strike the en-
acting clause from the monster when
he arrives in the House. He is still
in committee. That reflection of the
Democratic ring, which his enemies
suppose him to be, the Hon. John
Walter Smith, Democrat from WOrces-
ter. INDUCES in no such schemes to re-
ward favOrtes in his free book bill, but
missioners to buy their own books at
competitive rates. Senator Smith is
no convert to this matter, but is the
advocate of old, and cares more for the
principle than the spOils system.
The distribution of patronage and
the effort to secure a crunb of reform
in the nature of an office have blocked
up the path of legislation. Legislators
and outsiders vie with each other for
place and position, and though nearly
one half of the session has passed
away not single measure has become
a law. The grave questions OF assess
ment, election laws and civil service
reform have not even had a hearing in
the House, but meanwhile the Demo-
cratic Senate has passed the civil SER
vice bill for Baltimore city, and the
House is looking about to see some
way of getting out of passing it. The
Senate. it is understood, intends to go
straight ahead in all the reforms that
the people demand and throw on the
House the responsibility of their defeat.
Meanwhile the Republican leaders are
all at sea and cannot manage the leg
islative mob. Even BOSS" Yelling
ton was brought over here on Monday
night from the House of Representa-
tives to try to corral the wild steers in
the Republican pampas, but with what
success has not yet appeared.
During this week Gov. Lowndes has
taken occasion to tell how he was cleo
ted. Most Democrats have given the
Independents the credit for this revo-
luton, and have placed the reason of
their conduct to the fact that they had
failed to obtain the political recogni-
hnd in hn oil @
and positions the Democracy had to
bestow. Gov Low ndes says it is not
so. He declares he owes it to the ne
gro women of the State. This is how
he came to acknowledge the soft inn
parchment. He was asked to address
the order of Gallilean Fishermen, a
colored organization that met here on
Monday. He accepted, and in the
course of his remarks he said: s'He
thanked the colored Republicans, men
and women both, the women espe-
cially, for without the help of the
women, he would not have been Gov
ernor, for they kept the men up to
voting for him." This statement was
received with uproarious applause by
the large colored audience present, es-
pecially the women portion. Another
part of the Governors remarks were
not received with SO much satisfaction
and that was in reply to the wish eX-
pressed by the women secretary of the
Order, that he would do something for
the colored people. His EXcellency
said: "Too much, he thought, had
been expected of him. He and his
friends had made too many promises,
and he was afraid he would fall short
of them. 1t was a great struggle for
the Republican party, for the first
time in power in thirty years. and con-
fronted with such great questions. He
wanted to do his duty toward both the
white and colored people, but he did
not know yet who would have the APP
pointments. Bothered by delegations
and applications, he could stand the
strain, but his heart bled for those who
will be disappointed. He had twenty
five applications for each position and
of course, twenty-four would have to be
disappointed. This strain ought not
to be on the Governor, and there should
be civil service" Civil service reform
and the colored women of Maryland
making and unmaking Governors are
not consistent theories.
The assessment measure has not yet
made its appearance in the Legislature.
i LIS Is que vi ID6 SCNSIGbk vi IIl0 leSUS
of sincerity that will be applied to the
General Assembly. Gov. Lowndes'
speeches during the campaign on that
point always left loop-nole for the
tax-dodgers' escape. He was for bill
that was liberal and not too inquisi-
torial. Now, the general public have
been disappointed so often that they
know exactly who is deceiving them,
why and how, and if any fraudulent
office-making scheme is gotten up to
appear to assess property now escaping
taxation, and then don't do so, next
fall and for some time thereafter Gov.
Browns "Yellow- Dogo certainly can
be elected if on the Democratic ticket.
Since our last letter, the following
legislation affecting Frederick County
interests, has been enacted: Mr.. Rouzer
obtained leave to introduce bill to au-
thorize the commissioners of Thur
mont, Frederick County, to issue bonds
to the amount of ST 500 to pay mort
gage upon the town hall.
the Senate bill to require the com
missioners of Frederick County to pay
the burgess and commissioners of Mid
dletown a portion of the franchise tax
paid by institutions of Middletown,
was read a third time in the House,
and passed without dissent. The bill
to provide three police justices in the
city of Frederick, was passed in the
Senate. In the House Mr.. Markell
presented memorial of the Key Mon
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