The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-23
TREAT BALTIMORE FAIRLY.

county members Oh CIlo Legislature
would not be amiss, and they will be
pointed too. What we wish to talk
to them about, is in regard to some
local legislation asked for by the peo-
pie of Baltimore through their repre-
sentatives now at Annapolis. AT the
beginning of the present session an
effort was made by the partisan
press to engender a feeling between
the county and city, and this has
been nursed along, with great solicit
tude, by a paper in Baltimore, for the
political capital which can be made
out of it. Again and again this
blatant organ has proclaimed and
heralded that the threatened split
was near at hand and SO persistently
has this been held forth that some of
the county members have half be-
lieved that they were held in utter
contempt by their city brethren and
have on several occasions voted
against local city measures purely on
these grounds. 1t may be we'll to in
terject that these votes have been
cast favorable to the interest of the
lobby on third house and has given
rise to many unpleasant rumors. We
do not believe that there are many
members of the Legislature who will
sell their votes and despite Mayor
Hayes wild utterances we feel sure
that the calibre of our present body
is on higher order of honestly than
some of the ones that his Honor has
been better acquainted with. The
Mayors silly charging against thin
air has undoubtedly done more to
widen the breech between the coun-
ties and city than anything else.
But let us return. There is now
but little time before adjournment
and in that time Baltimore has three
important measures she wants passed.
The telephone bill is out of the woods
80 to speak. There is safe majority
in favor Of it. AS to the gas bill there
can be no question as to what is best.
Let Baltimore have it. From the
time whereof the memory of man
runneth not to the contrary gas legis-
lation has always been bone of con-
tention. The people are tired and
sick Of the charges and intimations
brought forth every time the bill
hobs up. Last fall it was an issue i'll
the campaign am dollar gas was
promised, now let the promise be full
filled. As to the Sunday law, let
the people of Baltimore have their
own way. If a majority of the dele
gates favor the Sanford bill, vote for
it, and if it is wrong no odium can be
attached to any county for giving the
metropolis her own way. Again we
urge-ler the Baltimore city delega-
ton have its own way in purely local
matters. 1t is nothing but q recogniz-
ed courtesy due from one section of
the State to another and there is no
reason why it should be violated.
MIR. HAMAN'S OYSTER BILL.
Mr.. b. Howard Hannah, has present
ed to the Legislature a bill, for the
leasing of oyster beds, which he has
had under consideration for several
years. 1t is practically the same
measure which he has discussed at
Darlington and elsewhere in this
county, except the present bill does
not give the money to the public
roads. 1t is au excellent idea, and we
hope, will prove practical relief to
stop the depletion of the oyster beds
which is now going on constantly.
The bill provides that all natural
beds or bars shall be excluded from
the operation of the act. Subject to
this qualification the right is given to
any bona fide residents of Maryland
to plant and cultivate oysters upon
any land covered by the waters of
this State.
The bill provides for the Office OF
shellish commissioner of Maryland.
L lC ICIh vi Guc OD1Cc rs 1CuT yours
and the salary 81, 900 per annum. Pro-
vision is also made for the employ
ment OF chief clerk upon salary OF
$1,000 with not more than three ad-
ditional assistants. The commission
er is allowed to employ competent
surveyor, who shall also be a hydro.
graphic engineer, upon salary not
exceeding $4,000.
The commissioner is directed to
prepare set of maps, each map to
represent district of the bay. When
the map OF any one district has been
finished the district shall be declared
open for oyster culture, and appli-
cants who shall be bona fide and re-
sponsible residents of Maryland shall
be given the right to take up land not
exceeding 800 acres to any one person.
The land shall be leased and not sold.
The leases are to run 90 years and the
rental is to be fixed yearly sum, to
be named by the commissioner, not
less than 81 and not more than So per
acre per annum.
Provision is made for clear and
simple set of forms Of conveyance for
leases and assignments Of land to be
used for oyster culture.
Among the general provisions of the
bill the following may be noted an
important. Owners of land border
ing on the bay or it's tributaries are
given the first right to take up oyster
lands adjacent to their property, not
exceeding, however, 300 acres to any
one person. No assignments made to
non-residents are valid, and no per-
son, firms or corporations are per-
mitted to acquire by assignment, or
otherwise, the title of more than 300
acres of oyster land.
The revenue arising from the
operation of the act are to be applied
In the following manner: First to the
payment of all salaries, expenses, out
lays and disbursements authorized by
this act; second, TO the support of the
State fishery force, in so far as the
revenues arising from the general
oyster laws of the State now in force
may be insufficient for that purpose;
third, the balance, if any, to be paid
into the treasury of the State.
la presenting the bill Mr.. Hannah
said:
II. IL L