Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1914-04-09
Legislature Ends.
Session Brought to a TumultOus
Close With Everybody In
= joyful Mood.


Annapolis, Md, April 6.-With floor
and galleries and lobby packed with spec
tators, both chambers Uttered with papel
and debris Of all sorts, with many mem
bers skylarking and Indifferent to what
was being done, with handsome chests Of
silver presented to the presiding officers
of the House and Senate and the Repub,
lican floor leader of the Senate, Mr. Zihl-
man, ornamenting the tables in front of
the clerks desk. with highly eulogistic
and congratulatory speeches by the
officials of the Legislature; and with a
stalwart platoon of Baltimore policemen
on guard in every quarter to prevent
those present from taking away the
State House, as one cynic suggested, the
session of the General Assembly of 1914
adjourned late tonight.
1t was festive and more or less hilar-
ious scene. For hours before the adjourn
ment farcical roll calls were going on,
putting through pet measures OF this or
that legislator or outsider who had enough
influence to push them to the front
A number and line or two of the cap
ton of the bill was droned out by the
clerks, few paying the slightest atten-
ton, and, indeed, being unable to hear
even the number, in all the noise and
confusion, unless right under the clerk s
desk. Then the roll call of four or five
names at random, nobody voting, and
thereby enabling solemn law of the
great State of Maryland. All this occur
red, especially in the House.
In the Senate some of the members
made strenuous efforts to keep up with
what was going on, with but Indifferent
success. The crush of spectators, men
md women, around the doors and sides
If the chamber was so great and the con-
inual talking and moving about prevent
II anyone from following the proceed
ngs with any real care.
About II Is O. clock the special orders
pegan being read in the House by the
ill clerk, whose voice was getting very
husky. Dozens of members and en-
)loyees crowded around the desk and
here was much disorder, so that not
.ven men standing six feet away could
near what was being read. These ''or'
Iers" are to pay extra compensation to
every sort and condition of employees
pages, stenographers, cloakroom keepers
and many others not even in the employ
of the House, such as newspaper report
ers on some few papers and others work
ing about the State House, as telephone
and telegraph boys.
Thousands of dollars were voted away
while many members were throwing
wads of paper at each other, and nobody
except those crowded at the desk knew
what was going on.
Defeat For Uncle John.
Senator Emmert won his fight in the
Senate to allow the Hagerstown munich
pal electric light and power plant to sell
light and power in any part of Washing
ton county in competition with the Hag-
erstown and Frederick Railway Company.
Incidentally he defeated the amend
ments proposed and supported by his close
friend and party associate, "Uncle John"
Matthias who was seconded by Senator
Benson and Senator Curran. Also it was
the first real defeat for Senator Matthias
that he has sustained this session.
The first amendment was proposed by
Matthias to restrict the sale of light and
power by the municipal plant to resi-
dents of Hagerstown. This was beaten
by large majority.
Senator Curran offered an amendment
to put the municipal plant under the con-
troll of the Public Service Commission.
This was also beaten by considerable
majority.
The bill under suspension of the rules
was passed without amendment.
Local Bills Pass House.
In the House the following local bills
were passed:
House Bill 1l8 (Brust) To authorize
Frederick City to issue bonds for public
House Bill ll9 (Brust)-To authorize
Frederick to borrow upon the credit of
the city not more than 500, 900 for public
House Bill 924 (Brust, by request) To
regulate the duties and liabilities of in
surance agents.
Senate Bill $50 (Mathias) Regulating
collection of taxes by treasurer of Fred