Evening star., 1908-01-19
PADDING STATE PAY ROLLS
Drastic Terms of Corrupt Practices
Act.
TACT OF PRESIDENT SETH
Rival Shores" and Their Position,
With Prophecy That Eastern
May Have Two Senators.
Special CORRESPONDENCE Of The Star

ANNAPOLIS January IS. 1905.
MaryIanders are wondering what State
Senator Blair Lee of Montgomery county
means by his action in the state
senate yesterday. when he invited the
press 10 discuss the following questions:
l. Is 81 so an excessive cost for the
salary and expenses of each legislator?
80 Is the general assembly wrong IN
allowing to each member $500 for salary
of this fund and applying the remainder
to necessary expenses and to fund Tor
encouraging political activity in the demo-
cratic party?
"3 Is the President of the United States
wrong in recommending in his message
10 Congress that fund be created to en-
courage and pay for political work IN the
two great parties?
- Whether in view of the national
government being in the hands of the re-
publican party. with large amount or
patronage. is there any unfairness In the
democratic party receiving fund from
state sources 10 encourage poilticai ac-
tivitr""
Discussion of Graft.
The questions were asked by Mr.. Lee in
discussion of the proposition of repub-
lican senators to cut down the appropria-
ton for the expenses of the general as
sembly from 100000 to Sl5uUV. and were
used by him to obtain postponement of
the further consideration of the question
until Tuesday night. Mr.. Lee in the
course OF the debate laid stress on the
fact that he had puff the reference to "a
fund for encouraging politica! activity
as question and not as a statement of
belief. hut he said that mugwumpery
which would remove all financial incen-
tive TO the political worker would bring
about condition of dry rot in political
affairs One effect of his advancement
of the peculiar theory contained in his
questions was to elicit sharp demand
from Senator German that graft exists in
the legislature, and another TO cause Sen
ator France. republican leader, to de-
clare that padded pay rolls are quite diff
ferent from the proposition advocated by
President Roosevelt. Before Mr. Lee
sprang his surprising list of questions the
republicans had contented themselves with
illusions to the charges of extravaganza
made by the former governor. Edwin War
field and expressions of opinion that. with
economy S1JO.OoO should be sufficient to
pay the expenses of the legislature. Sem
ator Lee seems to have paved the way for
n vigorous attack on the plans of the ma
jority to make appropriations as liberal
As heretofore whatever may be his in
tentions in the matter. There seems TO
be little dipsosition on the part of the
leaders. however. 10 vary their program
TO set aside 5000 for the expenses of
the assembly.
Corrupt Practices Bill.
One of the most important measures to
be acted upon is the corrupt practices bill.
dra wn by Attorney General Straus. which.
it is said. has the approval of the demo-
cratic leaders. 1t Is one of the most
comprehensive measures of its kind ever
formula ted, and was introduced by Sena-
tor Harper Thursday. Ii makes unlaw-
ful. under heavy penalty. all gifts. direct
or indirect. offers or promises of money.
advantage. preferment. entertainment and
emolument or ANY valuable thing what
ever TO influence voting. and il even re-
etricts the expenditures of legitimate
campaign expenses TO the candidates or
10 treasurers of political committees or
political agents. The appointment of such
treasurers or agents is To be matter OF
record in court. and saccounts of election
expenses are to be filed after election.
In addition TO payment OF personal eX-
penses a candidate may expend SD for
each LOO registered voters but all money
for expenses outside of the candidate s
personal expenses is to pass through the
hands of the treasurer or agent, whose
duties are matter of court record. Cor
poration contributions are prohibited. In
instances where there Is power on the
part of the legislature To delegate
thority to declare an election void on
account of corrupt practices such au-
tnority is entrusted to the courts. and
where the determination of the qualitica
tion of a successful candidate lies beyond
the powers. the general assembly may
delegate. provision is made for the court
pugning the successful candidate. which
may be brought by the defeated candida te
or any ten qualified voters
Mr. Seth's Tact
Perhaps the most amusing incident tna;
has occurred thus far at the session was
the manner In which President Seth of
the state senate extricated himself from
the appointment Of member of the com
niTtee to notify Gov. Crotiers of the
suit Of the senatorial elections who had
denounced Mr.. crothers vigorously in
the senate two years ago. when Gov.
Warfeid had nominated the present ex-
ecutive TO judgeship. The tip was
passed 10 the presiding officer. who had
forgotten this unpleasantness and the
strained relations between the governor
and the state senator. and without hesita-
tion Mr.. Seth said Il find / have named
Two persons on this committee from the
eastern shore and viii therefore make "A
change and name one from the western
shore. Those, wEo Were aware of the
real rea son for the change smiled. while
others surmised that the old tradition Of
dividing honors equally between the
shores was about to be revived. When
former Gov. Smith takes his seat in the
Tinted States Senate in 1902. with Isadore
Rayner as his colleague, il viii he the
first instance of representation Of bota
shores" since the republicans i'll the leg
tslature OF 1896 Ignored the law that re-
auired such a division Of political honors
and selected George l.. Wellington as
confrere of senator German. Ever since
that time the western shore has suppl ed
both senator's. Louis r.. Mctomas sue
cesdtnS German German succeeding Vel
linGton. Rayner succeeding Mct'ouds and
NhNte. by appointment. Gorluan after III"
iatte-S death. Thus each party paid no
attention 10 the eastern shore law after ff
Was once broken. II y law that had
II" binding efYec; because IL had no penal
clause and could have none
Hope for Eastern Shore
The choice Of Gov. Smith in the recen;
pi mary was by no means u revival OF the
who make the prediction that the eastern
shore may before many wears have TWO
senator's to repay II for the long deoriva-
ion % representation in the upper cham
bel of The national legislature Gov
IrotheTS j. an eastern shore man a
Shrewd politician. and his administration
promises 10 ne one that will not shine by
reflected light II viii not be surprising
to him formidable competitor fo!
senatorial honors when tine time for
Iacting q collea que for S,nator-elec,
Smith arrives This Is four years. hence
however. q time too distant for predic-
tious II suffices to say that Gov. Croth-
crS has taken bold with firm grip and
means to be guided by MS own judgment
IN his policies. His selection of secre-
tarv al state was an instance of his
met nod OF applying his ideas in executive