The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-02-20
In THE LEGISLATURE.
Politics and Political Questions Now
Have the Right of
Way.
MUCH BUDEL" FLOATING AROUND
Mr.. Finzel Precipitates Hot Debate by
Asking For An Investigation of the
State Normal SehooI-The Resolution
Defeated BY Slight Vote.
[ Special to The Republican.

Politics and political questions are
, coming to the front here as the ses-
sion is growing older, and the indi-
cations are that from now on to the
close party lines will have much to do
with the votes of the members and
large number of questions which may
come up for consideration.
One of the most acrimonious de-
bates of the session took place on
Tuesday over an order introduced by
Dir. FinZel. The order directed that
an examination be made into the
condition of the State Normal School
and named as the committee to make
the investigation Messrs. Straus, of
Baltimore city; Olney, of Worcester
county; Steele, of Cecil county; Biggs,
of Washington county, and Kerr, of
Baltimore city. In Offering the order
and moving its adoption Mr.. Finzel
said he did it in view of the charges
preferred against the normal school
by Mr.. Straus in his speech ON Mon
day night and early in the session
through the Baltimore papers. He
also said that he placed the names of
the committee in the order to relieve
the Speaker from any embarrassment
in regard to the matter.
In moment the House was almost
in an uproar, and Messrs. Straus and
Campbell had lively verbal tilt, in
which several other members took
part. Finally the Democrats got to-
gether and laid the order on the table
by vote of 43 to A. The truth is
the Democrats are afraid to have any
investigation made into the condition
of the normal school, for, while no
one questions the good faith and hon
esty of Prof. Prettyman, the princi-
pal of the institution, everybody
knows that the methods in vogue
there are at least twenty years behind
the times, as Mr.. Straus said in his
speech on the subject. The belief is
general here that the Democrats made
a great mistake in defeating the pro-
posed investigation, for now people
will imagine that the condition in the
normal school is much worse than it
really is; and that something must be
rotten, or else there would be no fear
of legislative inquiry.
The Democrats are totally at sea as
to what to do with the election law.
Senator German and his thick and
thin followers are anxious to make
the law worse than it is at the present
time and are only deferred by the
fear that they cannot whip into line
enough of their own members to pass
the bill through the House. 1t is I'M
derstood, however, that next week
they intend to make the attempt and
if they do interesting times may be
expected for some weeks thereafter.
Mr. Straus has openly said that he
will not go into a caucns and will not
be bound to support any of the
schemes put forth by the bosses. Sen
ator Bryan today told your cores
pendent that he was opposed to any
drastic changes in the election law
and would not enter any caucus to
consider the matter if they should
pass any binding resolutions to gov
ern the members. Other Democrats
are said to hold similar views and if
they stick to them there will proba-
bly, be no changes in the election law
this session, unless they are such as
the Republicans are willing to sup
port.
The lobby has turned out very
strong this week, and, to use the ex-
preston of one of the delegates of last
session, there is said to be much
budel" floating around the State
House. The indications are that at
last the ringing of the bells has been
heard by Baltimore corporations and
they are putting up the cash to de-
feat or pass bills as they may desire.
All sorts of bills are here ON the files
for or against corporate interests and
the probability is that the states
men, of the Third House will reap an
abundant harvest from now ON to the
end of the session. They are hun
grier than usual this winter, and as
they have much influence among the
members, the financiers who have
business here will be obliged to pay
heavily for all they get in the way OF
favorable legislation and much more
for the prevention of legislation hos
tile to their interests.
Mr.. Ashby's bill to prohibit the sale
of whiskey, beer, etc, in the district
outside of Oakland has passed both
houses and now goes to the Governor,
who will doubtless give it his APP
proval. Word was sent down by GER
tain prominent Democrats of Garrett
county to some of their party friends
here to have the bill killed, but the
message did not arrive until too late.
When If reached AnnanOlis tho hill