The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-01-04
THE MARYLAND LEGISLATURE.

Baltimore San, Wednesday.
Among the gifts which the brand-new year
brings MS is the brand-new Legislature which
holds its first session at Annapolis today. 1t
would be pleasing to picture the new Assembly
as the poets sometimes picture the new year
as beautiful infant sweet in its innocence
and guileless. Legislatures are composed for
the most part of politicians, and, although
some of them are, like Alb Sing, childlike and
bland in appearance, they generally know the
little game they are playing as thoroughly as
did the distinguished heather Chinee that in
which he took hand. But they sometimes
Overreach themselves by having too many
cards up their sleeves, with the result that the
people see to it that subsequent proceedings
interest them no more by ruling them out of
future political games. This fear OF hereafter
often exerts wholesome moral effect and we
venture to express the hope that it may not be
without its influence upon those members of
the Legislature who may be inclined to bend
all their energies to the promotion of private
interests. The Legislature was not assembled
to execute the commands of any clique, but to
serve the people of Maryland. 1t WILDE called
upon to consider many important and difficult
questions, and its work will be watched criti-
cally and keenly in every part of the State.
With no disposition to pass judgment upon it
in advance, the public is at the same time not
disposed to say at the beginning of the legisla-
tive feast the old-fashioned grace before meat
For what we are about to receive the Lord
make us truly thankful" The prayeris rather
''for what we are about to get in the neck the
Lord give us strength and endurance"
This attitude of resignation should not make
ambitious legislators too presumptuous, how
ever. Even that patient worm, the public,
will turn at last, just as the Democratic donkey
has been known, occasionally, to kick some OF
its best friends. All of which suggests that
the infant Assembly at Annapolis should &c
slow and should try to be as wise as the snakes
that abound in that latitude during its sessions
even if it cannot be quite as harmless as the
proverbial dove Among the subjects which
the Legislature will be called upon to consider
are number ofgreat importance to Baltimore
not the least of which are necessary amend
ments of the City Charter. With these latter
the members of the city delegation are familiar
and it may be assumed that they are competent
to deal with them. Outside interference oil
dictation should not be tolerated in this matter
which concerns the city alone and which be
longs naturally to the jurisdiction of the city's
Senators and Delegates.
We wish the new legislative baby good luck
and good behavior. 1t has not got to cut it:
eye teeth or any others, except, perhaps, it:
wisdom teeth, but it has its race to run and it:
record to make. 1t has great opportunity
before 1.-THE question is, what will it do with
it? The pages of its journal. like those of thu
new year, are white and unwritten. Witt
what will it fill them. Will it write itsel
down knavish or asinine, or public-spiriteC
and patriotic? Will lit rise to the higher levels
| of legislation or rival the Assembly of two
1 s1PPI0priating the public fund9that it receive
a public vote of thanks for leaving the Stat
House at Annapolis behind it when it departe
from the Ancient City
Time will show and the people will avail
| the event with suph rom poeurp q thew m q u
In the meantime we wish the young Legisla
tive innocent" very happy new year and
safe deliverance from the many perils that Ii
in wait for its .guileess'' soul.