Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1906-03-16
EXCITING GDAYNLEGISLATURE
HOUSE FIGHTS FOR HOURS
OVER ELECTION BILL
Senate Hears Written Debate On
Lees "Snake Catcher"
Order, And Which
Is Rejected.
DEMOCRATS NO LONGER IN
CONTROL OF HOUSE.

The House met at 3 30 a. m, and
remained in session until late this af-
ternoon, all the time having been de-
voted TO consideration of the Murphy
Election Bill, except a few minutes
at noon which were devoted To wait
ing while the sergeant at arms went
cut to bring in members who were at
tempting TO so away on the l2. 10
train. During the recess the mem hers
sang songs told stories and otherwise
enjoy ell themselves. On the return
of the sergeant. at arms with the mem
bers, the House resumed consideration
of the election bill.
4 combination of the Repu blicau
and certain Democrats controlled the
action of the HOUSE. The Murphy bill
had been brought in with an unfa-
vorable report by the Committee on
Elections, and was substituted for the
report, placed on the second reading
Gle, open to amendment. Several
amendments of a minor character were
adopted 10y the combination and others,
offered by the regular Democrats,
were rejected Roll calls were de-
manded on almost every motion, and
the regulars, in a minority, were de-
feated at every time Speaker Benson
took the floor and made a speech dur
ing the fight, male a motion to post
poue the matter until Monday night.
but his motion was voted down.
Motions to adjourn were inter-
spersed with motions TO amend, but
all were voted down by the combina.
tioD, and at 2 10 the bill was ordered
engrossed for third reading, after
which the House adjourned to Mon
day at s p. M.
SENATE.
Montgomery county politics was this
center for a long, at times very anus
ing, and at times sharp debate in the
Senate this afternoon, when the FL
nance Committee reported unfavor-
ably the order introduced by Mr.. Lee
providing for three bill readers to look
out for snakes" at 81 per diem.
Mr.. Lee moved the substitution of the
order for the unfavorable report,
which was finally lost, only three or
four Senators voting with Mr.. Lee on
the proposition, although it developed
in the course of the debate that a
different form of torder might be bet
ter received.
mr.. Lee wished to provide for these
experimentation to be nominated
by majority of the last Democratic
caucus, one by the minority and one
by the Republicans AT the time of
the original Introduction of his order
Mr.. Lee explained it had been charged
against him in the last campaign that
he was favorable to the liquor inter
ests in Montgomery, and t!.at he
would favor them in the Senate He
explained that Montgomery has been
peculiar sufferer from snakes, " or,
as he declared they are locally termed
in Montgomery, "creepers in. -
In the debate today lie was closely
questioned by Mr. Brewington as to
how he would classify various men,
bers of the Senate. and was engaged
by him in a lively tilt. NJ. Lee stood
his ground. declared that there had
been most decided line of cleavage
and that this still existed He re-
ferred once more tn his course with
regard to Mr.. Albert ]. Almoney, III
| having him rejected as reading CLERK
TO the Senate, which he declared to
have been in accord with the wishes
of his county, and his subsequent
course in having him resign from the
| position of librarian to the Senate.
Mr. Lee held the persistence Of some
Of the Senators in this matter in di-
rect defiance to his known wishes, uI
|
are differences and that there is a mi
nority of the Democratic party in the
| Senate. Fully half of the members
elected spoke one way or another OIL
| the subject, contributing all manner
| of views to the discussion, from Mr..
| Gorman's that party factions should
| not be recognized as existing even il
1 they do exist, to Mr.. Ri ldison's thai
| they absolutely do not exist. Mr.
Lee simply laughed at these conten
| tions, pointed out that the minority
had faithfully supported the majority
of the caucus after a majority had
| been secured in the matter of origiDa
| organization, and declared that "tC
fail to recognize legitimate request
| of q recognized minority is surt
fore sign of ruin for the party -
At the end Of the debate, after the
loss of his motion and the adoption oi
the unfavorable report, Mr.. Lee in
troduced anC ther order providing 70
the same three appointments. but tina
they be named in the usual way, b,
the chair, Itch was referred to tht
Committee on Finance.
The tunnels and bridges bill va
laid over until Tuesday ON motion o.
Mr. Brewington, although favorabl,
reported by the Committee On Judicia
Proceedings.
The Shannon bills were turned ii
by the Committee on Railroads ant
Canals with the recommendation tha
they be referred TO the Committee O.
Judicial Proceedings, which was done
Colonel Gadd this morning intro
duoed a joint resolution asking Con
| gress to propose amendments to tha
portion Of the Constitution of til
United States 10 the effect that n
State shall pass any law imposing th
obligation Of contracts. so as to alloN
the repeal of exemptions from taxa
tions contained in the charters Of col
poratiops.
The Senate met at u O'Clock an
adjourned at ? Is until Monday night