The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-02-04
MARYLAND LEGISLATURE.
ANNAPOLIS. Feb. I. 1910.

ddllN die diIIlOSl lllOilOlOllOuS Ill lUGll
routine, as the bills al present under con-
sideration are of very little general inter-
est and political matters appear to have
taken the background. In fact the Re-
publcans are in such a hopeless minority
that party affairs, SO far as the opposition
are concerned, cannot possibly count for
much this winter in the State House. In
deed the apparent divisions in the Demo-
cratic party are attracting more interest
here than anything else, and the Republi-
cans attract very little attention as Re-
publcans, although as voting members,
on the large number of business propo-
SitionS to come up in the future for con-
sideration and action, they will count as
well as the members of the dominant
party. When it comes to purely party
matter, the Republicans are SO few in
number that they are given scant consid-
Grafton. and are usually turned down
without much ceremony. On all other
matters, the business matters which oc-
cupy at least ninety per cent of the time
OF both Houses, they are given as much
consideration as any others. There is
very little doubt but that the Democratic
leaders ale very far apart at the present
time as to the policy TO be pursued here
the remainder of the session. All are
agreed as to the necessity for the redemp-
ton of all the pledges made in the Demo-
cratic platform. but they are not at all
agreed as to what these pledges really
are. Some interpret them in one way and
some in another, and the hope is gener-
orally expressed that they will get to-
gether. agree upon some definite plan of
action, decide what the party pledges
really are. and then place the program
before the two Houses for action. II this
course is taken all will be well-if it is
not taken. the results will probably be
harmful in the future. One thing however
is certain. and that is that the white
people of the Eastern Shore and Southern
Maryland counties do not intend TO per-
NIT any repeal of the Wilson ballot law,
SO far as their counties are concerned.
As long as the negro IS allowed TO vote
the Democratic people OF those counties
do not intend to give the Republicans
any chance TO win victory, and the Re-
publicans may as well make up their
minds TO remain in the minority in the
General Assembly while the negro vote
remains on the registration books. The
Democrats of the black counties will re-
main in control there no matter what de-
vices they may be obliged 10 resort TO in
order TO win. The Republicans in the
Senate allowed themselves TO be placed
in hole few days since on two party
questions, simply through inattention to
what was going on. They voted for a
resolution to request Congress to inquire
into the high prices of food products in
which the high tariff was roundlv scored,
and they were obliged to ask for recon-
sideration of the matter in order that they
might be able to place themselves on
record as Republicans favoring high
tariff. The other matter was bill to pre-
scribe the qualifications for voters in
town elections in Princess Anne, Somer-
set county, in which they voted for a
measure which DISTINGUISHES the numer-
Gus negro population OF THAI town, by re-
curing property qualification and also
containing the celebrated grandfather S
clause. The bill al>J conierS the right Of
suffrage on " men IN Town elections. As
soon as the Republicans discovered what
they had done, they franically asked for
reconsideration in order that they
might be placed straight on the record
They obtained the desired reconsidera-
ton, and placed themselves on record. 1t
is but Just 10 Senator Matthias 10 state
that he was absent at the time, and that
when he entered the Senate chamber, he
promptly had his vote recorded on the
question.
I Senator Matthias bill TO authorize the
town of Thurmun 10 purchase the re-
cent?, constructed electric light plant has
passed the Senate and is now in the
House. Other bills introduced by Fred
ariCl- ro,,,,.,- am erc ora nc fDllOurc.
BY Mr.. Wertenbaker: Compulsory Ed
ucational law to apply TO all districts out
side of Baltimore city.
To repeal law enacted in 1908 prohibit
ing anyone but attorneys at law writing
Instruments affecting title to real estate.
This bill was reported unfavorably and
thr atened however
By Mr.. Ausherman, from Frederick
city. bills as fallows:
Amending charter of city in regard to
magistrates jurisdiction in matter of dis
orderly conduct and prices for same. y
Passed second reading in House.
Amending Street Paving Act. y
Passed second reading.
90 issue bonds for S64, $50 to take up
floating debt, now in hands of Frederick
county Delegation.
TO issue bonds for $4,000 to increase
the water supply for Frederick city and if
any balance to use same for street paving
Now in hands of Frederick county dele
CATION.
TO repeal mortgage tax law tor Fred
erick county. Now in hands of Ways
and Means Committee.
(Mr. George NJ. Hett, of Frederick
unity, has been appointed one of the
House en- .rossing cl rks, upon the recon-
mendation Of Chairman Conley. of the
! Democratic County Committee.
Among the prominent Frederick people
in the State House this week were ex-
Register of Wills, William B. Cutshall,
and Mr.. E. A. Toms.
Aside from their political affiliations,
the Frederick Senator and members OF
the House are among the most popular
men here All are hard workers and are
constant in their attendance upon the
committee meetings and sessions.
Delegate James P. Harris has been
laid up the last two days with a severe
cold.
PAUL WINCHESTER
NOTES.
Mr.. Ausherman introduced a bill to
repeal and re-enact with amendments,
Section 236A, of Article II, of the Public
Local Laws, of Maryland, title Erred
erick County," subtitle Frederick"
ralati1U 70 ctraatc p Afarrad ~ the