The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-02-03
THE LEGISLATURES
The Events in the State Capitol
Briefly Told.
icorrr,pondenee Of the Democratic Advocate
ST4TK HoUsE. ANNsPuLls.

STATE EoTsE. ANNAPOLIS.
February J. 1906
The event Of the week here has been The
report Of The States directors iu The Balu
more and Ohio Railroad. Senator German sud
( Gen. Baughaau. "a regard to the controversy
| over Mary lands interest 81 the NsshiaEtoa
| Branch. The report l. VERY long and con
,ains facts and figures which shoH conclusive
/ " that the present management Of this great
railway Is using aH its skIH and ability 20
bnnco AaTy lABd out Of a iaFEe po-toa nt her
I share ia tbs property. which vas CONSTRUCTED
/ largely through her AID. TIE roper; ~as sen
( satlogal in rs character; the discussion of q
! 10 And around the State House has hei8 the
/ interest Of even body. What uIi. b. the oui.
I come Of the situation created by The receipt ui
this report It u impossible g. tel, gnHi Ac;i1u
has beer taken. which will cot br LATER than
{ next week, # iudesd II Is Bo{ sooner. The
/ probability Is that : nEid iBvesisz a'igu ard
I accounting Sili be kA8 sads< comuI't5c sp-
I pOiated By The joint action r. the tao Houses.
I Under the Constitution the Legislature has
1 ample poser to investigate The sho.e business,
and that il will do 80 Is certain, aplsss rai'-
way lobby should appear 10 The Safe House,
| powerful enough 70 uyprfhrow III t,lAa1s. whitt
Z would be very d.ticuli, Il ual impossible ~igh
I the members Of b1gh parties in iseiT prsscai
state Of mlnd
llS stale mouse 9As assumed Inc ffEl-af
air Incident 20 q busy rashinE session ni the
| General Assembly. and The hobbies Aad corn
dors are SLED every DAY ~llh rrowds OF uem
bers aud lobbyists igteai oa business % a.. the
dfereai kinds usually held f5r The last ,~o-
thirds Of the ~ days aisasei b. lie Cousila
ton every t~o years soE ghe making aad the
GBmAkiug Of sAzG
The desks aad committee rooms arr al.
ready filed With bs.ls Of all sorts. Important
and uaimposisai. local sad general Up 20
The present iisas, Sith JUS; soar weeks O. the
session gone, more tiI.s haze been introduced
than IS usual, large proport4oa o.; ~hlrh are
amendments 10 thai sou1ertai charter ct Bal
umore city, which AS expected 60 endure 10
iis original form Tor generations. Bot the eK.
igeucirs u the passsag years and the changes
incident 10 the great Gre have shoWu lhal
even charters must he changed, aud i vii BE-
n dificui matter for It's frAmets 10 tell which
is original and which amendment, should a..
the proposed changes get through here before
the fuAl adjournment. From present indicA
tons. however, about half the legislation pro
posed will be purely local % Baltimore eliy,
aud the delegation from the four legislative
districts. who make up lhe city representation,
are kept busy much q the time locking oai for
their measures.
As usual the business lobby IS here in fall
force. Agents and attorneys, politicians Of
both parties and Others on the make are here
trying to catch on and earn = few dollars cat
Of the VARIOUS measures which are up for pas
sage or defeat. Many q the old tune bell
ringers. 10 bring the corporations 10 terus.
are on hand. ,snd others which have done s-y
vice every session sIucs the Tar Of 81 are eN
pecled 10 appear Ia the near future, 50 that aH
abundant harvest IS expected, notwithstanding
Governor War6eli's strong attack on The
l.k III. bn- ~ ibid ff0-,aa
in good spirits and are getting down 10 work
IN serious earnest
The usual colleges and other institutions
which expect State aid are well represented.
The State Board Of Charities has recommended
liberal appropriations for all those which are
really deserving and they will get it as q mat
ter Of course Others, private institutions, not
so recommended. are also well represented,
aud it IS reported that certain Of these are Of
feriBg rs usual percentage Of the money 10
those who may aid them in getting their bills
through. There is much Indignation expressed
at the assurance Of the representatives OF
those people and it Is very doubtful If their
bills pass.
A great deal Of hostility IS manifested among
country members st the law passed Two years
ago pensiouiug judges who have reached the
age of seventy years. and bills have been IN
troduced In both Houses 10 repeal II. 4 warm
fight is expected when the matter comes up.
and it is difficult to force the result, as there
are able men on both sides OF the question. A
majority, however seem to favor the repeal.
One of the important bills, which will lie Ia
PRODUCED in the near future, Is a measure 10
place greater safeguards around primary cleo.
lions throughout the State. This bill IS modelled
on the precinct plan which has been for
many years q hobby with the Crescent Club
Of Baltimore city. Year after year for more
than thirty years, members of this clue have
made biennial pilgrimages to the State House
to importune the Legislature TO do something
in favor of legalized primary elections. The
present law is largely the result of their per.
sistance, and they hope to have it so amended
that primary in all parts of Maryland will
have as many safeguards around 1t as any other
election.
This week. as the State House was crowded
with large numbers of men from all parts OF
the State, looking out for reappointments
either for themselves or friends, there has
been more than the usual amount of discussion
relative TO the nominations next year. Ihe
talk seems to centre about the Governorshlp,
and the only names mentioned in that con
nection were those of ex Governor Brown,
Governor War6eld. General Baugbman and
Colonel Schley. The concensus of opinion
seemed to be that one of these four would be
chosen to head the Democratic ticket. Sen
ator France of Cecil and Mr.. George K. Gath.
er seem to be the only men now considered
by the Republicans as likely to head their
ticket next year. PAUL WINCHESTER.