Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-03-24
THE WEEK IN POLITICS.
CLOSING DAYS OF THE SESS-
ION STRENUOUS.
The 3. & o. Stock Will Be Sold
And The Tax Rate Will
Be Cut Down
MAY BE BY EXTRA SESSION
OF LEGISLATURE.

The r. x 0. investigation has prac.
tlsallg ended and the state is about
| 70 parr with her interest in the Wash
| ington Branch of that great corpora
| tion for the sum Of 81, 500, 600 which is
| just double the sum Offerad for the
| same stock last fall before the meeting
| of the General Assembly.
A great many people here, however.
are convinced that if the investipa
| tiun snould continue beyond the ses.
sion, double this sum would be paid
| for the stock, which is worth more to
the railway company than to any either
interest. But the whole affair has
| taught the people lesson, aud that is
that if their publio servants will only
assert themselves the corporations will
hasten to come TO time. 1t is asserted
that tie deal for the stock is without
conditions, and that the bills here to
compel that company TO pay its just
proportion of taxes will be pressed to
passage without delay.
This has been by far the most excit.
ing week OF the session The House
has been holding three sessions q dav.
aud the members have heen rushed
from morning to night The lobbies
have been filed with corporation at.
torneys and others representing all
sorts of interests, frantically impOr-
tuning the Senators and Delegates to
do or not 10 do certain things, and
while all has been scene of confu-
sion, the work has gone on as rapidlv
as was consistent with a fairly proper
consideration of important affairs
which may result in great good or
great BARN TO the whole people of the
State
The prospect for the passage of the
new general incorporation law is not
bright In fact while the bill, which
is book in itself, was introduced
early n the session it has not vet
been reported from the committee
where it has rested for nearly two
months, and where it has not met
with more than passing consideration.
Tire bill, which was prepared bv a
comm ssion consisting of Stevenson
A. Williams, George X. Willis ard
Inseph ]. Frarce, Esquires, appointed
by Governor John Walter Smith in
1900 contains many radical features
which have aroused decided 0nnosi.
tion ia all sections of the State and es-
pecialiy in the counties The county
people who have examined the bill.
believe that it will initiate against
the small banks and in favor of the
large financial institutions of Balti.
more, aud, therefore, a large number
OF the comfy delegates have openly
expressed their hostility TO the meas.
ure should it be reported it is now
too late to give it careful considera-
ion and all the indications are that
it will be left on the files of unfinished
business when the session finally ad-
Journs on April ?
The general expectation that the sale
of the b. u o. stock and the prospec-
tive sale of the state mortgage on the
Northern Central railway for SO U00.-
600 wiz result in the abolition Of the
whole state tax will probably fail.
While the amount realized from these
two transactions will be So, 900. 600. it
win not do away with the entire state
debt, but will 50 reduce it that with
careful management the, tax can be
probably be abolished or greatly re.
duced by the next General Assembly,
Ut by special session, which could
meet year hence aud take action on
the matter But this session is too
near close for that to be done before
adjournment, and if things can be so
shaped during the present year the
Governor may be induced to call an
extra session next January, when the
whole direct State tax can be wiped
out or at any rate greatly reduced
Whether Governor Warfeld can be
induce ! to take such action is uncer.
tain, hot Treasururer Vaudiver openly
favors il, aud says that ii is the only
way the matter can be satisfactorily
adjusted
The files of both houses have con-
tanned more bills this session than
ever before. but the work has been so
expedited during the past two weeks
that all which ought to pass can be
easily disposed of before the final ad.
| journment one week from next Mon
day night. 1t has been a working ses-
sion throughout and members of beth
| parties have We'd with each other
to prevent delay. 1t seems TO be def.
Bitely understood that no election
| oils Of any sort will be passed. One
| after another have been killed as they
| came from the committees. ADD those
which remain wilt doubtless meet
with the same fate The Democrats
appear to be satisfied with the election
laws as they are. while the RepubIi.
cans have not made any very strenuous
etfoIts TO bring about any change
Tie Crescent Club primary election
| bill was defeated III the House on
Tuesday. Mrn'hsrS ~ t'.t rcaniza-
tion W,.I 9- p" Say that they will
take up ta1 suF .sain aud come be-
fore the next session, when they hope
for success,