The citizen., 1913-12-05
BALTIMORE LETTER.
Baltimore, Md, November so, 1915.

is evident that one OF the presiding 9th
GERS will be elected from Baltimore's
members Of the Senate and House Ot
Delegates will receive many important
committee assignments. There are two
reasons why the city will play such an I'M
portant part at Annapolis next winter In
the first place. the city delegation Is one
of the ablest and strongest which has
represented Baltimore for many years
and. in the second il is the FIRST time IN
years that every member from Baltimore
will be a member of the dominant party,
From present indications, II appears as
though the Speaker of the House OF
Delegates will be a Baltlmorean and the
likelihood is that James McC. Tnppe,
who was Speaker of the last House Of
Delegates will be chosen. The names
of several other Baltimore members are
also being suggested in connection with
the Speakershp. Mr. Trippe made
splendid record as Speaker two years ago
and he won for himself the admiration
and respect of his colleagues. This will
serve him well in his candidacy for re-
election AT the show down, the proba-
biliues are that all other Beliimore candi-
dates will withdraw in favor of Mr..
Trippe. thus insurlng his reelection be-
vond a shadow of doubt. A number OF
county delegates, who were members OF
the last House OF Delegates, have de-
clared in favor of Mr.. Trippe and they
point to his fairness and good judgment
in presiding over the House two years
AGO. The party leaders in Baltimare will
also line up behind Mr. Trippe and many
of the county leaders are now advocating
his election.
1t also appears as though State Sena-
tor Jesse d. Price will be reelected Pres
ident of the State Senate. Mr.. Price is
serving his fourth term as a member of
the Senate and two wears ago he was
President Like Mr.. Trippe, he, too,
made splendid record. The selection
Of Mr. Trippe as Speaker will unques-
tionably help Senator Price in his fight
for the Presidency Of the Senate. Alter
the election Senator Price announced his
candidacy for the Presidency and for a
time it appeared as though there would
be lively scrap for this office. The talk
of various factional combinations went
rounds, but it appears as though this was
mere talk, built on subterfuges. During
the past few weeks there has been de-
cided increase in sentiment for the re-
election Of Senator Price and he will
probably be chosen by the Democrats
without a fight in the caucus. The East
ern Shore Democrats will undoubtedly
want one Of the presiding officers and. If
it should be agreed to give them the
President of the Senate, Mr.. Price would
unquestionablv be the choice of the
Democratic Senators from the section of
the State beyond the Chesapeake Bay
The name of State Senator Carville d.
Benson, Of Baltimore county, is being
suggested by his friends for the Presi-
dency. Senator Benson has served four
terms as a member of the House of Del
egates and this will be his second term as
a member of the State Senate. Mr.. Ben
son was Speaker Of the House Of Dele
ga,es in 1906 and he is one of the best
parliamentarians in the State.
| AS is well known, most of the import
ant work of legislative body is done in
committee rooms and thus membership
/ on the big committees, which consider
most Of the legislation and draft the big
bills, is much sought after In past years
| Baltimore has frequently been poorly
represented on the big committees, but
this year it looks as though the reverse
|
| get manv of the big chairmanships. but
it will get splendid representation on all
| the big committees as well as on the mi.
nor committees. The city has among its
members men especially well qualified
for work on the judicial, ways and means,
| finance and corporations committees, and
these men will he given due considera-
ton. On the Senate side, the indications
are that Senator Peter !. Campbell OF
| Baltimore City, will be named as chair.
man OF the finance committee, a place he
held at the last session and which he
! filled with credit and distinction, both to
himself and his party. Mr.. Campbell
has served more terms as a member OF
the legislature than any other man from
Baltimore and he knows the work of the
legislature perfectly. Since the election
Senator Campbells name has been sug-
gested as candidate for President, but his
close friends say that he would rather
head the finance committee again than be
| President All four members of the
State Senate from Baltimore are lawyers
and thus the city presents excellent tim
Der for the judicial committee and, also,
for all the big Senate committees.
A number of Baltimore City Democrats
are urging that Home Rule bill be pass
| ed by the legislature and the CITY be CIV
en- complete control Of all departments
and bodies which are entirely maintained
| by the taxpayers of Baltimore. For many
years much opposition has been aimed at
! the condition which places under the
Governor several OF the most important
boards, among them being the Police and
Liquor License Commissioners Boards
1t is only for Baltimore City that the Gov
ernor has such powers. He does not
have it in the counties. In the counties
the county government has full charge OF
the police force, if there is any, while the
liquor licenses come under the superv.
sion OF the Circuit Courts of the counties
or special board named by the county
authorities. In Baltimore City it is differ
ent. The city authorities have no say or
jurisdiction over these two important de.
partments, yet the taxpayers of Balti-
more pay all the expenses and salaries.
The Governor makes all appointments on
these two boards. Many Baltimoreans
believe that these two boards should
come under the direct control of the
Mayor Of Baltimore, as do all the city de-
partment heads. The Home Rule bill
has won many supporters and the proba-
biltles are that some sort of legislation
along this line by which the two boards
will come under the city and not the
State government, will be presented.
1t will be impossible for the Democrats
to pass the currency bill during this ex-
ira session of Congress. This means
that measure will come up for con-
cir Al