The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-03-25
MARYLAND LEGISLATURES.
STATE HOUSE.
Annapolis. March "a, 1910.

the primary election Dill, and the various
propositions to restrict the suffrage is as
great as ever. The leaders of both par
ties are apparently hopelessly divided on
these matters, and the Republicans agree
no better in regard to them than the
Democrats, and it is difficult to see, at
the present time, how any definite politi-
cal action of character beneficial to the
people at large, is going to result from
the present legislature. The measures of
a purely business or beneficial character,
are being well cared for, however, and as
a result of this session. Maryland will
probably have provided for the care of
the insane and other classes of dependent
people, including the blind, the crippled.
the feeble-minded, the deaf and dumb,
and those afflicted with tuberculosis, as
we'll as any other State in the Union.
The institutions providing for the care of
the unfortunate and afflicted classes of
the State, will be well and most gener-
ously cared for, and after all, if no politi-
cal legislation does become effective, as
result OF this session, the members will
deserve well of the community for their
attention to these matters, which are after
all is said and done, the most important
matters before them.
10 iiOW NNi illllC dOuOl Dul iiidl
in the lineup of the Democratic leaders,
Senator German will be found on the side
OF those who are opposed to the Supre-
macy of United States Senator John Wal
ter Smith. Mr. German does not intend
to wait six years i'll order to get the seat
he wants in the Senate at Washington,
but will be in the game when the time
comes to elect successor to the Eastern
SkArat,,or ,tt,n hn11c tI,a ,Nlocn II,
the Upper House at Washington. All
the present political signs point this way,
and the relations between the friends of
Smith are strained almost to the break
ing point this early in the game.
The proposed utilities bill is arousing
no little discussion at the present time,
and it is difficult to foretell what will be
corporations are, violently opposed to
in fact some of them are favoring 1.-THE
only difference of opinion arising over
what the bill should contain. The first
one introduced was prepared by Attorney
General Sraus, and is an elaborate affair,
| covering everything that such measure
should regulate, the main objection to it
al ilOil lllO lat llldl It's ODCl etlIOn
would entail very large expense owing
to the high salaries to be paid the officials
who are to carry it into effect. If any
| bill is passed, however, it will probably
! be the Straus bill, which is backed by the
Governor, but which will have to be
modified greatly in order to satisfy the
county members, who can see no neces-
slty for such eXtravagant salaries. The
oil hay .;
| upon as mere makeshifts, which would
be neither beneficial to the people nor
useful in protecting the corporations from
attacks from unjust, unfriendly and rapa-
| clous sources. A law of this sort properly
drawn ought to be a protection to all
| interests instead of mere mass of YER
biage, which might be used as an excuse
| for the creation of lot of high. salaried
! offices to be filled by grasping attorneys,
who would use the positions for their
own benefit without regard to the public
The Acknowledgement is here eXamni g
! this and other bills of public character,
and is busly engaged looking out for the
snakes, which often crawl in, and are
| only uncovered after the most careful
| search.
This session has been marked by the
most cordial aud friendly feeling between
the members of both the great political
parties, and has marked an era of har-
| mony rarely ever seen in legislation
bodies. The contests over purely politi-
cal matters have been inlrequent, and
there has been a general desire on all
sides to consider measures largely from
the standpoint of good citizenship, rather
than from the point of political advantage
Ihe Republicans have made more
respectable and dignified showing than
usual. While their members in the SEN
ate have not been conspicuous for great
ability, they have taken their share of
the work with energy, and have not
shirked any of their responsibilities.
There IS so little legislation of real par
tlsan character here, that for three DAYS
out OF four 1t is impossible to tell who
are Democrats and who are Republicans.
| There has been less partisan feeling than
usual this session, and while there have
been some debates of spicy, partisan
character, they have been few in number,
and have been conducted on both sides
IN such cordial even friendly manner,
that no animosties have been aroused
on either side.
Senator Matthias and the members of
| the Frederick County delegation are
very much gratiied at the fact that nearly
all of their local bills have been passed
and are now before the Governor
There has been an unusual amount of
county legislation this session, and
Frederick Comfy has furnished its share.
Leaving the party matters out, the local
delegation has taken good care of the
county's interests, and the people at
home can have no just cause for COM
plant. They have been attentive to all
| matters which have come before them,
! have always been on hand when the
sessions were going on, and have taken
leading part in all of the COM
mittee meetings. Senator Matthias has
been especially courteous to all who
had business here, and has been, from
the beginning Of the session, one of the
most popular members of the Upper
House. The Frederick County Senator
and Governor Crothers are warm per-
/ sonal friends, and the Governor fire.
quently confers with Mr.. Matthias on
matters of general public interest and
has great regard for his views on affairs
in the General Assembly
1t is matter of no little comment here
that so little regard is paid by what the
late |. Freeman Raisin called the State
Crowd" pays TO the Democrats of
Frederick county There are more Dem
, ocratic voters in the county than in any
other, except Baltimore county, and
| three times as many Democratic voters
/ in Frederick county as there are in any