Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1906-03-29
STATE HOUSE. Annapolis, Nd.
March 81. 1905.


STATE HOUSE. Annapolis, Nd.
March 81, 1906.
The last week Of the session has
begun and the end Of the present
Legislature is plainly in sight.
Both houses adjourn without day
next Monday night; and for two
years, unless the Governor calls an
extra session in the meantime, what
has been done will have TO remain
upon the statute books as laws,
while what has failed TO be done, for
another two years, must remain I'M
done. And the chances are that
much Of good will fall Ia this last
designated class, for more than the
usual number Of important wise
bills now seem doomed 70 die on the
files or by majority vote In one
house or another. II not both.
The Baltimore a. Ohio railroad In
vestigation has practically closed,
andShe State is making hurried pre-
parations TO accept ~. 100000, which
this corporation has offered, for
Maryland S Washing ton Bran b
stock IN this road. The offer Of that
sum OF money was practically asked
for by the Board Of Public Works,
or at least the b. a. q. was given
clearly to understand that an offer
OF that sum would in all likelihood
beaccepted and theoffer was not slow
infollowing this.hint. Themaiority Of
the members Of both housesappear TO
think this an adequate price, but d
most determined minority hold diff.
ferent view and earnestly oppose
selling at less than the full worth OF
this stock, which is yariously esti-
mated at from three to four millions
Of dollars. In fact Ii Is very doubt.
full IL a majority Of the members do
not agree that it is worth not less
than 100000. but that they favor
selling because of their uncertainty
as to the adyisability Of holding on
and prolonging investigation aud
litigation in what may prove fruit
less effort TO get more. The Sena-
tors and Delegates and the full Board
OF Public Works practically admit
that the State is not strong enough
to cope with this railway corporation
and favor accepting large lump sum
Of money at any possible sacrifice,
rather than longer hang on 70 the
bull which they apparently have
very firmly, but with small courage,
by the horns.
What will be done with the bills
to repeal the tax-exemption privi-
leges Of various corporations, espe.
cially the b. & o., and The bill to
prevent discrimination by the same
road against Maryland coal, is hard
to say. 1t is declared positively
that the proposed sale Of the State s
stock carries with it no promise Of
any sort to let up on the crusade
against the tax exemptions, and yet
every one Of these bills is making
haste slowly. The antl-discrimiDa.
tion bill is furthest along, but that
has lain for comparatively long
time immovable 90 the third reading
file Of the House, while practically
every one Of the others has kept
carefully UNDER cover Senate CON
mittees.
The telegraphers' eight-hour bill
however has passed both houses,
although the measure is still not
clear 81 danger, since Senateam
ments haze not been concurrcd il
by the House, and conference com
mlttee must still pass upon the bill.
The Legislature ID these closing
days resembles nothing SO much as
huge ponderons machine. clank.
ing grinding laboriously along
on its difficult work, The members
are all thoroughly tired and un.
strung. Sessions do not begin I'M.
til twelve O'Clock ordinarily, butbe-
fore ten the members ofthe mostim-
portant committees are hard at
work going over and passing upon
bills, while from that time on, fire..
quently until twelve, one or two
o'clock at night there is hardly a
spare moment even for meals. The
House for nearly two weeks has
been meeting three times daily,
while the Senate. even with It's short
roll.calI has gotten badly behind
wish two. The strain upon the men
who make up this machine Ii be-
ginning ID sell II various ways. the
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