The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-03-31
Special Correspondence Baltsno7e County Union.
LETTER FROM ANNAPOLIS.
STATE House, ANNAPOLIS 4 Iso


Asssrs. Editors The last week of the session
Is drawing to close and the conclusion is fast
being forced on those who have observed affairs
here from the beginning In January that in
many respects this has been one Of the most
corrupt and venal meetings of the General As
sembly held in recent years. To quote the
language of one of the most prominent Demo-
cratic Senators, 1T has been corporation ridden
from the first day up to the present time and
the people have been left out of consideration
in nearly everything that has been done. The
reduction IN the price of gas in Baltimore city
has been wrung from an unwilling majority,
and only the strong influence of the Governor
has brought that about. In all other respects
the corporations have had their way and the
whole session has been passed granting priv
ileges to corporations or preventing restrictions
on their power In the interest of the people"
Tho Senator, in what he said, did not overstate
the truth, and the record of the Democratic
party, notwithstanding its pledges made before
the election. has not improved over the old days
at Annapolis when the disreputable ring was in
full and undisputed control. Franchises have
been sold to the highest bidder, corporation at
torneys have had their own way and the public
business has been subordinated In all respects
to the greed of the members and those who con-
trolled their votes.
While passing these restrictions, it is but fair
to say that some of the members have done
nothing to deserve criticism, but on the con-
trary have worked well and conscientiously
for the welfare Of the State In general and Of
their constituents in particular; and it ought to
be matter of satisfaction to the people of Bal
timore county, irrespective of party, that among
the best class were to be found three of their
representatives in the persons of Senator Hub
.aer and Delegates 0houtc and Stewart. These
gentlemen have in every particular measured
up to the highest standard in what they have
done. They have been found voting on the
honest and fairest side of every important ques-
ton and no faint of Doodle can be attached to
them in regard to any of their acts. In fact
they have at all times been against the Doodle
side of every question and have carefully voted
on the popular side of every bill or resolution.
Corporate and partisan influences have been
unable to reach them, and their votes have been
entered in the interest of the taxpayers and the
general public in every roll call on the journal.
In committee and on the floor Messrs. Hubner,
Choate and Stewart have at all times done what
they could In behalf of decent administration,
and it would have been better for the Demo-
cratic party had their example been followed by
more of the members.
All the bills affecting the county which have
not been passed and which the delegation wish
to pass the members say will be acted upon
before the closing hours next Monday night
They express much satisfaction at the ease and
harmony with which they have been able to
work together during the entire session, and
say that they have no doubt but that the local
laws enacted will prove of much benefit to the
taxpayers of the county and that their work
Will be approved by their constituents.
The men who will leave Annapolis next week
with regulations lower than when they came
here in January are the two eminent leaders of
the lobby, namely State Treasurer Vandiver
and ex-Comptroller Marion de Kalb Smith.
Very few men stood higher in the esteem of the
members of their party than these men, and as
leaders of the Democracy they had the conf
dence of every Democrat Now the contrary is
the case. They have used their personal and
political influence during this session in behalf
of all sorts of questionable bills, and have dis
credited their party, with every decent citizen
who understands such matters, from one end of
the State to the other and particularly in Balti-
more city. Week after week they used all their
power to defeat the gas bill and it owing to
their work that that just measure did not be-
come law with the one dollar clause left intact.
just as it passed the Senate several weeks ago.
That they failed in the accomplishment of their
nefarious purpose was the result of the public
indignation aroused, which caused Governor
Smith to take hold of the affair and force the
unwilling majority to comply with the public
demand. He wrung a sullen consent from the
members on the ground of party expediency.
The smirch, however, will remain on the record
of the party which has Mr.. Vandver for its
chairman and which has made him State Treas
urer. Mr.. Vandiver can neverrecover from the
effects of his course here, and that such course