Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-09
maryland SUFFRAGE
Comment on the Disfranchise-
ment Amendment.
OUTLOOK FROM ANNAPOLIS
Action of the Democratic Caucus No
Surprise.
SENATE ANTI-SALOON MEASURE
Echo of the Charges Against Gov.
Warfeld by President Seth.
Memory of German.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

A'No'
In deciding unanimously In favor of the
DISTINGUISHING amendment. as formu-
lated by the committee of lawyers who
had been at work on it for several
lators here Thursday night. did not fur
nish a surprise. When Gov. Crothers,
former Gov. Brown and other party lead
ers announced themselves in favor Of
early part of the week, 1.-The amendmen,
as it stands became foregone conclu-
sion. so far as it's submission to the peo-
pie by the legislature is concerned. Its
defeat at the polls, while not a foregone
| conclusion, is a favorite prediction. and
the arguments that were discarded by
the democratic leaders for the sake OF
harmony and putting up united front
will undoubtedly be used with advantage
in the appeal to the people. the principal
one being that Marylands adoption of an
unrestricted grandfather clause may re-
suit in the overturning of the whole fab
rio of restrictive legislation in the south
by the Supreme Court of the United
States.
Young Germans Attitude.
Young Senator German. the leader of
the democrats in the Senate, a man
whose counsels usually have great weight
in his party declared himself in opposi-
ton to the property qualification clause
of the amendment. and in favor of plac-
ing time limit on the operations of the
grandfather and naturalization
clauses as socn as the terms of the
amendment were made public but he re-
ceived little encouragement in his opin-
ions. Instead of making a fight in the
caucus. he simply stated his objections
and bowed to the will of the majority
President Joseph b. Seth and Speaker j.
Enos Ray We're two other attendants at
the caucus WHO subordinated their per-
Scnal views to those of the majority.
Senator Blair Lee made an effort to
have the clause which eXempts '.physi-
cally disqualified" persons from perform
ing the feat of registering under the edu-
catiCnal qualification clause, which con-
sists of a display of erudition and good
memory by setting forth mass of in
formation without the aid of memoran-
dunn question made palmer Mr.. Lee
does not object to the educational pro-
vision itself. His views that the prOvi-
sion exempting from the educational test
ANY person who is unable to comply with
the aforegoing requirements in making
application for registration in his own
handwriting solely because he is physi-
cally disabled from doing" is not eX-
ilicit enough was accorded the same re-
ception that other objections met. No
''tinkering'' was desired and none was
tolerated. A slight change in the clause
of a woman owning $500 worth of prop
erty was agreed upon. but this was in
the nature of correction.
New Cornoration Laws
The bill revising the corporation laws
of the state was passed by the house
with slight amendments this week. and
its reference to the finance committee
before it goes to the judicial proceed
ings committee in the senate indicates
that it will have more careful considera-
ton in the senate than in the house.
where the cloture rule was applied.
The bill has been public property in
printed form for several weeks, but the
fire of objections did not begin until
few days ago. For several years the
movement Ito get rid of Anticipated cor
poration laws has been under way, and
the last Legislature got rid of the sub
ject by providing for a commission to
draft the new laws. Only six members
OF the house voted against the bill. One
of them was Oliver Metzerott of Hyatts-
vile, a member of the bar of the District
of Columbia. To The Star correspondent
Mr. Metzerott said that he regarded the
bill a "Wide-open'' measure. putting
Maryland in competition with other
states that offer attractions to incor
pOrators, it's only safeguard in this re-
spect being the tax feature. Mr. Meter
OFT opposed the clause that requires that
it be necessary to have ) per cent of the
stockholders interested before inspection
of books is obtained; the clause allowing
persons not stockholders to be directors.
and the granting of stock for services.
which means stock promotion The au-
thors of the bill have disclaimed any in
tention to enter Maryland in the race as
a bidder for incorporation fees, and they
have also denied that public service cor
pOrations may avail themselves of provi-
SionS regarding the enlargement of
powers.
A bill that has passed both houses and
met with widespread approval is that APP
prOpriating a $1,000 fund annually. out
of which the governor may maintain the
executive mansion. Heretofore governors
have been compelled to draw upon their
private resources for this purpose. and
many have spent more than their salary
of $1,000 a year in sustaining Marylands
reputation fer hospitality. But, almost
without exception for many years, the
governors of Maryland have been rich
men, judged by the Maryland standard of
riches. The present governor is one on
whom the expense of entertaining would
Qc d OuIuSH IL lie ildO u meet II Out VI
his own pocket
Anti-Saloon Bill.
Surprise was manifested when the Anti
Saloon League bill was introduced in the
senate Friday by the republican floor
leader. ex-Representative Baker. The
bill has been introduced in the house by
a democratic member. but democratic
senators fought shy of 'fathering'' the
measure. Mr.. Baker expects that nearly
all the republicans will vote for the bill.
1t is impossible as yet to say what senate
democrats will do with 1t. In the house
the chances OF its passage continue ia
vorable. w. II. Anderson. the superin-
tendent of the Anti-Salopn League, began
to give interviews this week telling what
happened to legislators who opposed the
league. but it is too early to tell what
effect this will have on his carefully or
ganized campaign.
The proposition to give Baltimore city
larger representation in the legisla ture
has struck small snag. Baltimore
county has made known it's desires to
have an increase also. 1t wishes the
number of its delegates doubled. or in
creased frcm six to twelve. In previous
Dol