The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-02-06
The Maryland legislature.


The Baltimore Sun gives the following
birds eye view Of the progress" made
by the General Assembly. With the first
month Of the session gone, there has not
been thing accomplished in the way of
legislation.
THAT famous old saddle horse that
could lope whole hot day in the shade
of one tree is somewhat typical of the
progress made by the Maryland General
Assembly last week. Quite lot of work
was done, but actual accomplishments
are difficult to discern with the naked eye
Of layman.
while the House was gaily prodding
Mr.. Prick the Senate was moving along
its routine way with as little excitement
as sewing circle in an old ladies home.
Since the opening day when Senator
Benson took shot or two at the REV
erend Senator from Cecil, there has not
been ripple on the placid bosom of the
upper house and nothing to disturb the
quiet except the murmur of the rushing
food Of bill and more bills.
'As is natural in this age of morality
and the uplift, nearly all the proposed
laws. except those which are designed to
tap the State Treasury, are meant to for.
bid something or to regulate somebody.
"There are bills galore to regulate
pretty much everything from cemeteries
to milk cans, and TO punish the immor-
alities not only of the average human
being but of 'winks and measles who
kill chickens, and even the toy balloon.
g IF all them bills was to pass, said a
spectator who heard in daze the titles
Of some of them, there would be more
people in jail than out of Jail in Maryland
if the jail accommodations held out.
'sThere seems no startling likelihood
at present, however, of more than an in
considerable minority ever going on the
statute books.
s'The cause of moral endeavor will be
given another boost this week by bill
or bills to abolish all racing in Maryland
So far Senator Williams has introduced
bill to wipe out the Havre de Grace
track and Senator Hammond another
bill to create State racing commission
to regulate racing.
'The SUMS disclosures of the wide
spread surreptitious betting in Baltimore
( on horse-facing by handbooks has caused
much discussion and opened up anew the
whole racing question.
"The opinions about racing may be
roughly classified into three divisions
First, there are many persons who want
the whole business abolished,
Secondly, there are some who believe
that an old historic track like Pimlico.
which is not conducted primarily for
profit but for sport, may well be retained.
But they believe that other tracks which
are owned and conducted by gamblers
and politicians for profit only, and are
overrun by track followers of every sort,
should be abolished.
Third. there are others like Speaker
Triple who consider it wise and expe-
dent to create State racing commission
to grant licenses for and regulate racing
and take part of the profits for State
purposes. Such is the question which
Maryland must decide. 1t is one of the
few States in the Union where race
betting is still permitted.
THE official timekeeper of the House
employees has been very much on the job
SO far and the official roll call is made
every morning. Some unkinG person
has intimated that in addition to an
official rollcaller there is an unofficial
roli-answerer who blithely shouts Aye
for any who may have oversight or miss
ed train. y