The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1911-08-18
Potent Facts About Mr.. German.

| Tile past Two years 40 PiSSiuohe "a eiAs
Senate he has occupied the official
position next to that of the Chief Exc
cutive and if during the time there had
been q vacancy in the Office he would
have been the Governor of the State.
1t is to that office that he now .aspires
and he is asking the Democratic party
for the nomination by the free votes
of the Democratic party and that is the
only way he wishes to get it.
Mr.. German is young man but he
has record and upon that record he
is willing to stand. 1t is record of
achievement and of service of his
people in which any man might take a
just pride. At the State Democratic
| Convention in 1908 the Democratic party
first took position in favor of plan
| for the improvement of the public
roads. The platform of that year con-
tanned this clause:
"The work of construction and i'm
provement of our public roads already
80 we'll begun should be steadily kept up
until, as the result of regular and
| judicious expenditure. there shall exist
in Maryland system of public roads
as good as that to be found in any Of
| our sister states"
Senator German wrote that plank
and by his influence it was put into the
party platform. The subsequent work
on road improvement was its outcome.
As chairman of the Finance Committee
Senator German held place of great
power. In that place he was ever
faithful to his people and stood firmly
against all demands for appropriations
which were not we'll and completely
justified. And the record will show it.
More than inthis order to afford some
relief to the heavily taxed property
owners Senator Germans con-
sidered it no more than just to put
larger proportion of the burden upon
the more wealthy corporations. He
introduced and had enacted bill which
increased by 20 per cent the tax upon
the gross receipts of railroads earning
over $1,000 per mile. This icnrease
made large addition to the revenues
of the State amounting to over $130, 900
year.
But the largest measure of relief to
the Taxpayers of Maryland grew out
of the investigation of the Balti more
& Ohio Railroad Company. The State
owned $500 shares of the capital stock
of the Washington Branch of the par
value of $3.50, 900. Since the failure of
road in 1895 the Washington Baanch had
ceased to pay dividend although Senator
German was convinced that dividends
were earned and that the State was not
being fairly treated. He therefore intro
duced resolutions appointing joint COM
mittee of the Legislature to investigate
the earnings of the Washington Branch.
He took a prominent part in the inves-
tigation that followed and the result of
it was that the railroad company paid
the State So, 500, 900 for an unpro due
tive asset and one which, in view of the
new Washington station and the
changes it made, would probably never
have become productive. That sale
cancelled So, 500, 900 of the States debt
and the people were relieved of the
annual tax for interest and sinking
fund. They owe that relief to Senator
Germans investigation.
In the senate, Mr.. German being
chairman of the Finance Committee
was naturally more occupied with reve
nue. measures than with other legisla-
ton. Yet he did not neglect laws look
ing to fair elections and the right of the
people to manage their own affairs. He
was the author of the primary election
law of 1908, being the first law for a
Iegalized primary in the counties ever
passed by the Maryland Legislature,
and also the Senatorial Primary Elec-
ton Law.
The best evidence of the value of Mr..
Gormen's services in the Senate next
to the record, is the testimony of care
full and ever observant eye witness.
Such witness we have in the Balti-
more Suns Annapolis correspondent.
We find the following estimate of Mr..
Germans work at Annapolis in a dis
patch to he Sun, referring to the rail-
road investigation.
"From the first move in the affair
down to the present time March
%, 19O6) Senator German, Jr., has
pursued his course with admira-
ole judgment and self poise and with
out any suspicion of Interior or improp-
er motives and without any faint of
politics. One of the conspicuous fea-
lures of Mr.. Germans character is his
intense earnestness. When he under
takes anything he does it with all his
might and with singleness and honesty
of purpose. To this is to be attributed
largely his success at this session of
the Legislature He has made some
mistakes here but upon the whole his
record is good. His introduction of
drastic and effective corrupt practices
act and his advocacy of charges in the
Election law which will eliminate some
of the worst features, show a breadth
of view which has gratified his friends.
GAS chairman of the Finance Com
mittee he has given heed to the interest
of the taxpayer without any undue
parsimony.
To all applicants for appropriations he
has been firm and courteous and above
all things his course here has been clean
| and honorable"
In his speech withdrawing from the
| contest for denomination Governor
Crothers said that the Legislatures of
1908 and 1910 had given the State more
progressive legislation and propelled it