The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1906-01-11
"WILL SIGN NO COPIES"
Governor Must Have Original Legis-
Iative Bills.

ny uOOldI my ClHpIdllCaIIY lndt
he would stand for mo monkey
ing" or words to that !efect, in
Legislative action of which he will
be the father.
Zone of the most important
things to consider" said the Gov
ernor, us in connection with the
bills passed by the Legislature and
which must be signed by the Gov
ernor before they become law.
Il wish to state now that l will
sign no copies of bills, and insist
upon having the original hand
written bill-the same one read by
the reading clerks of the House
and Senate, respectively, and pass
ed by the members, who should
follow the words carefully as they
are read. All bills must also be
presented to me while the Legis-
lature is in session, and not after
it adjourns, as was the case last
term.
Il will also say again to the
heads of corporations that it will
not De necessary for them to come
to Annapolis with money in order
to get proper legislation passed.
would advise them to lay their
claims for recognition before the re-
spective committees, and they will
be properly acted on.
1t will be recalled that some
discussion and charges of careless
ness or irregularity arose last year
in connection with bill concern
ing the State printing. This bill
did not get to the Governor until
late. 1t was found months after.
ward that there had been a misun
derstanding as to the price to be
paid by the State, and it was al
legged that this mistake had been
made in enrolling the bill.
The effect of the Governors
stand will be to lessen the number
of engrossing and enrolling clerks
employed. The "engrossing com
mittee" in past years has been one
Of the sources OF petty graft at An
napolis, and among the reporters
of certain newspapers, who got
slice Of the States money for do
ing no work. This is one Of the
smaller evils that will be remedied
this session, it is promised.
When the Senate, led by Lee Of
Montgomery, passed an order p1ac-
ing the body in close touch with
all the appointments that would
be made during the session the
rings following was dismayed be-
cause the patronage was cut down
at this end of the line. The only
hope is in the House, and speaker
Benson declares that he has no en-
couragement to offer. With or
without an order, he says, no man
shall be employed whose services
are not actually required.
By looping off the patronage, it
is admitted that the old ring will
suffer, because its followers have
already become greatly dissatisfied
through lack of recognition in the
distribution of the '1oayes and
fishes"
Added to the troubles is the re.
fusal of the governor to stand with
the oldguard in tle matter of APP
pointments. For two years to
come there promises to be little to
hope for, 1t is reported that 800
places have been promised.
Plans have already been discuss
ed for delaying the caucus call for
nominations for the State Treasur
ership, which the ring following
had decided to circulate for sigma
lures next week. 1t may be, how
ever, that this purpose will be de-
layed, as the object of delaying
the election is not absolutely un-
derstood by those to whom the
plan has been preached.
If four members of the Legisla-
ture should refuse to sign the call,
the election of Treasurer would be
impossible, as the Democrats have
6S members on Joint ballot, 65 of
whom constitute a majority of the