The Republican., 1898-04-07
THE LEGISLATURE.
Gov. Lowndes' Review of the Work of the
Session.

the work OF the Legislature, expressed
satisfaction that so much had been
accomplished under conditions far
from promising. He had a good word
to say for the Democrats. He consid-
cred that the minority party has been
no small factor in accomplishing much
of the good work.
Among the measures which he was
pleased to enumerate were: The Bal
timore city charter, the bills to fund
the public debt, to sell the Northern
Central Railroad annuity and to pro-
hibit outlaw racing, which latter he
considered one of the best acts of the
session. He regretted the failure of
all the many bills to effect police re-
organization. On this subject he said:
Il am now and have always been in
favor of the principle of minority rep
resentation on school boards, honorary
boards and on the police boards. The
minority representation, l believe, is
balance wheel. l regret that the
Legislature failed to pass measure
of this character, as / consider minor
ity representation to be an advanced
step toward good government. l am
glad that so many good bills passed.
and am equally satisfied that so many
pernicious bills fell by the wayside.
The Republican party desired and did
make arrangements by which the tax
payers would be relieved in the re-
duction of the tax rate. But this de-
sire was defeated by the Democrats. u
The Congressional redistricting bill
was passed the Democrats adhering
to their promse not to filibuster. Del
egate Syester voted with the Republi-
cans.
The bill appropriating $4,000 for
the placing of statues of Charles Car
roll, of Carrollton, and John Hanson
in Statuary Hall, Washington, passed
both Houses. 1t was expected that
the Western Maryland delegates in
the House would endeavor to amend
the bill by substituting the name of
Francis Scott Key for that of John
Hanson. Delegate Chapline, of Fred
erick, realized the purpose of the bill
during the roll call and rose with an
amendment, but was ruled out of Or
der.
The Senate passed the following
House bills: To prohibit the sale of
liquors within two and half miles of
Bloomington, Garrett county; to pro-
vide for the election of Garrett county
school commissioners.
The House passed theseSenate bills:
To defray the expense for the estab-
lishment of the boundary line be-
tween Maryland and West VirgiYia.
To pay to the school commissioners
of Garrett $4,000 out of the school tax;
enabling Garrett county to vote on a
proposition to borrow money to erect
school houses.
The bill appropriating $4,000 for
the erection of an additional State
Normal school in Oakland was
smothered in the committee having
it in charge and in lieu thereof
there was inserted in the general
appropriation bill as it passed both
Houses an item giving like amount
to normal school to be built at Frost
burg. Thus Oakland and Garrett
county is again utterly ignored.
Among the billswhich were enacted
during the closing hours of the session
are the following:
incorporating the Firemen's Union
Fire Association of Garrett county;
to appoint an additional justice of
the peace for'the fourth election dis
trict of Garrett county.
Under the amended constitution
the executive has the power to veto
specific items in appropriation bills.
This power has never been used since
the adoption of the amendment.
Governor Lowndes was asked to veto
an item in the appropriation bill of
this year giving $4,000 to the Frost
burg Normal School. There was a
separate bill providing for the estab-
lishment of this school and making
the appropriation of $4,000, but it
was opposed and Mr.. Campbell, real
izing that it was in jeopardy, inserted
the appropriation in the general bill,
1t is thought that veto of the item
will not be necessary, because the ap-
preparation will be unavailable, as it
is not distinctly set forth in the ap-
preparation who is to receive the
money or how it is to be used. In
other words it is considered inop-
erative.