The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-04-14
MARYLAND LAW
IS VERY COSTLY.
Legislature, lust Adjourned, most Ex-
travagant Since the Civil War.
THE EXPENSES REACH 100000.
Most of the Legislation Was of Par
tisan Nature-No Laws of General
Importance Enacted.


night of last week the most extrava-
CANT Legislature since the civil war
adjourned sine die. Its last act was
the presentation of costly presents to
the Speaker of the House and the
President of the Senate.
Great excitement occurred during
the day over the passage of the Ha-
man bill for the leasing Of the alleged
barren bottoms of the bay for the
purpose of oyster cultivation. This
bill was bitterly opposed by Repre-
sentatives of the tidewater counties.
and when finally passed it had been
amended to exempt most of the coun-
ties where oysters grow and it's friends
say its value as an industrial measure
was destroyed.
The session has been chiefly noted
for the fact that it will exceed all
records for extravaganza, the expenses
having gone up to $200,000 which is
at least $50, 900 in excess of all its pre-
decessors
The Democratic party has been in
complete control of both branches of
the Assembly, and while it has enact
ed considerable amount of legisla-
ton promised in its platform, yet the
session has not been entirely salts
factory to the state leaders from the
fact that a serious difference has
arisen between the legislature and
Governor Warfield over the question
of the regulation of the election fran
chise.
The most important election bill
passed was the constitutional amend
ment, containing the grandfather
clause, and requiring those desiring
to vote to give a reasonable explana-
ton to whatever clause of the Consti-
tuition the election judges may read
to them. This amendment does not
meet with the approval of Governor
Wartield and Acknowledgement w. s.
Bryan is fighting it openly. The
amendment must be approved by "A
| majority OF the voters before it be-.
comes a law, and with the party divi-
| ded on the question of its desirability,
its chances at the polls do not seem
| bright 1t is claimed that the bill
places too much arbitrary power in
the hands of the election officials.
An election bill designed to do away
| with the fOur-judge system and sub
stitute therefor three election Judges,
| was withdrawn after having been in
| troduced, as it was understood that
Governor Warfeld would not sign It.
Another election bill, doing away
with the party designation after the
names of the candidates in several
of the counties in the BLACK Belt
and in the mining districts, was pass
ed. These bills have yet to secure the
approval of the governor.
Some contention exists about the
necessity of the governors signature
to the constitutional amendment. He
will not sign it and those who think
his signature is not necessary may
resort to the courts to compel him to
put the amendment before the people.
Other important legislation was as
follows
A Jim Crow law for passenger
trains and steamboats,: measures fav-
orable to the Wabash railroad the
repeal of the tax ION the income de-
rived from mortgages in Baltimore
city and few of the counties, and
legislation growing out of the great
fire in Baltimore.