The Washington times., 1910-01-01
May Propose New Voting
Amendment ins Maryland
Legislature.
COUNTIES OPPOSED
TO BALTIMORE CITY
Reassessment of Property One of
the Matters Advocated by
Governor Crothers.

ANNAPOLIS. Nd. Jan. 1.-The Cen
eral Assembly OF Maryland viii con
vene for its biennial session on Wcdues-
Gay next. with q Democratic majority
OF over two to one IN both the senate
and house Of delegates. In the senate
there will be twenty-0ue Democrats and
but six Republicans; while in the house
there viii be seventy Democrats and
thirty-one Republicans
Not since the psImy days % German
and Rasjn has a Legislature been 50
absolutely controlled By the Democratic
Eta(e leaders as 1t appears the Lesis-
IatU-e Of 1910 viii be- Largely through
the instrUmentaIity Of the Wilson law
81 the counties ln which the negro pop
uIatIon is great. and through the effect
OF the recently proposed franchise
amendment on the ballot. 10 which the
negro voters largely confined their at
IenrfOn. the Legislature has been made
rverwh heIminEly Democratic, and can
readily muster the three-fifths vote In
both houses. which is necessary for the
submission Of another suffrage amend
Enent, Il wished
No Friction Among Majority
Nor IS there any independent element
o. the Democratic party represented in
the IeEIsIators-eIeCt 50 far rs Is known
When It was announced that the choice
Of the leaders had fallen upon Arthur
p German. IT., for president Of the
senate and Adams Peoples, Of Cecil
county. the choice OF Governor CCoth-
ers, for speaker OF the house th6ir was
prompt acquisition. and CarviIle D Ben
son. OF Baltimore county. who had al
ready served as speaker, promptly with
drew his candidacy
That the presiding officers Of the
houses have been practically chosen IN
advance and Jh5I the Endorsement OF
IsIdOr Rayner for reelection as United
states Senator has been accomplished
ere facts which viii eliminate elements
that usually prove interesting ar the
opening Of the session. but there wl'l be
no lack Of interest In the sessions as
The Legislature continues
Most Of the questions which VIII come
before the Legislature this year VIII
be those which are actually sectional in
their nature Baltimore and the C1un-
ties VIII be placed IN direct opposition
when the matter Of larger representa-
TiOn for Baltimore city IS brought before
the assembly as Il VII be early IN the
Session
Baltimore Seeks Representation
Baltimore. with about one-haIf Of the
population Of the State. has less than q
AOAAaL u aA5 -t.Lr-A tl-F4-- -e--L-'l- z --E
demand from Baltimore city Is for rep
rssenta1Ion in proportion 10 its popuIz-
ton. To this demand there is the most
bitter opposition on behalf or the couu-
ties and there Is the prospect Of a bit
ter fight.
The proposed amendment Of the bal
lot law viii also have a tendency TO pGl
apart city and counties The present
voting system Is unpopular in the Cl-T
of Baltimore. and from 70 there IS q
strong demand f0r ITS simplIdcatio
Governor CTOJuerS- State Treasurer
NandiVcT- and other Democratic county
leaders. have definitely stated their an
pTovai Of the submission Of another
amendment for the purpose Of restrict
iUg negro suffrage The state leaders
h5-e not the single purpose OF accom-
Lining tie practical elimination Of the
negro from politics when they propose
another amendment for IL Is Clesr thai
unless a. political revolution - aclieN e1,
the Democrats can always elect Leg
fslarUre when a suffrage amendment OC-
Cupies place on the ballot
Another Amendment Opposed
The negro knowing that lis right Of
suffrage is at stake. tries TO vote
against the amendment and does moth
ing else, and thousands Of votes are
cast throughout the State, the only e.
feet Of which is 20 oppose the amend
slent Thus, by submitting repeated sUf-
frage amendments. the Democrats hope
70 hold the Legislature Indefinitely
Much opposition to another Ss1mis-
sion has come from Baltimore city
Here there is a large element Of indie
pendent Democrats wEo would resent
bitterly the submission Of auptHel
amendment and Il would probably re-
suit in the defeat of the Democrat
cand ties for mayor and other city nf
fcIals at tife next election
The Auti-Saluon League VIII contlnU
its efforts 10 secure a general i0ra
option law for the State It Is under
stood chat Adam Peoples OF 'cCI
county VINO VIII be speaker OF Lt
House Of Delegates VIII favor tH
measure Arthur p EorTau- IT. wins
viii preside over the senate oppose
II during the last session but there /
y very much disSruutled with the 50
loon element. which IL charges, was ar
rayed against the suffrage amendment
and there is possibility that II WI
DEss the bill 10 punish the saloon men
Resssessment An Issue
4 desperate effort VIII be made by tn
Tepresentatives Of the tidewater coun
ties for repeal OF She present gEsJe
culture law
one Of the his questions VIII be tina
Of a general rsassessmeut of the prop
erty Of the state. and It is said tia
Governor CTUrher- Is working "EL n1
sdeaS on the subject and that they WI
be embodied IN a bin which VIII ne on
of the first INTRODUCED
AftuCcLneT the county legislator Is q
the throne and Baltimore city Is tEei
e. get CEIy what the county. mcmbeI
viii ies 70 have. Sti1 experience die
rates that the city brpther shall Do.
he dealt with too TUthieSSIy and OF
OF the tiE gsTrhieuls Of the session &.
the leaders viii bs- to make EaItImDI
feel Ike r. IS setting something an
stHi not let II set TOO much