Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-03-29

Monday two of the calendar days of the
now dying session were lost TO the bill and
the House was prevented from sending the
measure over to the upper body Of the
Legislature until Monday.
The bill went over to the Senate Monday
night and was referred by President Price
to the Temperance Committee.
The fate of the bill in the Senate is I'M
certain. The lineup is very close, and
the rules Of the Senate give the opponents
OF the bill a distinct advantage. Even
the attitude of the President of the Sen
ate has not yet been announced Senator
Lee, who is responsible for its passage
Of the bill by the House in its present
form. will strive earnestly for the passage
through the Senate. II ii had not been for
the Lee amendment. the whole unfinished
work of the session, including as 1t does
most of the important bills, would probably
be in snarl at this time. As il is, the
House is rapidly disposing Of its work.
There has been some fears that the tie
up by the Local Option bill would prevent
the enactment of the appropriation bills
for the support Of the State government
and institutions and the aid TO charitable
institutions. But it is said that the Gov
ernor has declared vehemently that he
will under no conceivable circumstances
or conditions call an extra session.
Senator Crothers attempted to have the
rules amended so that clOture might be
applied in the Senate on any matter to
come before il in the future, il being well
understood that the intention was to have
cloture rule ready to stop debate or fill
clustering on local option whenever de-
sired.
President Price at once referred this or
der to the committee on rules Mr.. Crothers
demanded immediate consideration. He
said he was on his feet asking such con-
sideration before the president made the
reference, but the president said he did
not see him. Then Mr.. Crothers appealed |
from the decision Of the chair.
II was during the warm discussion Of
this appeal that the spectre Of local option
stalked boldly into the chamber and was
made the real feature Of the debate, which
was participated in by Senators Lee. Ben
son, Beck. Coady. Goslin and others. Mr..
Lee said the members should be perfectly
candid on the local option question. He
was prepared TO vote for the Local Option
bill as il came from the House and also to
vote to sustain the appeal from the chair,
as he thought Mr.. Crothers should have
been recognized in his effort to have imme-
diate consideration Of his order.
Mr.. Benson said he believed certain Sem
atOrs were intended to back the Local OPP
ton bill at any hazard, no matter whom
it hurt or what interests il might destroy;
that the object Of the proposed order was
to get Baltimore city and Baltimore county
by the throat by applying gag rule Such,
he said would be ruinous policy. Mr..
Beck said he expected to vote for the Local
Option bill. but thought the Crothers order
D reflection on the fairness of the chair.
Mr. Crothers' appeal from the decision Of
he chair was lost by a vote of 10 to IL.
By this time the Senate was pretty well
worked upand motion for a recess for an
lour was carried, although number Of
members voted in opposition.