The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-03-30
THE LEGISLATURES.
Stirring Events in the State Capitol
Briefly Told.

Correspondence of the Democratic Advocated
STATE House, ANNAPOLIS,
March %, 1906.
The last week of the session is drawing to
close and the excitement at the State House
is at white heat from early morning until a
late hour at night Hundreds of bills have
been passed. hundreds defeated, aud other
hundreds remain to be acted upon in the clos
ing hours. Business, however, has been re-
duced to such a system, at any rate in the
House, that bills to which there is no objection
are put through with marvellous rapidity, and
Speaker Benson will allow nothing to interfere
with the consideration of such measures when
they are taken up to the desk.
This session, so far as the House is con-
cerned, has not devoted much time to oratory.
In the Senate however, the opposite Is the
case, and probably there has never been more
speech making in any one session IN the upper
house than in the one about to close. Speech
es good, bad and Indifferent have been the
daily order. and the most trivial questions
have been discussed to a threadbare condition
at all times, and on the slightest provocation.
There has been almost a total absence OF
partisanship here since the beginning of bust
ness on January Bird. Very few political mat.
tiers have been considered, and when such
have been taken up they have been debated
in the friendliest manner, and only on the
rarest occasions have personalities OF any sort
been INDUCED in in debate.
The B. 4 o. question has al last been set
tied and the States interest in that company
has been sold to the people 10 whom II is most
valuable. Whether the price obtained is ade
quate, the future alone can tell, but friendly
relations have once more been restored be-
tween Marylsnd's governing powers and the
State greatest corporation, and all bills OF q
hostile character have been allowed to remain
in committee or will die on the hles. The
railway people will continue TO escape tax
alton as they have in the past, aud this will
probably continue for years to come. In
granting corporation exemptions IN the last
century our foreiathers thought they we're act
ing wisely. but time has only made their action
another illustration of the text from the Bible
THE fathers had eaten sour grapes aud the
children's teeth were set on edge Some
day way may be found TO make these cor
porstions pay their taxes, but such Possibil
ity ean only happen in the futgre-probably
the remote future.
The relations between the Governor and the
General Assembly almost reached the break
ing point this week, and they are still very
much strained. This applies to the entire
membership, for Republicans have seemed As
MuEu ORcHlt3sNd At Ais NANNAtcHNf ~ 10 u4s
Democratic friends. How the affair Will ter.
inmate, it is impossible TO say, but At the pres
eBt time the state Of matters is such as must
be deplored By all. The Governor vetoed the
$50, 900 deficiency appropriation bill, the
House has already passed it over his objections
and the Senate will likely do the same Il Is
10 be hoped that more harmonious relations
viii he restored before the FINAL adjournment
on Monday night, for it is not conducive 10
good government to have the executive and
the leaders of bis own party so thoroughly out
Of sympathy with each other a. al the present
time.
Among the prominent visitors 10 the State
House Tuesday, was Ex-Governor Frank
Brown, who was the center OF group Of Sea-
aiors or Delegates most Of the time during his
stay.
Next week / shall give a resume Of the ~ork
of the session with some comments on is
place IN the history of the State.
PAuL WINCHESTER