The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-01-15
EFFORT To KEEP WILLIAMS
OUT OF THE STATE SENATE
UnfavorabIy Acted Upon BY Members
And He Takes His Seat
Special to The Republican
ANNAPOLIS. Md. Jan

I
cesses of lawmaklng for some days.
Volumes of bills are awaiting intro
duction in both houses, but many of
these measures will have to be type
written or printed and other wise whip
ped into shape to conform to the new
rules.
The present delay in the actual start
ing of the legislative wheels promises
to be of advantage in the long run.
With the adjustment of the old and
and cubersome rules both houses will
be enabled to accomplish their business
in record time if the new rules are
ridigly adhered to.
The Lee rules promise to work to
especial advantage to the Republican
minority. In past sessions the majority
| has been ;.ole to hold a club over the
heads of the minority by refusing to
bring out bills introduced by minority
members except on payment in advance
in the way of pledges of support of
certain majority bills. Especially was
this true when the majority members
so interested had trouble within their
own ranks and needed the minority
votes to control situation.
Now these conditions will no longer
exist. Minitory members will be able
to demand the bringing out of bills
from committees and will be able to
wage fight with fair field on the
floor without fear OF the majority club
may be felt at any time.
The Republican members in both
houses will support for the most part
the new rules when the latter
are formally brought out for con-
sideration tomorrow on the floors
The Assembly will adjourn either on
Thursday or Friday morning and the
presiding officers of both houses are
working to complete their committee
assignments for announcement before
adjournment. If this is accomplished
the Assembly will be in shape to begin
actual business next Monday night
when many of the bills will be intro
cuced. On the Senate side only one of
the Western Maryland Senators will
receive committee chairman. Senator
Jones of Montgomery will land this
place but because of his being a new
member his committee will probably be
small one. All the Republican Senat-
ors are assured of placesion committees
but Senators Williams, Zihlman and
Matthias will be the only three who will
land important posts.
The heavy Democratic majority in
the Senate is causing embarrassment to
President Price as he is beng hard put
to satisfy all the members of bis own
party. Consequently the Republican
senators must suffer. Senator Matthias
is already on the Rules Committee
while Senator Zihlman will go on
Finance Committee and Senator Will
liams will also be given post in place
of the post on Rules Committee, which
he was euchered out of on the opening
day through the attack made on his
eligibility.
The Democrats have realized their
mistake in attempting to hold up Will
liams to block his being sworn in. Sen
timent within their own party in favor
of Williams has caused the ringleaders
of the attack on the Cecil man to reverse
their position. Today the special COM
mittee appointed to look into Williams
status held brief session and unani-
mously decided that the Cecil countian
is no longer a minister of the gospel and
is clearly entitled to his seat The com
mittee will report its findings tomorrow
morning and Williams will be immedi-
ately administered the oath. If the
committee had planned to do otherwise
it is most probable that the Senate
would have adopted a minority report
from Senator Zlhlman in favor of Will
liams and would have rejected the ma
jority report if it had been unfavorable
to the man.
Back of the attack on Williams is said
to have been carefully thought out
plan to give the Democrats a continual
opportunity to suspend the rules by a
straight party vote. With Williams
seated the Democrats have a three
| fifths put not two-thirds majority.
The former is sufficient to override the
executive veto but not enough to sus-
pend the rules. indications are that
Senator Williams will, with Senator
Zihlman, prove constant annoyance tc
the Democratic majority in the Senate.
The Senate has left the selection OF
employees to its President and the latter
will allow three places to the nine
minority senators. Consequently there
will be grand scramble for these Jobs.
Senator Price will announce the person.
mel of the Senate employees along with
his committee assignments.
On the House side Speaker Trippe i.
up against it even worse than is Presi
dent Price. In the lower house the
Democratic majority is really topheavy
and the colts are as active as tn,