The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-04-22
Communicated.
BALTIMORE. April 20, Ie

BALTIMORE. April 90 1910.
Governor Crothers made the most
important of his appointments this week,
when he gave out the names of Messrs.
Walter W. Abel, James NJ Amber and
Philip d. Laird, as the Public Utilities
Commission, Mr. John E. George as
Automobile Commissioner, and Mr..
H. Arthur Stump as Judge of the Su
preme Bench of Baltimore City. All of
these gentlemen are eminently qualified
for the places to which they have been
assigned, stand high in the estimation
of the general public, and their appoint
ment gives general satisfaction, except to
the mugwump papers of Baltimore, who
would not be satisfied with anyone
named by a Democratic Governor. The
passing of the SIM over TO the mug
wump Republican ranks, takes away
the last friend that the local and State
Democracy had among the daily English
newspapers of the city, and leaves the
party helpless SO far as Journalistic sup
port is concerned in Baltimore City.
In this connection it is we'll TO recall
the fact that the Sun was responsible for
the defeat of Senator Prices Amendment
to the Public Utilities Bill, which would
have permitted the establishment of
real Democratic paper in the city. Under
the law as it stands now, every public
or quasi public organization or associa-
ton is subject to its provisions, except
the Associated Press and kindred organ
iZatIonS, and these close corporations are
in no wise under the control of the COM
mission or the regulations OF that body.
As a result, no newly established paper
will be able to secure any press service,
and the old monopoly of public news
will be more firmly entrenched than
ever Senator Prices Amendment,
which was rejected would have
placed the Press Association under the
regulation of the Public Utilities Com
: mission. and would have enabled any
newspaper in the State to have obtained
telegraphic service at the same rates
now paid by the other members of the
Press Association. The only monopoly
not subject to regulation by the Utilities
Commission, is the monopoly of news
by wire, and this prevents the establish
ment of any newspaper in Baltimore
City, with any reasonable prospect Of
success. The San wanted everything
regulated by the commsslan except the
monopoly in which it was Interested.
and in this, as in all other matters. bull
dozed the General Assembly into obedi
ence.
The outlook is bright for the election
of Democratic Congress this year. and
in this Maryland will probably contribute
a full delegation Of six Democratic MEM
bers. All of the signs from every section
OF the State point to Democratic land
slide, and the same signs from all sec
tons OF the country indicate that the next
House of Representatives will be Demo
cratic by large majority, and that
Maryland will once more have solid
Democratic delegation in Congress.
People are just beginning TO realize the
importance of the laws passed at An
napolis during the recent session Of the
Legislature. Among the important bills
of general moment We're the Public
Utilities Bill, the Primary Election Law,
! the New Assessment Law, the Automo-
bile Law, the Pure Food Law, the new
| laws for the care of the insane and other
INDECENT people-al of which are almost
revolutionary in their character, and will
be far reaching in their effect. Under
these laws the whole system of the man.
agement ofpublic affairs will be changed
and new and radical methods will pre-
Vail IlOW lHCSC Will MOih
when carried into practical effect cannot
be foretold-but any defects can be rem
edied al the next session in 1912. AT
that time the ineffective parts can be
eliminated from the laws and the good
parts left in operation. As 1t is, men
who are good judges, assert that Mary
land is now in the vanguard of the
States in all matters pertaining to up-to-
date and modern legislation-especially
in the way Of care for the afflicted both
mentally and physically.
Notwithstanding the criticism of the
General Assembly on the part of the
hostile papers, the Democrats need have
no fear to go before the people on the
record OF the last four months, for the
good so far predominates that there can
be but very little Just criticism made by
any reasonable person.
PAUL WINCHESTER.