The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-02-13
Special Correspondence Balsimors County Union.
LETTER FROM ANNAPOLIS.
STATE HOUSE, ANNAPOLIS, Nd,
February 10, 1904.

LETTER FROM ANNAPOLIS.
STATE HOUSE, ANNAPOLIS, Nd,
February 10, 1904.
Following the fire In Baltimore, the pos
mortem over final settlement of the senatorial
fight has sunk out of sight, but other events Of
more Importance have crowded each other thicl
and fast.
On Monday night bill creating ten days Of
legal holiday in this State was railroaded
through both houses and signed by the Gov
ernor, relief thus being afforded to the crippled
industries of Baltimore and time given them to
recuperate.
Yesterday joint committee from House and
Senate was put on to cooperate with the Board
| of Public Works in determining what assistance
the General Assembly should extend to the
| poor of Baltimore. On the report Of this COM
| mittee $2500O0 will probably be appropriated.
| bill to enable the Mayor and City Council Of
Baltimore to borrow sum not exceeding 81 co.,
| 600 was today, under suspension of the rules,
railroaded through.
Among Senators and Delegates indignation is
intense over the course of Baigadier General
Lawrason Riggs. Senators and members, by the
Generals orders, have had passes signed by the
Governor confscated, and the city delegation
solid is said to have been CURLY refused admis-
sion to Mr.. Riggs Office.
The indignation is the more intense due to
the fact that ladies, accompanied by officers. are
taken all through the ruins, while property
owners and men interested to the extent of
millions are denied admission to Mr.. Riggs
presence inside the fire lines, or once inside are
promptly turned back.
In the House almost the first business that
was taken up. after the opening of the session.
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demning General Riggs. Amendments of great
severity were offered, party lines falling away
in the taking of sides for and against the amend
gate Stump requesting the Governor to remove
the officer was withdrawn after earnest appeals
for moderation; but another calling upon Gen.
eral Riggs to appear before the bar OF the
House tomorrow in his own defense, was passed.
OF course, all the stories told of these cir
cumstances in Baltimore may not be true, but
If General Riggs had any friends here today
they kept silent, only protests against his inn
parchment, without an opportunity being given
for him to defend himself, receiving any con-
sideration whatever.
The House and Senate adjourned for an hour
at 1.3O today after which joint resolutions ask
ing the President to send Federal troops to
Baltimore were passed.
IL Is pointed out budC Cueo6 kuCu are tuOEOuBu-
" familiar with such work and being Differed
by men who are used to authority will not in
terfere with the rights of anyone, within or
without the fire lines.
Delegate Benson, of Baltimore county. made
one of the best speeches heard here this session
in advocating the resolutions of censure of
General Riggs this morning.
A delegation of farmers and scientific men
urging the passage of the good roads bill re-
ceived hearing this afternoon Immediately
after adjournment, before the Committee on
Finance In the Senate and the Committee on
Ways and Means in the House.
Mr.. Samuel M. Shoemaker, of Baltimore
county, addressed the committees first, reading
paper In explanation of the bill.
DR.. Dirickson, of Worcester, followed Mr..
Shoemaker, speaking on the obvious advantages
to result from the measures passage. He spoke
Of the case of his own county where the only
available material for good road building is
oyster shells, which soon wash away. BY means
of State aid stone roads, which last almost in
definitely and which would make possible the
same amount of work at half the expense
would be built.
The request for an appropriation of $2OOOOO
DIR. Dirickson considers in the nature of loan,
which increased taxation would soon pay back.
Mr.. Gibbs, of Prince Georges, who has lived
in Illinois, spoke Of the difference between the
roads here and in his own State. What he said
of the roads in Prince Georges showed that the
counties in Southern Maryland are unable to
build and maintain their own roads without
State aid. In Illinois road and bridge building
devolved, until recently, not on counties but on
towns. To alleviate the nuisance resulting
from this an act was gotten through the Illinois
Legislature permitting the counties to build and
providing them with half the cost of building,
the county to raise the other half.
He went on to advocate strongly this plan
the Carnagie library scheme-and pointed out
its advantages.
Geologist followed, bringing out the fact that
the only counties and the only States which
have progressed in the matter of good roads
have been those where the roads have been
taken up by the State or National government.
France has the best roads in the world, he said.
but that she has such good roads is due to the
work done in the last fifty years by its National
government.
DR.. Clark went on and pointed out that In the
present unscientiic method of making the roads
in Maryland close upon 100000 is being spent
by the counties yearly. Engineers who know
their business are just as necessary for road
making as for bridge or structural erection.
It is more economical and far more expedi-
tious. as proven by the experience Of other
States, to put highway construction under State
control than lose it as 1t is now.
DIR. Clark spoke forcefully and upon finishing
was asked many questions by the members OF
the committees.
Chairman Robinson, of the Senate Finance
Committee, expressed some doubt as to the
Legislature having the constitutional authority
to act in the manner indicated, and when con-
stitutional amendment was suggested, said that
constitutional amendment had to be submitted
to the people at general election, and that the
Presidential election of next year did not count.
Mr.. Hanson, of Howard county, who followed
DR.. Clark, gave the committees the legal aspect
of the bill, defining the power of the General
Assembly and demonstrating that the consti-
tutional amendment could be submitted to the
voters at the Presidential election Of next year.
A favorable report is expected.
On last Thursday Mr.. Benson introduced in
the House bill to amend Section "a Of Article
8 of the Constitution of the State.
On the same day Speaker Everhart. by request,
introduced a bill entitled IAN Act to declare
the sanction and consent Of the Legislature Of
Maryland to certain gifts, grants, sales and
deeds made or about to be made to and for the
eran Church of Catonsville, Baltimore county,
Maryland, and religious corporation duly I'M
corporated. and the vestry Of the German
Lutheran Salem Congregation"
On last Friday Mr.. Benson introduced bill
entitled IAN Act to amend Section Of Article
of the Constitution of this State, and to pro-
vide for the submission of said amendment to
the qualified voters of this State for adoption or
rejection ".
Nor LONG ago a traveller in the rural South
stopped at a wayside hotel for dinner and got
the usual cornbread. bacon and molasses. He
demonstrated and said as he approached the
tavern he heard the cry of partridges and asked
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| this the landlord replied You think II there
were any quail around here that would not
eat them myself2n Now this is what the agri-
culturist every place is doing. The scarcity OF
r~~-. .~oI,,oto haa not hann the result of