Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-01-30
LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATION.
MARYLAND MAY JOIN WITH
SISTER STATES.
wave OF Reform Probing Into Rot
ten Corporation Has
Arrived Here.
BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAIL.
ROAD IN TOLLS.

~~f = AOAA@Os
Unless the signs were all at fault at
tins mornings session of the Leeisla.
ture. Maryland is to join New York
and other probing states in looking
into corporation rottenness; the cor
poration to be the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad, and the cause, the astonish.
Ing report this morning read in the
Senate from General L. Victor BauQh.
man and Senator A. p. German, State
directors in the Washington branch
OF the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
Generally the reading of long re.
port, weighted with figures and legal
piarses, is:dull period in either house
and the reading itself is not calculat-
ed to be impressive. In the Senate
throughout the half hour or more
that this report was being gone over.
there was absolute quiet, nearly every
Senator in his seat, and an intense
impressiyeness in the reading. At
the conclusion the President referred
the report to the Finance Committee.
recommending that prompt action be
taken, and stating that he had re.
celyed numerous communications urg.
ing that the State demand an imme-
dlate accounting, the name of exrert
Accountant Little being suggested.
The sessions Of both houses were of
added interest by reason of the fact
that immediately preceding them in
informal caucus of the Republican
members, at which were present Con.
gressman Mudd and Chairman of the
Republican State Central Committee
Hanna, was held in Room 35, the ma
ture of the subjects under discussion
!afterward being somewhat shrouded
in mystery. 1t is supposed that the
meeting had to do with the directors
report, and that the Republican lead
eTs were on hand to see that their fol-
lowing takes advantage of any capital
that may be made from united Re.
publican stand. Congressman Mudd's
visit may also Lave partial reason
10 the Naval Academy situation, it
being understood that he is OF an in.
quiring turn of mind with regard to
very recent events with which the
court martial has had to do.
The report of the State directors
was almost startling in its nature,
considering how much of the situation
was already public property. 1t
showed most amazing boldness on the
part of the majority stockholders in
tho Baltimore and Ohio railroad, cad
in general the same high handed dis
regard for the rights of the people
which is being brought to light all
over the country in the various in
vestigations now going on. To sum
up a lengthy report in few words,
it is the conviction Nof the States
directors that the road is withholding
absolutely without right or jurisdic-
tion an enormous sum of money, near
ly 81, 600, 900 which belongs in the
treasury of Maryland, and that it is
doing this by the Aimsiest sort of
pretext. The report with exhibits and
vouchers we're about fifty pages long.
Prior to this in the Senate number
of local bill were put upon their third
reading, when Senator Linthicum, of
Baltimore city. greatly delayed mat
ters by taking the floor with inquiries
into the nature of nearly every one.
A Worcester county corporation bill,
favorably reported by the Committee
on Corporations, was the first so de.
Iayed. 4 short debate between the
Baltimore and Worcester Senators re-
suited in postponement of further
action until tomorrow, likewise one
of two other matters of similar char
acter.
A bill last night introduced by SEN
ator Gadd to enable Ihe board of trus-
tees of Annapolis TO regulate the
length and hours of session in the
white schools, with the consent Of
the board of county school commission
ers for Anne Arundel county, and
which was favorably reported this
morning, was made the special order
for tomorrow at ~. 45 in response to
an motion to that effect offered by Mr..
Brewington. of Wicomico. This bill,
when introduced last night by Mr..
Gadd, was accompanied by request
that the rules be suspended and the
measure allowed to go on to its second
reading, since it was very short and
of great Importance. Mr.. Linthicum
objected, stating that this abrogated
locally the State law. Mr.. Gadd did
not see why that should interfere
" ith the bill since Superintendent OF
Public Instruction nj. Bates Stephens
favors it, and il only intends to pro
vide that children too young for a
six hours session may be dismissed
at the end of FIVE hours
The select committee. Messrs. Colds
borough, Brown and Linthicum, ap.
pointed to distribute the message ri
Che Executive. this morning sent in
it's report, which was ordered printed
in the journal.
The Senate went into executive ses-
sion at 1. 80 to consider appointments
of the Governor, after which an ad-
ournment was promptly taken until
noon tomorrow.
The House was in session one hour,
during which the usual routine bust.
ness was transacted, none of which
was of interest either generally or To-
oally. The interest of the day cen :
tered in the Senate. where the report
9f Messrs. German and Baughman
commanded the public attention.
At last nights session of both
| houses little of Importance, save the
introduction Of the local school bill,
already noted. took place. Senate aud
House adjourned before . O'Clock.