Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-20
Speaks for the Taxpayers.


Speaks for the Taxpayers.
Interest was intense when the roll call
was finished and the House was ready
for business. Mr.. Anderson was seated
in the gallery overlooking the Speakers
platform. He looked down upon the dele
gates full in the face. He was espied in
his seat of vantage by delegates who i'm
partially awaited the attack and the de-
tense. Chairman Newman of the temper
alce committee sat in the first row OF
the city delegation to the right of the
speaker. The local option bill rested on
his desk in full view of the galleries.
The majority report, which accompanied
the bill, was read first. That report de-
clared that the bill was aimed at Balti-
more. 1t further declared that the tax
payers of the city had declared against
the bill. 1t pointed out the revenues de-
rived from liquor licenses, and demon
strated the hardships to fall upon tax
payers if this revenue is to be lost II
dwelt upon the fact that investors in Bal
timOre city stock had believed that the
city's revenues would not be disturbed
The minority report was brief, as COM
pared with the majority report. A storm
Of applause broke out in the galleries
upon the completion of it's reading. There
was scattered applause on the floor.
The applause is out of order and viii
not be tolerated" the speaker said This
is the general assembly of Maryland. II
is not a political mass meeting. If the
applause is repeated or if there is dis
order l shall order the galleries to be
cleared"
Mr.. Cliff, the sponsor of the local OPP
ton bill, was the first to be recognized
when time for action arrived. He moved
to substitute the minority for the ma
jority report This was substantially
equivalent to substituting the bill for the
adverse report. Mr. Gift made speech
which lasted over half an hour in sup
greeted him was short lived. The speak
er's gavel fell as warning.
The house at this point took recess
until o'clock. When it reconvened the
crowd had been largely augmented by
new arrivals from Baltimore and else
leries could not accommodate the crowd
which fought for admission.
Speaker Trippe warned the audience
that there must be no lobbying on the
floor. He gave second warning against
outbreaks of applause and disorder.
Dawkins Passes the Lie.
sumption of business was at time ex-
ceedingly bitter.
Mr.. Dawkins, opponent of local OPP
ton. took the floor and devoted consid-
erabie time to a statement of the eff
forts of the AntiSaloon League to defea
him for reelection and the failure of this
effort. He then attacked the bill. and
said that it does not do what its friends
claim ii will. and said that not one in
twenty of those who were constantly
petitionihg the house to pass the measure
realized its tricky provisions.
Referring to Supt. Anderson of the
a Mt a noC Nr IA Soi
IF he says he is not against me and
was not against my election. he is a mali
cious falsifier, and when he says that
was promised reward for my vote against
the bill two years ago he utters what is
as false hell"
Mr.. Dawkins then charged that Mr.. An
derson was false to his own friends in
sending out his letter begging for money
to carry on the campaign, and saying
therein that ''he had the votes to pass
the bill, but needed moned to hold them. .
Calling delegate to the chair Speaker
Trippe took the floor. He opened a scraI
book from which he read a newspaper
account of Mr.. Gifts speech at the re-
cent local option meeting in the Lyric. lr
that speech Mr.. Cliff was quoted as say.
ing that Speaker Trippe was owned by
the liquor interests.
Turning to Mr.. Cliff, who sat within
an arms reach. Mr. Trippe asked hin
II he had been correctly quoted.
Those are my convictions, said Mr.
Cliff, with a dramatic pose.
Immediately there was an outburst OF
applause and hurrahs in the galleries.
Deliberate Falsehood Charged.
After order had been restored Speaker
Trippe looked deliberately over the fiool
and then up the galleries.
1.-THE author of the speech he said
slowly, admits that those are his con
victions. Then l pronounce what h
thinks and what he said deliberate
falsehood.'
There was an outbreak of applause oil
the floor, while Kisses came from thu
galleries.
The ponderous figure of Cy Cumming:
arose while the Kisses and the counte
applaus were at their height.
Il move that the sergeant-at-arms b.
instructed to clear the galleries. shouted
Mr.. Cummings.
Again there We're applause, cheers and
Kisses.
Il refer to the east gallery" said Mr.
Cummings, (which is the storm center o
this unseemly and unparliamentary dis
order. l wish to exempt Mr.. Anderson
and Mr. Mills. who are in the gallery ans
who are behaving themselves as gentle
men,.
Cummings Motion Prevails.
why should You clear the galleries,
asked Mr. Walker, when you permit tn