The citizen., 1914-03-27
ANNAPOLIS LETTER.
Annapolis. Nd. March asrd. 1919.

The end OF hope for those who had
faith in the presen. Legislature to enact
fair primary election law came on Thurs
day of last week, when the motion to
substitute the mass vote for the county
unit system. which had already been fav-
orably reported from the committee was
defeated by a vote of I6 to 9 in the Sen
ate. A great number of people in the
city are wondering Just how much OF this
kind OF legislation the people of the State
are expected TO bear without taking some
steps to protect themselves from legisla-
tive usurpation of their rights. Never
before have the counties so ruthlessy
enforced their machine domination. We
are beginning TO wonder what the an
swer OF the people will be when il is reg
istered at the next general election.
The Senate Finance Committee voted
a favorable report on the Price Roads
bill giving 81. 200. 600 TO Baltimore city
for a bridge and streets and S., ,ooo, 900
for the roads in the counties.
However, the bill was amended by the
commmittee with the approval OF Mr..
Price in several important particulars.
one being the elimination OF the special
designation of certain roads in various
counties for improvement.
Then the provision which puts the
power Of buying land and other property
in the hands of the Mayor and City Coun-
Gil IS shifted to the State Roads Commits
sion and the clause which gives broad
and indefinite authority IN the handling
Of such OF the money as is to go for land
is eliminated.
The bill gives Baltimore city 5000. 900
,.,o~o ~ Nzoca,, hill rax, isfn~a
the House with a favorable report, and
$500, 900 less than the Wilkinson bill,
which embodies the views of the city ad-
ministration.
The problem before the Legislature is
the connecting up OF the links ofihe main
! arterial system in the next two years,
! leaving the lateral roads and minor links
and bridges to be provided for at the
| next session. The cost to the taxpayers
4 for this work under the three plans now
being seriously considered is as follows:
Veasey Bill-For Baltimore city, ST.
/ COO. 600
Price Bil-For Baltimore CITY. 81, 2oo-
900; for the counties $5'ooo'ooo' total
S6. 200, 900.
Wilkinson Bill-For Baltimore city,
| 81. .ooo. 900; for the counties, S5, 900, 900;
total, S7.ooo.ooo
The omnibus appropriation bill was re-
! ported IN both houses. and the provisions
are. with few exceptions. as reported
last week The changes made since then
in the various items are as follows:
| The allotment to the Workshop for the
Blind was increased from SI2. 500 to
SIS 900.
The Emergency Hospital at Easton is
to get 81. 500, and $40, 600 additional for
buildings
The Home and Infrmary of Western
Maryland is given SIC, 600
Eastern Branch, Maryland Agricultural
College, $500.
Princess Anne Academy. a colored
school, gets $500.
AS Prince Georges and Montgomery
counties have no hospital, each county is
given $1,000 to pay for patients sent tc
the hospitals in Washington.
The Agricultural College appropriation
is reduced from $4,000 to SIG, LOCO fol
maintenance. and from S.. 600 to So ooc
for maintenance each year. With these
exceptions. the amounts appropriated a:
previously reported are unchanged
Mr.. Belt introduced bill in the House
by request. to make Knoxville dry
A delegation of leading residents of the
town visited Annapolis last week ano
urged that all saloons in the town bt
abolished
The Frederick County Commissioner.
and number Of citizens from that county
came here to oppose the LeGore Bridge
Bill 1t can safely be stated that the bill
will not pass. as it has lost many advo
Gates within the past two days.
The selection of Joshua w. Miles a!
Internal Revenue Collector and w
Mitchell Diggs as Naval officers hav,
been well received.
Rumors are current that william L
Marburv would be selected as Collecto
at the Port of Baltimore.
The Judges increase salary bill was un
favorably reported by the Finance Com
mttee.
Many visitors from all sections of thu
State are in attendance at the Legislative
sessions.