Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1900-03-22
Annapolis as She Is.

writer has spent the major part of his time
at Annapolis since the irst of February
A pen picture of the Capitol and those
who enact some more or less prominent parts
in the legislative drama, now approaching
the final curtain fall as 1t has fallen upon
our visual and mental rotinae.
To bird poised over the State House,
Annapolis has the appearance of wheel, of
which the SAID State House is the hub, the
streets the spokes and water, brackish tide
water, about seven Fights of the rim. Some
of the spokes seem to have been snapped off
before reaching the rim and these are guyed
to perfect one nearby, by chord connect
ing them.
The State House occupies the highest
| ground and the city begins at n point every.
where about 300 feet distant that is, a circle
800 to 900 feet IN diameter surrounds the
Capitol and from the circumference of this
the streets begin, running from centre, the
centre of the rotunda of the State House.
This general plan is suggestive, as turning
upon or within this centre are uhsels and
WHEELS and WHEELS.
The dgnifed not to say sedate body-that
is when visited after having looked on at the
House proceedings Not that the House is
unruly under Speaker Wilkinson; it is far
from that, and as the popular house in State
legislatures goes, it is probably as decorus as
any and to our certain knowledge much more
SO than many.
Mr.. Wilkinson is not only a thorough
master of the rules of the House, but he is
prompt and clearheaded in his rulings; we
have seen him disentangle several parliament
tary knots that had become too intricate for
the House and he did 1t readily and came
out with a straight and unknotted thread of
procedure. We are of the opinion that he
is partisan, but his partsansm has never
yet compromised him as presiding officer
of the body As American politics are or
ganized, he not only enjoys the right, but is
expected TO be chargeable with the former;
as TO the latter he must rely upon his ability
as a tactician,
There are many things to admire and some
to condemn, rs we have seen 1t from the
outside The mOdesty of the really strong
members; their sense of the propriety OF
claiming attention only when there is real
occasion for ii: their evident dstaste for
frequent demand for recognition-thesc are
among the things to admire: on the other
hand, there are those who place their hands
upon the arms of their chars upon the occa-
sion of every motion, every introduction OF
order or resolution, that they may he the
more promptly enabled to rise and say mir.
Speaker" they almost invariably carp or
object or "want to know" these bring about
Il condition of irreverence for the majesty of
the body.
The absence of bitter partisan reference
upon the part of either the majority or min
ority is pleasing and credtable feature and
| the proof thus far given Of purpose not to
Dust honestly elected men is an honor to the
! body. In one contested election case the
republican minority. convinced that their
contestant nad not been elected so voted and
in the second case the majority finding that
the case against Mr.. MerriCk Of Montgomery
county was not of proper merit and strength
| it has been quietly killed by the Elections
committee these are things to admire, but
the unfortunate, the senseless deposition on
the part Of few men from Baltimore City
and somewhat larger number from the
counties to keep up policy Of constant
nagging, the one at the other, is absurd, it is
worse-t Is wrong we can see wherein &C.
casionaly the interests Of the city and that
| portion of the State outside the city, may
come INTO conflict, but those occasions would
be the exceptions and would be few, but
| there are those who draw the line Oh every
occasion and always manage to do it in a
style that nettIes If it does not anger the
other. This, in our judgment, is not only
wrong, but it is childish, without warrant
and wholly beneath the dignity of the posi-
ton. This is thus far chargeable to the
| House as in the Senate but a shadow Of
this antagonism has made its appearance.
AS to our Frederick county delegation, in
both houses, we believe we are not only sin
cere but right, when we affirm that they
compare favorably-very favorably with
the average; there are many who claim more
attention on the floor of the two houses, but
there are few who sccurs more respectful
attention.
The oldest member is Mr. Lakin and the
youngest is Mr. Buckley Of this county, The
most learned and probably the strong est man
! In the House is Mr.. Knott; Mr.. Pattison is
probably the most fluent; Mr.. Blggs the most
logical and convincing, Mr.. Walbach the most
| tlorid and rhet oric, Mr.. Waller the most
syntactically precise, Mr.. Stewart the most
scrupulously fair, Mr.. Sanford the most
charmingy impressive, Mr.. Buckley the most
poetic, Mr.. Sattertield the wittiest and MIR.
Wolfe the most frequent. Mr.Waters enjoys
the name Of being one of the most efficient
of commit teemcn and among the stronger
men on the hocr of the House. No Freder-
lex County man here has any occasion to
apologize for having sent MIR. Rohrhack to
the Senate; he equals in capacity and cxccls
in courage the best of them; during his sec
ond term he will assuredly hold prominent
place in that body.
The clock is the worst used institution In
the State House, for despite its evident hon
esty of purpose, the time it marks is always
subject to influences that 1t cannot control
we have seen it note the time rs being l;5'
a. M. and two minutes later find it naming
l1:50 as the hour.
THE space at our command will permit