The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-01-27


ANNAPOLIS. Nd, January 18th. 1906.
Messrs. Edit0Ts;-The proceedings in both
Houses of the Legislature this week have been
very uneventful, as merely routine work has
been done and no important measures have been
before the House or Senate either affecting the
State of Maryland or Baltimore county.
Speaker Benson is making name for himself
as an efficient and capable officer, and it has been
noted on all sides that there has not been
Speaker in years who has learned the ropes Of
the Speakership as soon as he. He is presiding
in an absolutely fair and impartial manner. and
the Republican side is much pleased with the
square deal which they have been getting all
along.
The only measures before the Senate in the
session Of Tuesday night was one introduced by
Senator Foxwell, relating to methods Of assess
ments. This bill was referred to the Committee
on Judicial Proceedings. The other was bill
introduced by Senator Gadd, of Anne Arundel,
entitled IAN act to encourage the further pub
lication Of Riley's History of the General AS
sembly of Maryland This was read for the first
time and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Senator Biddison was absent from this session
but was excused.
In the House all the members from Baltimore
county were present. The journal of Friday
tant subjects were read for the first time and at
o'clock. on motion of Mr.. Brunier, of Balti-
more county, the House adjourned.
Senator Biddison introduced in the Senate on
Wednesday bill authorizing the Treasurer of
Baltimore county to pay to the Highways Com
mission of that county the unemployed surplus
in the treasury for the purpose of repairing the
damage to the public roads by the recent floods
in the county,
A billaffecting Baltimore county was one in
troduced by DIR. r. s. Hill, of Prince Georges
county. in the House Tuesday night. The bill
provides for means and methods for building a
state highway between Baltimore and Washing
ton, passing through Prince Georges. Howard
and Baltimore counties, along the old Baltimore
and Washington road. The work of building
and constructing the road is to be under the
direct control of the State Highways Commits
sion and an appropriation of $4,000 is author
lied. The directors of the House of Correction
must furnish upon demand not more than 100
inmates, who it is proposed will do the work.
The House passed the bill making September
18th legal holiday. This is the first bill passed
by the House at the present session. Mr.. Biddi-
son has introduced similar bill in the Senate.
The chairs made by several boys at the Manual
Training School, located in connection with the
napolis this week. where they won great deal
of praise as specimens Of fine work done. The
chairs are good specimens of early Colonial
work, are made of mahogany and are sent to
Governor warfield, who received them on the
part of the State. These chairs will find prom
inent place in the old State House, where they
viii look very much at home in the oldtime
architecture in which the chamber has been re-
modelled. A number of the Sparrow's Point
boys came to Annapolis on Wednesday with the
chairs and after the presentation were shown
around the State House and Naval Academy and
other points of interest.
Attic reception given Wednesday night to the
members of the Legislature, Mrs. Benson re-
ceived with Mrs. Warfield, wife of the Governor.
The proposed act authorizing the city of Bal
timore to borrow 5000, 600 for the improvement
of its water system is now in the Senate en-
crossing room, and will likely be introduced by
Senator Linthicum. From present indications
the measure is to be given jolt before it leaves
the Senate. Senator Biddison, of Baltimore
county, while anxious to see the city have a
1rst-class water supply, does not look with favor
upon the first section Of the bill, which author
ICES the conversion of the entire valley of the
Gunpowder and its dependencies, or SO much
thereof as may be necessary for the dam above
Loeb Raven to the upper end of the village of
Phoenix, or to such point above as may be
necessary, into a reservoir or basin.
1t is argued by the Baltimore county members
| that such a conversion will mean the taking
from the taxable basis of the county over 81 600,
OOO or $4,000 taxes each year. This would mean,
it is stated, an addition of cents on the 800 to
the present tax rate.
| The members also claim that the basin so taken
will possibly be exempt from taxation, and this
is one of the features which will be strongly OPP
posed, and several of the Senators have promised
| to stand by Mr.. Biddison in his fight. :
A bill prohibiting the Baltimore Commission
ers for Opening Streets or any other authority
! in the city from paving the York road in the
city limits with either macadam or cobble-stoneE
was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday by
| Senator Perkins and in the House by Mr.. White
ford. of the city delegation. Mr.. Whiteford
lives on the York road and will urge the passage
| of the bill. G. ID. r.