The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-01-29
LACK OF ACTION IN THE
LEGISLATURE THIS WEEK.
Not Much Of Real Interest Transporting
Local Measures Have Right
Of Way.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, Jan. 28.

OAiS VI d pOOl ldlu dllOl
almshouse in the county. Delegate
Harvey is preparing bill providing for
the creation of county poor farm and
the measure will probably be so amend
ed as to permit the voters to decide the
question for themselves. The idea of
the bill is to create a rural community
where the INDECENT poor may virtually
support themselves by farm work and
by which little financial aid will be need
ed from the county except tor the origi-
nal purchase of the plant. Whether
such an idea can be really worked out to
lake the farm self-supporting remains
to be seen.
In connection with,this idea it is inter-
esting to remember that the Board of
State Aid and Charities IN its recent BIZ
ennial report has suggested to the Cen
eral Assembly that the board be given
absolute jurisdiction and supervision
over all county poor farms and aims
houses.
Responsibility for final passage of the
Spelcher local option bill will probably
rest with members of the Garrett dele
cation in the House. Senator Speicher
has carefully guarded his bill and yester-
day by skilful maneuvering had the bill
sent to be engrossed for the third read
ing file and its final passage.
The Senator pulled the trick in the
face of several citizens of Garrett. VINO
are reported to have come here to lobby
against the bill. The latter when intro
duced was sent to a select committee
composed of Senator Beck of Kent,
Senator Snader of Carroll AMI Senator
Speicher. When the latter got wind
that adverse interests were here to work
against the bill yesterday he obtained a
favorable report on the measure from
his committee and had the bill brought
up before the Senate. The favorable
report was adopted without dissenting
vote. The whole thing was done so
quickly that opponents of the bill did
not realize what had taken place
Sentiment among members of the Sen
ate is that the bill should be passed be-
cause it is purely county measure and
does not effect the people anywhere else
than in Garrett. Therefore the bill S
chances of passing the Senate are excel
lent and the situation is that the Garrett
delegation will have to pilot the bill
through the House after which a sigma
ture by the Cover nor is virtually certain.
Senator Speicher introduced today
his regular bill appropriating 1900 to
the schools of Garrett county and this
bill will have practically no opposition.
Next week the Garrett Senator will in
troduce his measure providing for the
extension of the corporate limits of
Oakland.
There has been a hot race among two
members of the Garrett House delega-
ton for the honor of being the author
of the anti-cigarette Dill for minors,
which is a statewide measure Sena-
tor Speicher introduced a similar bill
last week and the measure is still in the
Hygiene Committee. Likewise the two
bills of the Garrett delegation are in the
hands of the House Hygiene committee.
The penalties prescribed by all these
bills for violations of it's provisions are
so drastic that there will be bitter OPP
position to all the measures. There is
also strong probability that none of
the bills will pass except in amended
form.
The general tone of the Legislature
has fallen fiat during the past few
days: Few bills of a momentous and
statewide nature have been introduced
so far. The Democratic state platform
committee has sent in it's first batch of
bills but none of them have been report
ed from committees as yet. These bills
include proposed constitutional amend
ments abolishing the fee system
throughout the state, two bills provi-
ding for nomination of United States
Senators, one by extension of the coun-
ty unit system and other by direct mass
vote, and still another bill to place the
penalty on the vote buyer alone. The
question of mass vote or county unit
system of nomination will precipitate a
bitter fight later on in the session. The
woman suffrage bill has been introduced
in the House and will soon be reported,
but the measure stands no chance OF
passage by the lower house, though il
will receive larger vote than two
| years ago.
The State Roads Commission bill has
been introduced in the House and the
Senate will also receive bill within 9
few days. Tonight the German Demo.
cratic state platform committee will
meet here to consider road legislation
and workmen's compensation. Half 9
dozen bills providing for the latter are
ready for introduction, but all of then
have been held back pending recon,
mendation by the majority's platform
committee
To. day Senator Speicher introduced
a measure amending the Fifth Dis
trict liquor law whereby it shall become
unlawful for a saloon to be maintained