Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-03-15
Editorial Correspondence ofhe Beacon.
Letter From Baltimore.
BALrIMoRE, March IL, 1900

BALTIMORE, March 10, 1900
The feature OF the past week at An
napolis has been the battle royal waged
by legal giants over the Telephone Con-
duit Bill. In the first round Bernard
Carter appeared for the Company and
Mayor Hayes against it, The Mayor
was outclassed and was worsted in the
encounter. Mr.. Carter showed from
Senate Journal Of 1892, page 5O4 that
Mayor. then Senator Hayes, inserted
into the Telephone-conduit bill the para
eragh which he now so strenuously con-
dennis and denounces and earnestly
seeks to repeal. His honor the Mayor,
could not deny the record evidence, and
didn't do it. Two days later, however,
another Richmond entered the field in
the person of Ex-Governor, now City
Solicitor VIM Pinkney Whyte. The
Ex-Governor is "agin" the Company
too, and, anyone who heard him In bis
debate with Mr.. Carter, could not but
be astonished at the yigor, energy, alert
ness and force Of the "old man eloquent
He began his speech at about IL p. m.
and the hearing continued until 2 a. M
The Ex-Governor made q powerful ar
gument for the repeal OF the law and
drew distinction between a contract
and grant A contract, he said, the
Legislature could not impair, while a
grant was revokable at the pleasure OF
the State" He astutely and forcibly
argued that Chapter 200, Acts OF 1892
was not a contract, but a grant, and that
no additional force or sacredncss attach
ed to il because the Act had been repro
duced and reafflrmed in the City Char.
ter. In his reply to the Ex-Governor
Mr.. Carter did not shine as in his debate
with the Mayor, but the Governor can
not be said to have played high low
lack" on him. Mr.. Garter had one great
advantage over his opponent, in that be
thoroughly understood his subject, hay'
ing but recently studied it in all It's
phases for the case he argued and won
before the Court of Appeals.
Next to the telephone bill, that pro-
viding for the reduction in the price OF
gas attracts the most attention. This
measure is now hanging fire in the House
Corporations Committee, which gave q
special hearing TO the counsel for the
company Thursday afternoon and will
give Mr. Bryan an opportunity TO reply
next Tuesday.
The gas people promised to spring
surprise upon the opponents OF the meas.
ure, and they kept their word. They
now agree to give to the city all over !
per cent. dividend after paying fixed
charges and providing for the redemp
ton Of their bonds, and arc willing to
let the Court OF Appeals decide whether
they are carrying out their contract,
Senator Bryan was not quite prepared
to answer this proposition, and so an
other hearing will be had on Tuesday
The bill has had one reading in the
House and report by the Committee
will constitute its second
The session is now on its home stretch
and bills are being rushed in. 1t is said
that over 500 bills have been introduced
in the House, most Of them Of a local
character. Mr.. Walsh, Of Carroll, holds,
think, the record for having introduced
the most bills No new bills can be in
troduced within the ten days preceding
the end of the session
The Baltimore Sunday 1a,erieaH says
that in the Fifth District President Hub
ner and Senators Peter, Of Howard, and
Williams, of Anne Arundel, are being
doomed for Congressional nomination
by their respective friends
Chairman Schyrock has decided to
call meeting of the Republican State
Central Committee for April 10th, prox
imo.
The General Oyster Law is nearly pre-
pared and will be submitted to the Joint
Committee for its approval
There is some talk of a reduction in
the State tax of u cents, making 10
cents instead of 179 as at present.
The Sunday law for Baltimore city
with the referendum attached seems to
be likely to pass The proposed refer
endum will entail no cost beyond the ex-
ira printing on the regular ballot
If present plans are not changed the
Democratic Convention to nominate
Congressman and select delegates to the
National Convention that meets at Kan
sas City, July 4, will be held some time
in May. F. V. KING.
Charles r. Lewis. the one time wealthy