The Washington herald., 1908-02-02

Baltimore. Nd, Feb. 1-How are things
going down there? What sort Of COVER
nor is Crothers going TO make?
The there" in this case refers TO An
napolis and the Legislature. Anything
that may be said OF the Crothers admins
ration at this time is. of course. purely
speculative. The wheels have just begun
TO grind. The signs seem to point to
this:
The next three months viii be replete
with achievements of a nature that will
rebound TO the benefit of the State.
These will be largely the work Of a
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., German, and Ben
son.
Crothers German, and Benson are poll
ticians, and accomplished ones. It goes
without saying. therefore, that they work
we'll in harness. Their team is the gen
eral assembly of Maryland. The gov
ernor is not standing on his dignity. lie
has got into the game.
Procession Starts Well.
The procession has started off well by
showing its determination 10 get together
on the corrupt practices and the proposed
g0od-roads law. In securing legislation
for good roads the Crothers administra-
tion will try 10 avoid details, leaving
them to be worked out later. Benson be-
Aeves that if once the problem of details
Is taken up the field is left wide open to
all sorts Of objections These objections
might lead to the defeat of the whole
business.
No man ever took up the reinS Of gov
ernment in this State with better workers
at his command than Gov CTOtners Both
German and Benson, the respective floor
leaders in the Senate and House, III the
bill simply from the fact that they know
They are prepared for every situation
that arises. Neither is fashy in debate.
They are solid No situation has vet
arisen 70 surprise either of them If il is
trouble. they go out 20 meet It when their
associates sit appalled,, without knowing
which way TO turn. However sensitive
either may be to newspaper criticism,
neither will show it. and neither of them
will permit criticism TO divert him one
iota from a course that has been care
fully planned Both are fearless.
Understand the Game.
The strength of their leadership rests
IN the fact that they know how TO steer
the ship. Neither shirks a responsibility.
Never a day goes by that does not find
both Of them in their seats in the house
and senate No bill will be introduced
that they Will not intuitively size up its
scope and its r3mifiCatiOus This is not
due 10 inspiration. They know the field
because they have studied it,
Things are occurring every day. and
VIII continue 10 occur as long as the
session lasts, 20 irritate the purists in
politics. Too many people will be- put
on the pay rolls, and few thousand dol
lars Of the States money will he spent
that ought 20 have been retained I'm the
State treasury. This was done III the
last session, and it was done at the ses-
sion before II will be done at this ses-
slon-probably has been done already
Those who are looking on can take their
choice of courses. They can spend their
time barking at the little things. or they
can put their shoulders TO the wheel and
help Benson and German accomplish the
big things that are in the wood.
Pertaining 10 Expenses.
Neither of them has found any time
70 devote to the pay roll question Ben
the house has Il Democratic members.
Senator German is the leader in the sen
ate, and IS Of the = men i'm the senate
arc Democrats Mr.. German is not ask
ing for the privilege Of appointing an the
men, neither is AIT. Benson. In fact they
are asking for the privilege of appointing
all the men; neither is Mr., Benson. In
TACT, they are asking for only what they
thlngk they ought to have as Individual
members. 1t is pay roll phenomenon I
that the men who introduced the most or
ders for economy We're the ones who had
the most men on the senate's pay rOu dur /
Ing the last session.
President Seth closed his books some
days ago. The senate Immediately began I
passing orders providing for appoint [
ments. FIRST 10 one place and then to an /
other and the Republicans seem TO an /
prove of the need OF th extras" just as /
heartily as did the men who asked for I.
them.
Some Discounted Things.
Such legislation as has been intro /
duced is Of the kind that had been dis /
counted before the general assembly met.
People heard all about the dlsfranchis- /
ing amendment the corrupt practices act. /
the high-liceuce BILL the IocaI-option bin. /
the pure-food bin, and score Of other 4
measures long before they were presented /
at Annapolis. All of these bills and some
others that have a suspicious Jingle have
been offered IN the house and senate, and
referred To appropriate committees. Hear
ings are next in order and then come the /
big fights on the floors Of the house and
senate.
Benson claimed the high-Ilcense bin
when II was offered in the house. He is
chairman of the ways and means commit
tee, and, as it is a revenue measure. he
got IT, Mr.. Benson is a high-Iicense man.
He wants money for the State to helm
build the good roads. He was the first
man 10 urga Iagialatlnn Lh.t r-n-1lL -..--.-