Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-01-05
WORK CUT OUT FOR SOLONS
Programme Mapped Out For
Coming Session of
Legislature.

most eyentful in the history of the
State, will be attended with unusual in
terest from the beginning on account
of the fact that the law making body
will meet for the first time in the
splendid new legislative halls in the
annex TO the historical State House.
The contractors for the new structure
Henry Smith & Sons, of Baltimore,
deserve the utmost congratulations
for their fine efforts to make the cham
bers ready for occupancy. The rooms
are not finished, but all the money
available has been spent on them and
it is well understood that the State
will be called upon for further ap-
preparation to complete the work.
Much of the work ON the halls of the
Senate and House of Delegates is
temporary in its nature. The floors
and much of the plastering will have
TO be taken up, but the halls are in
condition in which at least, the
bodies can meet Should it be
thought better that little longer time
should be given to get the rooms
thoroughly fit for occupancy, the few
sessions which will be held during the
first month can readily take place in
the old halls, which have been put
in proper shape for sessions.
At noon tomorrow, as directed by
law, the Senate will be called together
by its former secretary, Mr.. Alfred
Ritter, of Frederick county, and will
proceed to the election of its president
and desk officers. The House of Dele
gates will be convened by its chief
clerk, Dr. Benjamin l.. Smith, and the
speaker and desk officers will be elect
ed. No further business will be tran
sacted but an adjournment will be
taken until Monday evening, probably
so as to give the presiding officers
time to select the committees, without
which no real business can be tran
sacted.
The principal officers of the legisla-
tive bodies were practically selected
Monday evening in Baltimore, when
a conference of prominent Democratic
leaders took place. These names will
be presented to the caucus of MEM
bers, which takes place here this even
ing. 1t is certain that Hon.
Spencer g. Jones, of Montgomery
county, will be the president of the
Senate. The selection for speaker
made by the managers is DIR. George
V. Everhart, of Baltimore county.
The selection is not one of any par
ticular strength, however, and it is
possible that the members may refuse
to concur in it. Mr.. William Col
| Inns, of Talbot county, a gentleman OF
much legislative experience, is the
leading candidate for the position.
Anne Arundel county, as usual, has
a part in the distribution of the
pluins. as Mr.. Robert Moss is booked
for the journal clerk in the Senate.
Mr.. Alfred Ritter, of Frederick coun-
ty, will again be secretary, though
this is absolutely contrary toprecedent
as the county was carried by the
Republicans. Mr.. Alfred Almoney,
of Montgomery county, a most capa-
BILE official, will be reelected reading
clerk. DIR. Benjamin l.. Smith, of
Dorchester county, will again be the
chief clerk of the House of Delegates,
and it is generally admitted that the
managers have done well in selecting
that courteous and competent gentle
man for the most trying position made
necessary by a session of the Legisla-
ture. Annapolitans will miss the
genial and capable but somewhat slip
perry Walter Townsend in his accus-
toned position of reading clerk. He
has offended the managers by some
what too great an independence Of
character and been shelved for Hum
prey d. Wolfe, of Howard county.
Llewllyn V. Kerr, of Wicomico coun-
| ty, new man in the position, will
have the trying place of House journal
clerk.
The importane of the present session
can hardly be over estimated. At pres
ent the most widely discussed question
| is that of the selection of a United
| States Senator to succeed Louis Z.
McComas. The leading candidates
are Governor John Walter Smith,
| who claims the position on account OF
his party services, especially the con-
yening of the Legislature in special
session for the passage of the election
| law, which made Democratic success
possible. His chief opponent is the
| brilliant Isidor Rayner, of Baltimore,
whose claims are urged by his many
| friends who declare him to be far the
most fitting selection for the position
| that can be made. The contest be-
| tween these two has developed into a
spirited fight, in which the leaders are
| largely arrayed on the side of Cover
nor Smith, while the friends of Ray
ner claim large support for him from
| the rank and file of the party.
Among the thoughtful men of the
State, however, the question of the
selection of a United States Senator
is not nearly SO grave as that of the
determination of a proper qualification
| for the suffrage. There is no secret OF the
| fact that the Democratic party OF the
State believes that the mass of negro
voters are unfit to exercise the right
of suffrage. They believe that the
sentiment of the State overwhelming
| " endorses this conviction and that
the campaign of last fall was won
upon that issue. Unless some such
measure is passed the Democratic
party can never again make use of
| the negro cry as party slogan, for
with the Epower of eliminating the
negro from politics which they now
possess, they will have refused to dc
| il. Nevertheless there will be op-
position to any plan for the purpose
| from petty politicians, who are not
sincere in raising the negro cry but
really prefer to have the negro in poll
! tics for their own ends.
A determined effort will again be
made to pass the Haman Oyster
Bill, providing for the leasing OF
what is claimed to be barren bottoms.
where oysters can be cultivated. The
sentiment in Anne Arundel is bitterly
against such measure. 1t is held