The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1906-04-07
Special Correspondence Baltimore County linton.
LETTER FROM ANNAPOLIS.
AnrApoIIs. Mn.. April Ith

ANNAPOLIS, ND, April 4tn, 1Vu.
MessTs. Editors THE session of 1908 has passed
into history and already plans and preparations
for the session Of 1908 are being discussed and
prepared. 1t is generally admitted thatthe late
session was fraught with great deal of hard
and consistent work and almost at the beginning
the Legislature won name for itself as hard
and constant working body of representa-
tives. Important measures have been handled
this year and they have had their loyal sup
porters and eloquent orators on both the floors
of the Senate and the House. The presiding
officers of both have made names for themselves
by the fair and impartial manner in which they
have acted upon every occasion, and at the end
of the session words of praise and appreciation
were heard which do not always fall to the lot
of the presiding officers.
The Baltimore county members did good work
for their county from start to finish, and have
always been Jealous for the peoples welfare as
also for the State. They have allowed no impo-
sition from the city of Baltimore and have
watched every act and measure affecting Balti-
more county with the utmost care and skill.
Senator Biddison did good work on the water
loan question and was an unyielding foe to those
who were trying to take the county's rights
away from it without giving just remunera-
ton. His judgment was looked upon as being
especially strong in many cases. His brother
Senators came to him for advice on different
bills on which they needed assistance and coun-
selling.
The most strenuous fight, perhaps, made over
a bill, except the Hannah oyster bill, was
that in which Baltimore county was opposing
the cutoff of the Pennsylvania Railroad through
that county. Able counsel was employed on
both sides of the controversy, and Mr.. Bernard
Carter, the corporation lawyer, was even drawn
into it after he had expressly stated that he in
tended to remain silent in the committee room.
For a time it looked as if Baltimore county had
turned out en- masse at Annapolis, and petition
after petition was brought to the notice of the
Legislature protesting against the laying waste
of one of the most valuable of the suburbs of
Baltimore city. The efforts of these public
spirited people were successful and the Penn
sylvania Company will at least have to change
its route if it seeks to build branch line.
Among the bills that Senator Biddison intro
duced were the following Incorporating the
Highland Savings and Trust Company amend
ing the charter of the German-A American Bank
of Baltimore to further extend the duration of
the South Baltimore Company to provide for
the release of sureties on official bonds; bill
amending the charter of the Girdle Electric
Railway Company bill sanctioning many be-
quests; amending the charter of the Roland
Park Electric Light and Water Company; pro-
viding for transcribing of records of wills in Bal
timore county; to authorize the County Com
missioners of Baltimore county to appropriate
any unexpended balance in their hands for the
repair of roads and bridges damaged by the food
of 1905 to fix the number of clerks in Office of
Register of withstand to index certain records in
Baltimore county.
Other bills were introduced and passed of
minor Importance and the Baltimore county
members were singularly successful in having
nearly all the measures in which they were at
all interested go through. The delegation, on
the whole, was regarded as a strong one, and
what they had to propose to be enacted was
always listened to with much attention.
On the last day of the session Mrs. Benson and
large party of friends was in Annapolis to see
the closing incidents of the Legislature of 1876
In fact, there seemed to be great number of
people from Baltimore county here, some to see
their friends in the delegation and others simply
as sight seers.
The last night was the occasion of great deal
| of fun and merriment and staid and dignifed
| members who had been very punctilious dur
| ing the session, romped and played like chill
| dren. If one had watched the closing hours he
would have certainly thought that men are but
children of larger growth, for everybody SEEM
ed to think it was an occasion for mighty good
time and the way the members threw paper
balls at one another and made witty and face
tious speeches was caution. No one seemed
to remember past Sights or the failure of bills,
| and singing and joking were INDUCED in at a
rapid rate. One of the favorite songs was
"Dawkinsland, My Dawknsland,' to the tuIe
of Maryland. My Maryland, changing into Hang
| Speaker Benson on Sour Apple Tree"
The silver service presented to Speaker Ben
son is a beauty-one OF the handsomest ever
presented to presiding officer at Annapolis.
1 G.. d. r.