Evening star., 1914-10-25
INTEREST IS KEEN
IN CONGRESS RACE
Washington People Watching
Contest in Fifth Mary
land District.
POLICE SHAKE-UP WAITS
UNTIL AFTER ELECTION
Rumors of ALI Kinds Are Abroad,
But There Are 1900 Votes at
Stake in Baltimore County.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
BALTIMORE, October 24.-One of the
hottest fights of the congressional
campaign now being waged throughout
the state, and one particularly inter-
esting to many Washingtonians, is
that in the fifth district between Rich
ard A. johnson and Sydney E. Mudd.
Both men are well known in the Dis
trict, the former having been in busi-
ness there for q number of years. and
the latter held the position of assist
ant United States attorney up to q
short time ago. when he resigned A
number of prominent business men. Of
the capital are taking an active in
terest in the campaign, and 1t is safe
to say that the result of the election
in the fifth Maryland district will be
watched with as much interest there
here.
The week just closed has been
marked by the number OF conferences
that have been held here between the
state chairmen and campaign man
ayers of both parties, and. while noln-
ing definite has been given out or any
positive prediction made. both parties
are working to bring outtheir fun
strength. The democrats are appealing
to the people on the strength of the
achievements of the Wilson admin
istrat1on. while the republicans are
making the tariff the paramount issue
of the campaign.
Police Reorganization Waits.
The threatened reorganization Of the
Baltimore county police, following the
expose of last week, in which it was
otor he thn
marshal down. were in league with
saloonkeepers and gamblers. will not
take place until after the first of No
vember, according to an announcement
by the county commissioners this week.
The statement has caused considerable
comment, and the impression prevails
that it is a political move and that
the commissioners do not intend to
chop On any heads until after the
election.
Rumors of all kinds are being heard
in the county about the proposed
shake-up. One, which comes from more
than one source, is that Marshal ].
Westley Creaner will be dropped, and
that Abraham Street, who was marshal
about six years ago, will get the place.
Mr.. Street has stated that he would
accept the position on one condition,
that he have a free hand to act and
not be hampered by political and sa-
loon influences.
However. the fact that the reorgani-
out until the first of the month indi-
Gates that the commissioners are con-
sidering election day. with its 1900
police-controlled votes at stake. The
regular days for the commissioners to
meet are Thursdays and Tuesdays. AS
election day Is Tuesday the meeting, Of
course, will be postponed until We'd
nesday.
Traction Engines on Hills.
An educational campaign to demon
strate to the people of western Mary
land that traction engines equipped
with movable smooth wheel bands can
be driven over mountains and that
such bands can be put on and or with
little trouble, is being planned by
Chairman Weller of the state roads
commission. Mr.. Weller and Assistant
Chairman Zouck left Thursday for
western Maryland to arrange for the
demonstration, which will take place
n week. According to Mr.. Weller's
plan, the traction engine win be start
ed from Ridgeville, in Frederick
county. and will be operated across
the Blue Ridge and Allegany county
mountains to Cumberland.
The roads commission attempted sew
eral weeks ago to obtain an injunc-
tion in Frederick county restraining
owners of traction engines from driv-
Ing over the roads of the county with
cleated wheels. The lower court re-
fused the appeal for an injunction, and
the advisability of taking the case to
the court of appeals was considered.
Chairman Weller took the position
that the farmers were entitled to
the use of traction engines to thresh
their crops. a better plan would be to
educate the farmers and engine owners
to the wisdom of smooth banding the
wheels while travelling over the roads.
The point that engines would not travel
over the mountains with such bands
was raised and likewise that the put
ting on and taking off of the bands
would impose much trouble on the en-
gfne operators. Mr.. Weller proposes
by this demonstration to prove that
both points are wrong. While the tests
will be confined to western Maryland,
the outcome is of great interest to ali
sections of the state, as a failure of
the engine owners to adopt the smooth
wheel bands, it is claimed, will result
in damage to the state highways which
will cost thousands of dollars to repair.
Tax Rate for 1915.
A compilation prepared by city off,
cials and made public this week woul1
indicate that the board of estimates
would have an increase of over s425.-
600 to work on as basis for fixing the
tax rate for 1915. This amount, will
mean over 10 cents on the rate, which
would indicate that the board will be
enabled to establish a minimum rate of
S1ss. provided the necessary amount
to be raised by taxation at the fun f1g
ure is the same as for this year.
1t is planned to issue next year about
sS.500.o00 Of new stock, provided the
new sewerage and harbor loans are an
al4
$8,200.000 of new stock was sold this
year. 1t would seem that there is littIe
difference in this respect between the
budgets of 1874 and 1915.