The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-05-05

II
not besubjected to any such charge. As
presiding officer of the House I am more
familiar with its action than that of the
Senate. The two measures before that
body that were generally supposed to be
backed by lobby influences were the Tele-
phone and Gas bills. 1t may be true that
there was strong lobby in Annapolis
fighting both of these bills. If it was
true, then 1 hold that the action of the
House in passing both bills by practical
ly unanimous vote furnishes the very
strongest evidence that could be had of
the honesty of its members. IF the use
Of an unlimited amount of money made
no more impression than it seemed to in
the House of Delegates it must have been
because the members were honest and un-
approachable. There were only four votes
cast against the Telephone bill in the
House and seven against the Gas bill.
The State Auditor bill was passed by
both House and Senate There was not
bill before the House of Delegates that
there was any reason to believe had the
lobby back of it that majority of the
members of that body wore not found on
the opposite side,
STATE s INTERESTS PROTECTED.
"There has never been session where
safely guarded than the one just closed.
The State Treasury has been protected as
never before. With General Latrobe as
chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mittee of the House and Senator Crothers
chairman of the Finance Committee of the
Senate, every bill appropriating money
has been carefully scanned, and we chal-
lenge any man to show a cleaner record at
any former session than the one made by
these two committees. The presiding
officers of both houses looked so carefully
after the legislative expenses that they
were about $40, 900 less than last session.
There were over 300 more bills introduced
at this session than ever before, and yet,
notwithstanding this large increase, every
bill was considered and passed upon with
a less force of employees, and the last night
of the session two or three hours before
the time to adjourn there was not single
bill upon the files. At previous sessions
the last day saw hundreds of bills left
upon the files without action and many of
the most important bills hastily considered.
In the past, charges have been frequently
made that parties interested in the passage
of certain bills were compelled to pay lib
orally to have them brought from the
files. l challenge any man to point to
one single instance when anyone, rich or
poor, high or low, had to pay one penny
for such service during the last session.
With the great care exercised in appro-
priating the peoples money and keeping
down legislative expenses what room have
our critics to condemn us as they have?
THE SUNDAY LAW
"When we think Of the great mass of
legislation thrown into the House for its
consideration it would be rather singular
if some few bad laws had not slipped
through, and yet our critics have thus
far failed to mention one instance of this
kind Our sins seem to have been those
of omission. We failed to pass certain
legislation that some of them thought ex-
tremely desirable. The chief thing many
seem to criticise us for is the failure of
the Sunday law. Now, this bill was
passed by the House and met its defeat in
the Senate. When we consider the forces
arrayed against this bill and remember
that they consisted of the ministers and
the greater part of the church people in
Baltimore who certainly had no money to
use in defeating the bill, it is quite anus
ing to hear members instrumental in its
defeat characterized as being corrupt when
they must have acted from the very high
est moral influences. 1t would seem that
in this case at least they were entirely too
good to suit the critics.
LIST OF BILLS PASSED.
''There were no great overshadowing
public questions presenting themselves for
settlement at the last session Police re-
organization was promised by our party
platform and the Reform League bills
were passed at the very beginning of the
session. Minority representation upon the
school boards throughout the State was
fixed by law We reduced the price Of
gas II per cent. to the people of Balti-
more Among bills of general importance
passed at this session may be mentioned:
The State Auditors bill.
The State Board of Charities.
Anti Lobbying bill.
Providing public buildings in Annapo-
lis.
Decreasing tax rate to II cents for
1902.
Giving Supreme Bench of Baltimore
city control of naturalization.
To prevent fraud in sales in bulk.
To regulate the sale of oleomargarine.
Bicycle Sidepath bill.
Abolishing toll on bicycles
State Lunacy law.
Making it a crime for administrator,
etc., to misappropriate money.
To provide for State Superintendent of
Public Education
General Oyster law.
To prevent fraud in sale of sterling sill
| yer.
s'Among the bills passed at this session
in which the people of Baltimore were
specially interested may be mentioned
Reduction of gas to s1.10.
Reorganization Of Police Board.
Board of Police Examiners.
Free transfers on street railways.
Chattel Loan BILL
One Senator and six additional mem
bers of the House.
Three fourths of club licenses.
Amending Baltimore city charter.
Increasing police force of city.
Increasing powers Of Appeal Tax Court.
Providing pension fund for retired po-
hcemen.
Five-million loan for paving purposes.
Johns Hopkins bill.