The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1902-04-05

1uOI0 OOuuJt . hcPTO6CAI6OifOc
Mr.. Painter for the Senate
Good Word for Read
ing Clerk Townsend.
STATE HOUSE. ANNAPOLIS
April ], 1902.
Special to The Union.
The General Assembly closed the session OF !
1902 last night in scenes of more than the usual
tumult and confusion-the last scenes being no
more than Characteristic of what had taken
place within the halls of the State House lOr
the greater part Of the past three months Inc ne
frequently descended before during the session,
on the complete discontinue of the Democratic
bosses, and the last performances, while mega,
tive in their character. were in strict accord
with justice and right and consisted IN tne Qe-
feat Of some OF the pet measures OF me aoni 2,
istration Of Governor Smith, whose influence In
the General Assembly was overthrow and
whose wishes were disregarded and spurned up
to the very minute, almost, when the gayels or
the presiding officers fell for the last time on
their desks.
been beneficial to the people of the State in
more ways than one and in some respects the
work is entitled to the highest praise: The chief
blessing lies in the fact that the DEMOCRATIC
bosses have been thoroughly discredited and
discounted and turned down to an extentneve
dreamed possible. All their pet measures were
turned down by the House and the things they
wanted done have been left undone in every
important particular, while many things to
which they were opposed have gone through,
despite their protests and frantic efforts of hos
tity. 1t is not overstating the facts to say that
for the majority in the House to know that Sen
ator German and the Governor wished a thing
done. would ensure its defeat, while the bare
suspicion that these people. were opposing
measure would bring favorable action without
much delay.
The changes in the election laws. which were
passed. will make that statute one of the best in
the country. and will prevent in the future such
tricks in making up the ballot as were possible
under the law last year. The type under the
present law must be at least one-sixth of an inch
in length, of large plea caps, and the names and
party designations are so regulated that they
will make ballot so clear, simple and distinct
that any man with the slightest degree of sense
and observation will be able to vote without
any very great difficulty. This law, with the
primary election law for Baltimore city, mark
steps far in advance of anything thought posi-
BILE or probable when the session opened and the
bills we're introduced.
visions of the State and to rearrange the legisa-
tive districts of Baltimore city are as fair and
just as the most critical can desire, and are sat
isfactory to all, except the most thoroughly
hide-bound partisan Democrats.
The appropriations, while larger than usual,
are not out of proportion with the increased
needs of the State and its public institutions,
and are not out of accord with the Common
wealth's advance in wealth and prosperity. At
the present time the public institutions are all
crowded beyond their real capacity and some
thing had to be done to amplify their accommo-
datiOns. This is especially the case with the
House of Correction, and one of the best things
in the appropriation bills is the provision which
has for its object the enlargement of the i'm
portant institution at JesSups Cut.
The enlargement of the State House is so
necessary that everyone who has visited here
during the sessions of the General Assembly
wonders why it has not been attended to long
ago. Both the halls for the two houses of the
General Assembly have long been entirely in
adequate for their needs.
There is now no accommodation for the pub
lie and as result, the floors at the very times
such things ought not to be allowed, are crowded
with spectators to the detriment of the public
business and to the decentralization of the mem
bers. The erection of an annex with halls suit
ably arranged with ample galleries for the spec.
tatOrS and accommodations for the increased
membership, will remedy what has long been q
crying evil. The commission to have charge of
the erection of these new buildings Is com posed
of men whose character is guarantee that no
jobs viii be tolerated in their construction.
Sucn men as Juages M mscsnerry ana sc sem
that may be done.
But after all it is not so much what has been
done as what has been prevented, that will make
the session just over memorable in the history
of the State.
The Democratic leaders came down here with
a program which was intended to throttle the
suffrage in Mary and stifie the voice of
large part of the people. Through the combina-
ton ion, OF the Republicans and independents their
brought to naught. Not only this but they
were thwarted in almost everything they
undertook by the same combination in the
House. To Mr.. Stratus and the members who
! backed him the people of the State owe debt
which it will be hard to repay; They fought
noble and manly fight for decent laws and
against the Vaccinations of the ring, and the
victory they won will have it's effect for a long
p6rlOu VI years 10 COI06. ftdQ II 0OL Oeel Tor
them the Democratic ring would have passed
laws which would have given the rascals long
lease of power, perhaps for years. That the
victors are elated is not to be wondered at, and
that the schemers against the people of the
State are crashing their teeth in rage at their
defeat and discontinue is not surprising. The
latter crowd, from the Governor and Mr.. Cor
man down, are crushed and woebegone, for they
see the end of their long sway of corruption and
rottenness. Their defeat in 1895 was only par
tial, their defeat now is the forerunner of their
ultimate political destruction: The people
thought they had reformed and trusted them
agan-now they are unmasked, they will trust
them no more, and short time will see the en-
tire crowd disappear into the oblivion they so
richly deserve. They have fattened on a de-
ceived and credulous people for long time
but taelr lease OF power is now drawing to
Your correspondent wishes here to acknowl-
edge his indebtedness to the county representa-
tiyes during the past three months. All, from
Baltimore county, have done everythingin their
power to aid in securing the news to be given to
week to week. as it was the only county paper
which bad regular representative here These
gentlemen have never taken offense at any criti-
csm, even where your correspondent differed
from them. They admit that to THE UNION is
due the fact that several bills, which were OBJ
Jectiona3le to large proportion of the tax
have at all times been amenable to public opin-
ion as expressed through THE UNION, notwith-
tlemen have all stood well with their colleagues
and have won the personal esteem of all. This
is especially the case With Mr.. Hubner, who has
maintained firm stand against all bills about
which there was any doubt To him is due the
defeat of the bill to increase the number of
County Commissioners, and the bill to change
the character of applications for license so as to
allow voters instead of taxpayers to sign the
applications. AS representatives of the tax
payers Mr.. Hubner and Mr. Painter both deserve
credit. AS partisans they have stood with their
party, but in other respects their records are as
clean as the most critical could desire.
Among the employees Mr.. Townsend, as q
veteran of many sessions, deserves mention.
Whatever may be said of him as politician, no
man around the State House was more popular
than the genial Reading Clerk who was greatly
liked by all Republicans and Democrats, with
out exception. Many an item of news of county
interest your correspondent owes to his kindly
thoughtfulness and whatever may be his faults,
his virtues are not few and will be held in re-
membrance long after what may be objection
able is forgotten. An acquaintance and friend
ship lasting through many long years renders
the privilege of giving to him this public tribute
an especial pleasure. He is one of the institu-
tlons OF the Democratic party organization and
whatever honors he has received from his party
are no more than his due.
1t is understood that Mr.. Painter has decided
to be candidate for the Democratic nomina-
ton for the State Senate next year When
asked about it Mr.. Painter himself confirmed
the report.
The change in the lines of the Second Con-
gressional district seems to be satisfactory to
the politicians of both parties. Mr.. Talbot and
Mr.. Mudd are said to have agreed upon the
change, far as it affected their respective dis
tricts, and united to put the matter through
both houses. PAUL WINCHESTER.