Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-01-26
Maryland legislature.
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS.

cVuhty s representatives were given the
following places:
Senator Blair Judiciary, chairman
Railroads and Canals, chairman; Finance
Amendments to the Constitution, Printing
Sanitary Condition of the State
Delegate Andrew j. Cummings Public
Buildings, chairman; Militia, Section "a
Article of the Constitution Civil Ser
vice Reform and Rules.
Delegate Eugene H. Waters Constitu-
tional Amendments. chairman; Judiciary,
Education, Public Records and Printing
Delegate John C. Bentley-Insurance and
Loans. chairman; Roads and Highways,
Fish and Game, Labor, Temperance, and
Contingent Fund of the Governor.
Delegate Frank J. Downey-Internal I'm
provements, Agriculture. Library. and Pen
sions.
To ABOLISH HANGING.
Mr.. Phillips. of WicOmico county, is pre-
pairing bills, which he will introduce in the
House, providing for the electrocution at
the Maryland penitentiary of all men con-
demned to die throughout the State.
The idea of the central place for the
execution of persons sentenced to death,
said Mr.. Phillips, is to prevent the curious
crowds which gather at the county seats
when hanging is about to be done. He
says that it will also lessen the opportu-
nifty for mob violence and set up system
which will make the carrying out of the
death penalty more sedate and quiet.
He says that electricity as a means of
putting condemned criminals to death has
been recognized as the most advanced
method in other States, and he thinks that
Maryland should now adopt this measure
lie also has bill abolishing the common
drinking cup on trains. "All kinds of dis
eases can be communicated by persons
using common drinking cup" he said
Some OF these are virulent | see no
reason why the use Of the cups should not
be prohibited and the cars be equipped
with slot machines which will allow a
traveller to purchase cup made of paper
for cent"
DIRECT VoTE For PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATES.
A number of leading Democratic men,
bers OF the Senate and the House will
confer with former Attorney General Issac
Lobe Straus regarding the preparation of a
bill providing for the direct election of
delegates to the Democratic and Republ-
can National Conventions.
1t appears that the Democrats are a
unit for the direct election of the delegates,
but there is much difference of opinion
regarding the method. II the county unit
system is adopted. then it will be necessary
for the parties to have a State convention
to finally select delegates or adopt some |
other similar clearing house for their Sc
lection.
Senator Blair Lee is studying the ques-
ton and while he has decided views on |
the provisions Of the bill will not discuss |
1t until after the conference Others are |
in the same mental attitude.
The HOPKINS $l,5OO,OOO APPROPRIATION.
The House adopted unanimously reso-
luton providing for committee to confer
with the trustees of the Johns Hopkins
University so as to agree upon the definite |
details of the plan of having a $500, 900 |
bond issue which can be given to Hopkins
for the establishment of a school of tech |
nology. The Hopkins in return, according
10 the plan, is to issue free scholarships in |
large numbers to this school and its other |
departments for the benefit Of pupils in |
the public schools Of Baltimore city and |
the counties. A similar resolution will be |
introduced in the Senate.
LOCAL OPTION Bill.
The Anti-Saloon Leagues Local Option |
bill which If passed will allow the wards in |
Baltimore city. the city as whole, districts
in the counties or counties as a whole, to |
vote upon the question of whether liquor
may be sold in the territory where the vote
is taken, was introduced in the House
Monday night by Mr. Gift. of Baltimore
city.
Mr.. Anderson gave out the following |
formal statement regarding the introduc-
ton of the bill
The bill introduced by Mr.. Cliff is the |
same bill that was introduced last session. |
1t does not force prohibition on Baltimore |
or ask the Legislature to close a single |
Baltimore saloon. The only forcing that 1t |
does is to compel the city gang to let the |
people vote, and thereby takes the liquor
traffic from them as a political playthine
and asset.
The league has carefully considered the
proposition Of former Governor Crothers
that an amendment be included providing
that there shall be no vote in the city of
Baltimore as whole for period of years.
After consultation with the friends of the
bill in the Legislature the headquarters
committee has unanimously decided that
the league cannot consent to any amend
ment of any sort, in justice to the men
who have agreed to support this particular
bill, because any amendment opens the
doors to others. However, the commit
tee has formally placed on record decla-
ration to the effect that the league will
not itself bring on or help any other agency
bring on an election in the city of Balti-
more as a whole inside of three years, and
it will be impossible for any agency to Sc
cure petitionof rs per cent. Of the voters
Of Baltimore without the leagues co-opera-
ton"
RAcE-TRAcK GAMBLING.
The lnter-Church Federation, Of this
State. has prepared two bills against bet
ting on horse racing in the State. They
will be presented to the Legislature for
their enactment into law. The Fedora
tons counsel, Geo. X. Gather recently
gave out the following upsn the subject
One of the most pressing evils at the
present time is the rapidly growing preva
ience of Gambling AT the race tracks In ,his