The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-03-03
MORE LEGISLATIVE BILLS
THAN CAN Be PASSED
Many important Measures Awaiting
Consideration.

In commenting upon the multiplicity
of bills now awaiting action, an Eastern
Shore senator who is one of the most
conservative Legislators in the General
Assembly remarked that if all were to
be disposed of an extra session would
be unavoidable.
I'VE have FIVE weeks of the session
remaining" said he, "and allowing
only one day for each of those regarded
as important and at least two if not
three. will require more deliberate con-
sideration-we won't be able to get
through with one-half The rules Of
the Senate permit unlimited debate
when the discussion is not continued for
purposes Of delay. and as many of the
bills are of vital importance-au I re-
fer to those of d nonpoltical character
II assume that there will be no desire
to curtail the talk by attributing such a
motive to any senator 1t might there
fore be wise to give the right of way to
measures in which the public is primar-
lily interested, ike the pure food. the
oyster, the reassessment, the banking,
the appropriation and other such bills
and to sideuacE the stock jobbing and
political jobs, which will only consume
time and mean nothing in the end. The
legislation of a local nature which re-
quires only the approval Of the repre-
sentatives Of the constituencies affected
will, in my Judgment not suffer, as
these will be threshed out in committee
and meet with no opposition when taken
up.
There is no crying demand for a
large number Of the general bills, a
majority of which might be character
/ lied as hobbies of individuals or schemes
Of opposing corporations who are irving
to get the better of their opponents,
/ and no tears would be shed over their
failure. buc these serve to block needed
legislation and must therefore be taken
into consideration. The great danger
lies in the haste that usually character
ICES the work during the closing days
and which results in the enactment Of
laws that have not received the neces-
sary consideration ~
/ This statement summarizes the sltua-
ton at Annapolis. 1t is based on eX-
4 perience and conditions as they actually
exist. Nor has the flood of bills ceased
/ to pour in. They will continue to come
until the time limit for their introduce
/ ton has expired. and as the committees
will be unable to deal with all Of them
as they should. it is apprehended that
/ some fearful and wonderful laws will
appear on the statutes if the Governor
/ permits them to pass.
/ In a degree the Governor himself is
responsible for the chaotic condition in
the House which is reflected to a lesser
extent in the Senate The assignments
/ to important committees were not care
fully considered, the same men being
/ placed on too many of them. Take as
. example the House Committees on Ju-
dietary and Corporations, who have re-
ferred to them more important bills
than 60 to all others with the possible
! exception of the WAYS and Means. Five
/ Of the eleven members on either com
/ mittee serve on both and as the time
/ for meetings is usually fixed at the
same hour, it is impossible to secure a
full attendance Indeed it is difficult
/ for either to secure a quorum and almost
impossible to get as many together as
are needed after the adjournment of the
House
Nh Glrdo God, chairman of the
/ House Committee on Judiciary, publicly
acknowledged during the past week
that he is unable to collect quorum in
the afternoon. If there have been any
/ committee meetings at night the an
nouncement will cause some surprise,
/ for, as a rule, the legislative halls and
. rooms are deserted after dark by all
save a few chairmen who are trying to
90 it alone and belated members and
employees who collect in groups and tell
funny stories. No session of the Sen
ate has lasted twQ hours and only once
/ did a House session consume three
hours. Just two bills of Importance
/ have come from committee. The White
/ Slave Bill passed the House and is now
in the Senate Judiciary. The pure food
measure escaped into the House and is
now on the files. This week the State
Wide Local Option Bill will come out of
/ the House Committee on Temperance
with two reports-maiority and minor
ity.
/ If in this mass of stuff the numerous
political bills, most of which are de-
signed to give the machine a stronger
grip on the state, should be lost the fail
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