The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-03-12
THE LEGISLATIVE MILL
IS STILL GRINDING.
Oyster Culture Has Been 7 he Most
important Subject Thus Far.
Annapolis, Md. March Il.

i On the third day of next November
the voters of Garrett county will be
permitted by referendum to decide
whether the sale of liquor shall he
/ prohibited in the county for term of
touryears or longer beginning on May /,
1915.
This referendum was made possible
yesterday when Governor Goldsborough
signed the Speicher bill, which passed
the House last week. III
From sentiment sounded by citizens
OF Garrett, who came here earlier in
the session to back Senator Speicher in
the fight, the county election will de-
clslvely vote against the license system
and there seems every indication that
the county will be entirely dry" one
year from this May.
In every particular the Speicher bill'
Is fair one to both the liquor and tenn
perance forces. The rights of the
liquor dealers are fully recognized by
the provision that if the county votes
dry the law shall not go into effect un-
I'll what would be the license year 1915.
Though this every person takes out a
license next May will be permitted the
privilege Of continuing his business
until the license has expired.
Another important factor is that
while the first decision of the voters
under the Dill shall hold good until 1918
lhat new referendum on the liquor
question can be secured at the Novem-
Der election IN that year on petition of
% per cent OF the registered voters of
/ the county. This dlsposes of the argu-
ment that the people when they once
speak shall never he permitted, TO
change their minds. While it is
that a trial of the no license plan will
be followed by prolonged continual
ton OF the plan the opportunity will be
open Tor the voters to publicly signify
IN 1918 and every four years after, if
they desire, that they were mistaken as
TO the wisdom OF doing away with the
retail ilquor traffic IN the county.
While Jarrett county has had much
important local legislation this session
the Spelcher local option bill is regard
cd here as by far the most important of
the batch and the county Senator
TRENDS are are still congratulating him
on his magnificent fight and victory.
Like other local legislation the good
bills affecting Garrett county are taking
the usual legislative course and will
come out IN due time in shape to re-
celVe the Governors signature. There
nave been some bills affecting the
county which the Assembly has refused
TO accept and these of course have gone
INTO the discard.
incidentally Delegate Shartzer of
Garrett is getting the record of being
the most persistent introducer of legis-
latlon OF either body. Many of his bills
are regarded as most trivial by members
from other counties and the House desk
officers SILVER each day When the hour
for introduction of bills comes, antici-
pating the flood that is liable to pour
forth from the Garrett delegation. In
deed 1T is SAID that Mr.. Shartzer, when
some of his measures have been killed,
has gone so far as to re-introduce them.
The oyster fight is over at last and
the Assembly will once more settle
down to cool and dispassionate con-
sideration of other legislation. For
nearly fortnight all subjects except
oyster planting and repeal of culture
laws have been showed to the back
ground. Oyster has been king and he
ruled both the Senate and the House
with rod of iron to the exclusion of all
other topics and issues. Both bodies
have at least sent to the third reading
files the Shepherd amendments to the
planting laws and by majorities which
cannot be reversed when the artual !