The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-02-21
STATE OF MARYLAND,
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT..
WHEREAS, in view of errors believed
to exist in the enumeration in the re-
cent United States census of the pop
ulation of this State, which errors, if
not corrected by an enumeration
made under State authority, will give
TO some sections of the State dispro-
portionate representation in the
House of Delegates; and
WHEREAS. in view of the urgent
necessity OF immediate legislation re-
forming manifest and great abuses in
the election law of this State, and
also of legislation comforting addi-
tional power upon the Mayor and City
Council of Baltimore, the immediate
exercise of which is imperatively de-
manded by due regard to the pre-
servation of the sanitary condition of
the city of Baltimore, an extraordinary
occasion exists for a special session of
the General Assembly:
Now, therefore, /, John Walter
Smith, Governor of Maryland, by
virtue of the authority conferred and
duty imposed upon me by the Con
stitution, do hereby call a special ses-
sion of the General Assembly to con
slider and act upon such measures;
said session to begin at noon on
Wednesday, the sixth day of March,
in the year nineteen hundred and one,
to be held at the city of Annapolis.
Given under my hand and the Great
Seal of Maryland, done at the city of
Annapolis, this thirteenth day of Feb
ruary, in the year of our Lord, one
thousand nine hundred and one, and
of the independence of the United
States the one hundred and twenty
fifth.
Signed JOHN WALTER SMITH.
BY the Governor.
WILFRED BATEMAN,
Secretary of State.
After two months consideration
Governor Smith has decided to con-
vene the General Assembly in extra
ordinary session..
The call was issued Wednesday
night, the proclamation being given
to the press by His Excellency at his
office in the Merchants Bank Build
ing.
The time set for the Legislature to
convene is noon on Wednesday, March
6. By virtue of the limitation laid
down in the Constitution. it must ad-
iourn 30 days from that date, but it
is hoped the work will be completed
before that time. The purpose of the
meeting is set out in the proclama-
ton to be to provide for
a State enumeration:
Amendments to the election law, by
which corruption shall be made more
difficult;
Legislation to enable the City of
Baltimore to construct a sewerage
system.
In addition to the proclamation
Governor Smith gave out statement
of his reasons for calling the Legisla-
ture together They include
A belief that the Federal census is
incorrect
A belief that the pres emf election
law encourages bribery;
A belief that the registration law
permits persons who have no legal
residence in the State to come here to
vote, and
The urgency for the construction of
a sewerage system in Baltimore city.
In addition, the Governor states
that ordinary current legislation will
not be considered by the General
Assembly.
The Governors statement in full
follows:
40 the People of Maryland:-After
mature elaboration | have decided
that it is my duty to call special SEES
sion of the Legislature.
I'm my judgment upon a careful
review of the situation, an extrordi-
nary occasion exists which due re-
gard to the welfare of the State re-
quires me to give to the General AS
sembly an opportunity to consider,
pass upon and provide for.
For some months past urgent APP
peals haye come to me from all parts
of the State to take this step, and /
have sought to ascertain public senti-
ment upon the subject by diligent
and extensive inquiry. The result OF
III lliN lull1 ctbioICs lie
that there is a widespread and uni
versal feeling that there ought to be a
special session.
Considerable opposition has mani
tested itself to the CALL as was to be
expected, but, while this has made il
all the more necessary for me to weigh
the subject with deliberation and
care, it obviously could not relieve me
of the duty of finally deciding the
question for myself under full sense
of my official responsibility. And in
determining to issue the call it is nc
small qualification TO me to feel that
| am sustained by an aroused public
opinion, which, while not entitled to
control my own judgment, yet am
not at liberty to disregard.
Having said this much, | might
perhaps, we'll postpone statement
of the reasons which have influenced
me until in formal and official shape
| can lay them before the General
Assembly in the special message
which / shall send to the two houses
when they convene. But in view Of