The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1914-01-16
ANNAPOLIS LETTER.
Annapolis, Md, January 1ath, 1914.

4 several hours adjourned to meet on Mon
day, January II, p. m.
From present indications the time and
attention ol the Legislature will not be
taken up for weeks at this session by the
consideration of temperance legislation
AT the last three sessions the local option
bill took up much time of the Legislature
and thus DELAYED consideration Of many
important questions. The Anti. Saloon
League of Maryland has announced that
It will not pre- sent its local option bill at
this session, but it will present State
wide prohibition amendment TO the con-
stitution. 1t is expected that should
such an amendment he presented 1t will
be readily disposed of In order for such
an amendment to be passed bv the Leg
lslature 1t must receive a three ftth's
vote in each branch. This is regarded AS
impossible, and thus the probabilities are
that there will be no lost time in consid-
Grafton of the liquor and temperance
! questions. Many familiar with the per
sonnel OF the Legislature say that should
a prohibition amendment be offered it
would be Killed Immediately As vet the
Anti Saloon League has not chosen a
State superintendent to take the place of
Mr.. Wm. II. Anderson. who has gone 10
New York. 1t is reported that it will be
some weeks before a superintendent is
elected. Upon the new superintendent
will tall the tasN of putting prohibition
amendment through the Legislature.
One OF the big fights al Annapolis this
winter Will be Tor the passage OF the Bor-
ough Bill, which would increase the area
and population of Baltimore. and which
would materially increase the taxable
basis. The Borough Bill is prepared and
is ready Tor introduction IN the Legisla.
ture; as soon as it is pr scented A vIgiant
and iorceiul fight Will be made for It's
passage. Mayor Preston and the mem
bers OF the city administration are emhu
Slastcally behind this bill and lhey will
do all in their power for its success. The
bill has the support OF the people of Bal
/ tlmore and 1t Is contenied tat majority
OF the people living IN the sections which
II is proposed 10 be annexed to Balti-
more, are also in favor of it, The chief
| opposition to the bill comes from Bati
more county aud the members from that
county will unquestionablv make a des
perale fight against ii. The opposition
VIII be under the leadership of 5 ate Sen
ator Carville ID. Benson, of Baltimore
county, and Senator Benson is without
! 1bNNAlOu OilC vi TIC SIlI GWUGSl ana IIltbSt
capable igterS in the Legislature He
knows every trick OF the game III Leg
islature. Senator Benson, however will
find his match number OF times among
| the city's representatives. When the fight
begins. it is likely that Mayor Preston
and City Solicitor S. s. Field will appear
before The Legislature and argue for the
| passage OF the bill. The reason why the
|
posed to the Borough Bill is that they do
not want the county 10 give up such a
large amount OF its taxable basis to Bal
timore vet thev realize that the sections
| effected enjoy all the conveniences Of the
city merely because they surround and
are adjacent to Baltimore. The people
| living in them. with, possible few excep
tons, make their living IN Baltimore.
The committee oi $, ven, OF which for
mer State Senator Arthur P German
Jr., Of Howard county, is chairman,
which was selected some weeks ago To
draft general parry bills, has completed
great part OF its work aud il is believed
that all OF its bills will be ready for intro
ducton in the Legislature during the
next two weeks. The committee so far
has confined its efforts to drafting bills
by the Democratic party IN its last Safe
platform and also the preparation OF bills
carving out policies aud Improvements
which We're inaugurated under Demo
cratic auspices. The work Of this com,
mitee will unquestionabIy meet with the
endorsement and support of the Demo
cratic members Of the Legislature 1t is
also proposed tnat This comm,tee shall
act in an advisory capacity 10 the Demo
cratic members during the cnrire session
Its members will keep in close touch with
developments al Annapolis and will A
ways be ready to advise he members OF
the majority partv In the pas the ma
! jorty legislators have always sought the
! advice of party leaders. hui il viii be an
| improvement 10 have. them confer with A
committee composed of enthusiastic and
| vigorous Democrats who are vital, in
terested in the success OF the party at all
! times. Furthermore, an advantage will
| be that the committee of seven will work
| in the open and The public will always be
| kept advised. As chairman OF the COM
mlttee it is said that Mr. German will
spend much time IN Annapolis during the
session.
The suffrage hlSerS marched TO An
napois on Wednesday and presented
long petition asking the Legislature to
provide equal suffrage Tor MARYLAND AL
though about two dozen fair su'fragiSts
| LETT the city on The hike. only tour
completed it, The other dropped out
along the wayside. The suiirag'>tS de-
clare that they are going to make de
termined fight Tor equal suffrage this
year. One of The chief objections which
was raised against equal suffrage ON the
FIRST day of the session was that uuder
| the plan of the suliragists the right to
vote would be conferred upon the negro
women of this State, and this. it is ar
gued is asking too much There are no
doubt that there are thousands of white
men in this State who would not object to
equal suffrage il the right was only given
to white women. but they do strenu
+, ously object 10 placing the ballot in the
hands of tens Of thousands of neg
women. Maryland already has about
| TO- 600 negro voters. a vast majority OF
4 ,vhnn, ar.4 tynnrant and iIiiter AZ and