The times., 1898-01-10
AFTER MASTERS SCALP
Proposition Made TO Legislate Him
Out of Office.
Resolution That Caused a Furor
in Baltimore Political
Circles.

! Baltimore, Jan. 9.-=The hitherto COM
parative placid peacefulness which has
marked the operations of the city
charter commission has just met with
! sudden and unexpected interruption.
! slight gust of personal passion has
swept with momentary disturbance
! through the commissions proceedings.
! 1t was the result of an effort made to
legislate Mayor Master out of office.
! And all on account of Mr.. Schaefer's
! election to the speakership of the
| House of Delegates.
The commission was in session Fri
! day. That was the day on which Mr..
Schaefer was elected There is one dis
| tinguished member of that commission
who had specially watched the trend of
! political affairs in Annapolis during all
the recent hours of their complicated
uncertainty. He was anxiouSiy inter
ested In the possible results, and he
followed every move to learn into what
it would develop. Finally come the an
nouncement "Schaefer has been elect
ed, and his election to the speakership
| means thrust at Independent Demo-
Gratis"
But there. was another frightful
specter which seemed to loom up in the
view of this same distinguished gen
tleman. In the election of Mr.. Schaef-
er he discerned, or rather thought he
diScerned, some other dreadful and
portentous political horoscope He be-
lieved he scented political deal. In
that deal he could picture the possi-
bility of Mr.. Germans reelection TO
the Senate. Such a contingency seemed
to him almost overpowering. OF all
things in the world nothing could be
more hateful than the reelection of
Mr.. German. The most remote posi-
bility of such a thing always fills his
soul with apprehensive horror.
But upon whom should the penalty be
visited? His ingenuity was not long in
determining that question. In his own
mind he resolved to discover the one
whom he believed to be responsible for
the alleged alliance. That man, who
ever he might be, was the one on whom
he hoped to wreak his summary venge-
ance
What course did he pursue? AS a
member of the charter commission he
attempted the embodiment of some
dates in one section of the new char
ter, which. If accepted, would have
been most radical in their sweep. That
particular section is No. IA, and per-
tainS to the date of the election of
mayor under the new charter. AS the
section is now framed no dates are
specified. This gentleman proposed
however, that the section should be
made TO read so that future mayoralty
elections be held on the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in May, begin
ming the same in May. 1898.
Such resolution was introduced by
the said gentleman almost Immediately
after he was apprised of Mr.. Schaefer's
election. He was evidently very much /
exercised, and insisted upon the com
mission taking immediate action.
However, another prominent member
of the commission objected. This OBJ
Jecting member is a well-known Demo
crat. He objected because of the pal
pabie injustice" of such a measure.
Mayor Malster,' he said, has just
been elected to the city executive by a
soodly majority of the people. They
expect him TO serve his full term with
out curtailment. And yet. were this
resolution to prevail, it would Iegislate
Mr. Malster out of Office in less than
six months. Such a totally unwarrant- |
ed procedure would be unprecedented.
There exists no reason for it. On the |
contrary, every reason in the world pro- |
tests against ii. Past history in legis- |
lative and constitutional affairs dis |
closes no example of action half so |
radical. Nor should any such in !
stances be discoverable. To attempt |
TO legislate q man out Of office before |
he has been in power six months re- |
fleets no credit on the men who would |
assent to such a scheme.
Besides this gentleman added, lit |
comes in exceedingly bad taste for this |
commission to take the initiative to- |
wards annihilating its own creator. |
We have been appointed by Mr.. Malster, |
as mayor. TO improvise this charter. |
And yet it is here proposed that we. |
who are his creatures, should under |
take the task of legislating him out |
of existence. Such a proposition is |
wrong. and should never be enter |
tained.
This forcible rebuke was not suf-
ficient however. He was the only one
who could discern the gigantic proper
tions of the imaginary shadow. None
of the others saw the danger. nor did
they understand, even if such dan
ger were existent, why they should
constitute themselves body to VISIT
summary punishment upon one man
whom another suspected of deal. AS
a result they declined to acquiesce in
the suggestion. They refused to be
parties to the decimation of Mr.. Mais-
ter's term.
When the gentleman fully appfe-
hended the attitude of the rest OF the
commission he withdrew his resolution