The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-24
EXTRA SESSION PROBABLE.

Governor Smith. of MaryIHnd. Re
spousive to Public Sentiment
BALTIMORE. Jan 24-Governor Smith
was approached yesterday regarding the
possibility of his calling an extra ses-
sion of the Legislature and said:
The question of an extra session IS an
important one and have refIa ned from
discussing OF speaking of it for publica-
ton because have not yet concluded
what shall do il the matter The con
stitution places upon me the full re
sponsihility Of issuing the call. In my
judgment no mere question of party eX-
pediency alone would be sufficient justi-
acation for calling an extra session I
shall be governed solely by desire 10
serve the public and advance the welfare
of the State
= nave listened carefully 10 the reasons
| urged upon me for making the cali That
there is a very general sentiment in IA
vor of ii throughout the Sta,e no persons
would doubt If l could show them the
! many letters received by me and could
they listen to the different callers at my
: Office. Most OF my callers and letters
urge an extra session 10 accomplish
either one or all of these things :ssTo
change the ballot law, to secure State
enumeration OF citizens, and to have an
enabling act passed so that Baltimore
city may begin the construction Of
sewerage system
With reference to the first il is con-
! tended that under the present law bribery
can be and is Dracticed more extensively
than under any law We have ever had
/ That the ballot clerk and some provisions
I of the law are simply used as means to
disclose the way a man votes and makes
the buyer certain OF the contamination of
his corrupt transa Ction is certain Those
favoring a change TO tie regular Austria
liam ballot contend that Il will do away
10 a great extent with bribery at
elections They also contend that pro-
vision should be made preventing the IL
literate voters from Southern States that
have recently passed laws preventing
them voting from settling in our midst,
as they are said to be doing in large
numbers
With reference TO a State census 1t is
asserted that the enumeration Just made
under Federal supervision is plainly in
corTct upon the face OF the returns That
Charles. St Marys, and Anne Arundel
counties should have increased. so rapid
~ in population, while such counties as
Hartford. Cecil. and Queen Anne's show a
decrease. strikes them as singular. as
Southern Maryland counties il question
has increased so much out Of proportion
TO the registered vote when compared with
other counties Of the State
1t IS not for me TO say these claims are
not well founded AS the question in
wolves representation in our state Legis-
lature, IL is one in which every citizen
OF the State is especially Interested As
this question has arisen since the ad-
iournment Of the last Legislature and
must be acted upon before the meeting of
the next. they contend the only way to Sc
cure satisfactory settlement IS through
an extra session While ! have listened
carefully TO everything that has been said
to me- on this subject, I have intimated To
no one what my action viii be I shall
certainly not call an extra session with
out ascertaining, as far as possible the
wishes Of the members Of the General AS
senibly, who are best able TO know the
sentiment OF their people"