Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-31
George county attacked the measure. He


| said:
THE method adopted by the present
democratic majority in the general assem-
bly, of lacking entire bills on other inno-
cent bills as amendments ard their re-
fusng to permit the amendments to be
read in full. or explained even. upon the
demand of any member. is fraught with
greatest danger to the rights of the peo-
pie. II members are TO vote blindiy ana
the rules of the legislature disregarded.
then any easure which has the backing
OF two or three men can be damned
through. no matter how Ubiquitous 1t may
be.
THE republican minority wanted to
vote for a primary election law. They
could not vote for one tackled on to the
Wilson election law. More than that.
they could not vote for primary law
which is not designed to preserve the
rights Of the people. but only to keep con-
troll IN the hands of a few party bosses.
and worst of all. prevents any poor man
from running for office. The present dem
ocratic bosses have gone mad with power
They have out-Rasined Rasin. and III onl!
remains for the people TO rise up in their
might as they did against Rasin. and re-
buke them with well-deserved defeat.
Six democrats Joined the republicans in
an enort 20 defeat the bill. but the bill
was rushed through during the last hours
Of the session and sent 10 the governor
for his signature.
Vale Free Lunches.
The passage Of bill abohsh'ng free
lunches in the state came in the nature Of
{ surprise to saloonkeepers. While many
Of them favored the adoption of the law.
it is stated there were many others who
were opposed to II. the latter being of the
opinion that tempting free lunches have "A
tendency to increase their trade. An
effort was made TO extend to the clubs in
RH 81
such organizations in Washington city.
but the bill was amended so as to permit
the sale of liquor in the clubs until
O'Clock in the morn.ng-one hour after the
closing of saloOns-but prohibiting any
Sunday business. In the wet districts
of Prince George county the people are
to be given an opportunity TO vote upon
the local option question. May L. Is the
date the election is to be held. the will OF
the voters TO become effective September
|. An appropriation of IS OU was made
for the construction of a school building
at Brent wood. the character of the build
ing to be determined by the residents OF
the Prince George village.
Liberal appropriations were made for
the Maryland Agricultural College, the
members of the county delegation having
exerted themselves to secure the large
sums of money. The reformatory at
Cheltenham was not neglected. and an
appropriation of $12.OW was made for
improvements to the courthouse at Upper
Marlboro. Members Of the delegation
also succeeded in getting an appropriation
for the completion of the boulevard from
Baltimore to Washington. the work TO he
completed within three years. Delegate
Oliver 9. Metzerott failed to get from the
corporations committee his bill providing
for uniform fare of = cents for each
five miles on the electric roads in Prince
George county. a meas that was ad-
vocated by Senator Robert w. Wells two
years ago.
Bills of Local Interest
Among bills which were rushed through
during the last day of the session were
several in which the people of Washington
and Prince George county are interested
One was the bill Of Senator Clagett COM
polling the Pennsylvania and Chesapeake
Beach railroad companies to make connec-
tons with all local passenger trains. The
measure Is intended TO give the residents
| OF southern Maryland better railroad serv-
ice. the connections enabling them t.
reach the lower counties from Wash
ing;on without being compelled to pay
| for the unnecessary trip TO Bowie. where
a change is made to the Pope Greek
| line
Senator CIagett's bill Incorporating the
Washington and Maryland Railway Com
pany was also passed. Bills offered b.
| Delegate Peach amending the road lawi
Of Prince George county. Incorporating
the Lincoln Trust Company and the
! Washington and Drum Point Railway
Company were also among those upOr
which favorable action was taken.
Gov. Crothers caused a surprise among
| the members Of the legislature last nigh,
when he announced the names of num-
Der of committees TO conduct certain In
vestigations. One bill sent to the gov
ernor FOR his signature provides for the
retirement of Judges Phelps and Dennis
of the supreme bench of Baltimore and
Judge Page of the court of appeals. The
vagrancy bill of Speaker Ray was de-
| feated.