The citizen., 1913-11-28
BALTIMORE LETTER.
Baltimore, Md, November "a, 1913.

preparatory 10 tue COHNeulHS Ol lHe
Legislature there is general discussion
of the measures which will be considered
al Annapolis next winter To a great
extent this diScussioa has been confined
10 men and interests who will have no
connection with the Legislature, as Del.
egates and Senators have, as yet refused
to give their views on the many ques-
tionS that have been raised. SO far as
the members of the new Legislature are
concerned, they are quietly working out
in their own minds some bills which they
will present and they are closely study
ing the general situation concerning leg
islatlon. The chief interest among the
members at present is the preparation of
bills carrying out the pledges made by
the Democratic party in its last State
platform. These pledges and promises
will be redeemed by the Democrats in
the full spirit in which they were made
and the general policies OF the Demo.
cratic party will be carried out. The
Democratic party in this State, whether
IN the local or State governments, has
always redeemed its pledges, but next
winter it is proposed TO pass platform
legislation earlier than usual in the Ses-
sion, so that the closing days of the ses-
sion may be entirely given over to gen
eral legislation and the preparation OF the
big financial and appropriation bills.
The Democratic members will unques-
tionaby be unit on the platform bills
and for that reason they Can be passed
early and then sent to the Governor.
Furthermore, many Democratic leaders
point ont that Governor GoldSborough
may not be in sympathy with some of
the Democratic bills and he may veto
them. BY putting such measures through
the Legislature early. if they were vetoed,
they could be returned to the Legsa-
ture and passed over the Governors
head by three-hfth's vote. which the
Democrats will have in each branch of
the Legislature.
In order that the party platform
pledges may be redeemed early in the
session, a number of Democrots, includ-
ing members of the next Legislature, are
urging that a Conference OF the party
leaders and members be held p ior to the
meeting of the Legislature and general
legislative scheme so far as the platform
promises are concerned be adopted 1t
is being suggested that the committees
composed of the members of the Senate
and the House of Delegates could be
selected and these committees. in confer
ence with the Democratic lawyers and
party leaders, as well as all of the DEM
OCrdtS of the State, could work out the
different platform measures and thus
have them ready for Introduction during
the first several weeks of the Legislature.
These bills could then be put through
as soon as possible and then sent to the
Governor within the first fifty days Of
the session. Under the law, the Gov
ernor must sign bill within fifty davs
after it has been received bv him.
Should he refuse to sign it, then il be
comes a law without his signature Should
he veto it. the bill must be returned To
the branch of the Legislature in which it
originated by the fifth dav, and then the
Legislature can consider it again. The
strength of this suggestion for a general
conference Is seen by all Democrats and
the indications are that it VII be adopted.
The probabilities are that the call for the
conference will be issued bv Chairman
Murray Nandlver. of the Democratic
State Central Committee, and that the
conference will be held in Baltimore CITY
before the Christmas holidays AT this
conference all other legislation, espec
iallv such as may be expected to meet
with the opposition of the Republicans,
could be considered.
AS vet. Senator Blair Lee has not de
Cided when he will present his Creden-
tiais for his seat in The United
States Senate The Democrats of the
Senate are anxious for his vote and
voice to be used in supporting the Cur
rency Bill of the administration as soon
as possible. 1t is now realized that
should Senator Lee eudeavor to take his
seal next week, a strenuous fight would
be made against him by the Republicans
and few Democrats who are hostile to
the Presidents Currency Bill. The prob
abilities are that Senator Lee will present
himself to take the oath OF office at the
beginning of the regular session of Con-
gresS the first Monday IN December. 1t
is believed at that time there will be no
fight made against him. especially after
it is pointed out to the Senators that he
was elected to the seat by an unpreCe-
dented majority of votes in this State
In political quarters it Is generally be-
lieved tnat Senator Lee will appoint Mr..
II. II. Buck, OF Montgomery county, as
his secretary, Mr.. Buck has served as
Mr. Lees secretary for the past three or
four years. He had charge of Mr.. Lees
correspondence at his headquarters in all
OF his campaigns.
The Slate Board of Canvassers, COM
posed OF Comptroller Harrington. Treas
urer Vandiver and Attorney General
Poe has completed a recanvass Of the
vote of the recent State election and the
certificates of election will now be issued
to the men elected. The first two GER
tficates to be issued by the board will be
those OF Congressman.elect Charles P.
Coady, of the Third Congressional Dis
trict, and United States Senator elect
Blair Lee Congressman Coady will
qualify on Monday or Tuesday and will
take up his new duties. Mr.. Coady has
the appointment of Mr.. Her
man Siskind as his secretary. The sec
retary receives $500 a year. Mr.. Sis.
kind has been a very close personal
and political friend of Mr.. Coadv for
of years. He is young and
active Democrat and lives in the Twenty
second Ward, which is part of the
Third Congressional District A number
OF Mr.. Coadys friends will go to Wash
ingtou to see him inaugurated. Comp
troller Harrington, who has been re-
elected for two years, will not begin his
second term until the middle of January
Mr.. c. c. Magruder, who has been re-
elected Clerk of the Court of Appeals
for a term of six years. will not quality
again until January. The new members
OF the Legislature take their oatn of Of