The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-03-17
Maryland Legislature.

| FRIDAY-In the Senate among the peti.
| tons offered was one asking for an appropria.
ton of 5000 for the maintenance Of farmers
| institutute, also one for the agricultural de-
| partment of the Maryland Agricultural Col
ledge. Leaves were granted 10 introduce
new bills and favorable reports were made on
| others
| In the House petitions were presented ask
| ing for an appropriation for the farmers in-
stitutes, and leaves granted TO Introduce nu-
merous bills, the referring of bills TO the
| proper committee and adjourned until Mon.
day.
Though both Houses held short sessions
a vast amount of work was done.
MONDAY NIGBT.-The Senate was occupied
| 10 the introduction Of new bills, passing of
Others and general routine business.
In the House the same order was observed.
TUEsDAY.-New bills introduced and re-
fered to proper committees, favorable re-
ports made, DC, was the order Of the day.
Mr.. Beasman's oleomargarine bill caused
much discussion. A resolution asking the
representatives of Maryland in Congress to
support the Grout and Davidson bill, provid-
ing for a tax of ten cents pound on colored
oleomargarine, and one-fourth ofa cent on un-
colored oleomargarine, was ordered engrossed
for third reading, after considerable opposi-
Senators Williams, of Hartford, and Beasman.
spoke in its behalf Senator Beasman stated
that the object Of the bill was to protect the
dairy interest, which was considerable in sew
eral counties of the state. This he believed
was being injured by the constantly increasing
sale of oleomargarine in the city of Baltimore.
The commodity, be said, was eolored in such
a manner that it was almost impossible TO dis
tinguish il from butter, for which it was 10
great extent sold. If the bill before Congress
was passed, he thought that the dairy interests
Of the State would be protected.
During the debate it was stated by Senator
Dodson, of Baltimore. that $50. 900 pounds of
oleomal garine are used monthly in that city,
and he called it 1.-The Butter of the Next Cend
tury."
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Dick, at the
request of the Ministerial Union of Cumber-
land, requiring all persons under age 10 take an
oath before the Clerk of the Circuit Court or
before magistrate by themselves or their
parents or guardians that they are of legal
age, Is years for the female and q Yeas for
the male, before marriage license cen be
issued.
The House had one Of the busiest days of
The session. After the introduction of peti-
tons and new bills work began on the file
and it required the day and night session to
place it in good shape. The various com
miitees are busy and are making favorable
and unfavorable reports, and the Speaker is
having action taken on such bills as ready
to be passed
Rumors having prevailed for some time
that powerful lobby, well heeled, was at
work on the members, a resolution was passed
appointing a special committee with power to
summon persons, &C. Mayor Hayes, of Bal
timore, and some of the newspapers have been
free in these statements, and "a hot time is
anticipated. There are rumors that some
country members have been or are "willing
To he SEEN"
WEDxRspAY.-Both Houses transacted an
immense amount of business, principally in
the offering of new bills and the final passage
OF others.
Mayor Hayes appeared before the commit
tee appointed by the House TO investigate the
charge that there was lobby at work in con-
nection with the Telephone Conduit bill. He
presented Photographic of letter written by
Delegate Samuel H. Hoffacker, of Carroll
county, to his brother in Baltimore, iniima =
ting that cash was floating around. Mr.. Hof-
iacker admitted writing the letter, but de-
clared il was joke. Evidence of Engineer
Phelps and Delegate Real was also taken.
The committee met at night and decided TO
wait until Thursday before making up re
port.
The charg. of a formidable lobby" being
at Annapolis may result in "a tempest in
tea pot.
THURsDAY.-The Senate was occupied most
ly in the introduction of new bills and refer
ring the same to proper committees. A large
number of bills were favorably reported aud
many were passed.
In the House the 81 gas bill for Baltimore
was debated at some length. On the motion
to substitute the bill for the majority report
the vote resulted 81 yeas to AZ nays. The
Carroll county delegates voted as follows =
Mr.. Walsh for the motion, and Messrs. An
derson, Hoffacker and Norris against it. Mr..
Walsh in explaining his vote said that he
in favor of the amendment presented by the
gas company until few days ago, when one
Of the stockholders informed him that the
company had spent $4,000 in Annapolis to
defeat a similar measure pending before a
former session of the Legislature. Since re.
ceiving this information he had experienced
a change of heart, and voted yea on the mo-
ton to substitute the bill for the majority re-
port.
A vast amount of work was done at both
the day and night session of the House.