The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-02-06
COSTS MARYLAND DEAR
The General Assembly Grows nore
Expensive With Each Bien-
NAL Session.
OUTLAY REACHES THE SUN OF Sl45,OOO
Demand Now Made For Greater Salary,
Even Though An Increase in the
Number of Legislators is Not a Great
Way Of
Especial to The Republican

STATE House, ANNAPOLIS, Feb. 3.
The present session of the Legisla
ture will be the most expensive in the
history of that body. The increase
of four in the membership, with mil
cage and stationery, will mean an ad
dition of about $2500.
And yet this session will be less ex-
pensive than any to come, as in 1904
there will be another increase of six
members in the House and of one
Senator, making another increase of
about $4,000.
The last regular session of the Gen
eral Assembly cost the State $780,
S5S.47 The extra session, not includ-
ing the new census and other ex-
penses created by it, cost about
$4,000. This General Assembly will
cost between $4,000 and $145,0OO.
The actual days of the session will
be IS. Placing the entire session at
$145,O 200 the cost of each day will be
$2O75
The general complaint is that the
salaries paid members are far too
small 1t is fact that all of the sal
aries of the members in most cases
are spent in living expenses.
The Southern Maryland Democrats
in the Legislature are greatly exer-
cised over the proposed gerrymander
of the six Congressional districts and
are fearful that certain changes will
be made in the Fifth district by which
it will become hopelessly Republican
and all the advantages of the Election
law be lost to them.
There has been talk of transferring
Howard country from the Fifth to
the Second district and replacing it
with two Republican wards of Balti-
more city.
This proposition Southern Mary
land Legislators will resist. 1t it con-
tended that no change is needed or
desired in the Fifth district and that
certain amendments to the Election
law will make it possible for them to
carry the district at the next Con-
gressional election, without the ma
neuvering and manipulation to which
they resorted last November.
Robert W. Wells, of Prince Georges
county, Democratic leader in that
part of the State, says: 1--WE want no
change in our district, and Southern
Maryland will oppose any plan that
will take away the benefits which
will accrue to us by a fair execution
of the Election law"
The Congressional eapportionment
is absolutely necessary under Fed
eral statute, but the bill marking the
boundaries of the districts promises
to excite great deal of discussion.
1t will be apt to receive the close at
tention of Isaac Lobe Straus, the only
out and out anti-organization Demo
GRAFT in the Legislature, who. accord
ing to popular opinion, has Congress
sional aspiration and who will seek a
Democratic nomination without the
aid, advice, assistance OF consent of
the Democratic managers.
He entered the field against J. F. G..
Talbot, former Congressman in the
Second district, two years ago, and,
although defeated, he does not seem
to be disheartened.
The session is beginning to liven up
and the probabilities are that this
week will see more real business done
than during the four weeks which
have already passed.
The boodlers are here in force at
last, and the old-time Democratic
ring Doodle bills are pouring into
both houses, SO that the Statesmen
who have succeeded the former mem
bers of the Rasin ring, most of whom
have gone to their final account, are
smiling blandlv at the prospect of a
rich harvest from the corporations
and other financial interests at which
these bills are aimed. These people
have taken up the work where it was
left off after the Democratic defeat of
1895 and are following the same tao
tics which not only brought great
odium on their party but made the
biennial sessions at Annapolis a by
word of scorn and reproach to all de-
cent citizens of Maryland. They have
learned nothing from their former
disastrous defeats, and when the re-
spectacle people of the State, regard
less of party, find out that the old
ring, while it may be somewhat
changed as to its personnel, is really
the same in lack of principle and de-
cency, they will punish them again