The citizen., 1914-02-13
ANNAPOLIS LETTER.
Annapolis, Md, February 9th, 1914.
From nracani Indications the I egiSla-

new rules which have been adopted by
both the State Senate and the House of
Delegates. but also to the determination
of the Senators and Delegates to con-
slider all bills as fast IS possible. Dur.
ing the past week scores of bills were
introduced in the Senate and in the
House of Delegates and they have been
referred to the proper committees. The
bills which were introduced curing the
FIRST few weeks of the Legislature have.
to great extent, already been consid
cred by the committees, and many of
them are now on their course OF passage
through the Legislature. In former
years it is fact that there was a general
tendency among the members of the
committees to hold back bills. This
year the situation is reversed. Every
Senator and Delegate is working dill
gently to get legislation out of the way
as fast as possible so that the legislative
| wheels will not be choked during the
last thirty days of the session. 1t is also
a fact that the bills are being introduced
much faster than usual, and with every
Senator and Delegate keyed up to quick
action, it is predicted that this Leglsla
lure will make a splendid record for itself
for the fast consideration of bills.
Democrats interested IN the redemp-
ton of the pledges and promises that
were made by the Democratic party in
Its last State platform are urging that all
| bills carrying out these policies be acted
upon as soon as gosSible. In order that
this may be done, it is being suggested
that the Democrats Of the Senate and
| House, together with the party leaders of
the city and counties, hold a conference
| in Annapolis this week and decide on
the nature Of these bills. Most of these
bills carrying out the promises made in
/ the State platform have already been
| prepared by the committee of seven, Of
which former State Senator Arthur p.
Gorman, Jr., of Howard county, is chair
man, and some of them have been intro
| duced in the Legislature. IF there is any
| differences of opinion among the Demo
cratic members concerning the provis-
iohs of these bills. it is being urged
that the Democrats should get together
on them and adopt bills which will meet
with the solid and enthusiastic support Of
| all Democratic Senators and Delegates.
| After such a conference it is pointed out
that the party bills could then be passed
| by the Legislature and sent to Gov
| ernor Goldsborough. 1t is strictly up to
the Democrats to redeem every pledge
that they made in the last State cam
paigd and this can readily be done if the
| Democrats can merely agree upon the
| party bills. Although Governor Colds
borough's attitude on many of the Dem.
| oCratic promises is unknown, it is feared
by hundreds that he is opposed to many
of them. For that reason, it is asserted
tnat the party bills should be sent to the
Governor not later than the sixtieth day
| of the session. Should he veto any of
them then the Democrats have in each
branch of the Legislature the necessary
Constitutional majority to pass them over
| his veto.
By passing all party measures early in
the session the Democrats will force the
Governor into the Open Under the
State Constitution the Governor must
pass upon every bill received by him
while the Legislature is IN session within
six days after it is filed in his office. IF
the Governor refuses to sign a bill after
! its sixth day. and the Legislature is still
in session. then the Constitution provides
that it must become a law If the Gov
ernor vetoes it, then he must return the
bill TO the branch of the Legislature
from which it originated together with
his veto, and then the Legislature has
the power to pass it over his veto, and
the Democrats have enough votes in both
the Senate und House of Delegates to
pass vetoed bill. During the last five
days of the legislative session the Gov
ernor is not required to return to the Leg
islature the bills that he desires to
veto. And neither is he required to pass
upon them. All that is necessary for
him to do in order to kill them is to lay
them aside and they die. Only bills that
meet with his approval are considered of.
hcially by HIM, and these of course, are
signed. Because of this condition Dem
ocrats who are vitality interested IN the
future success of the party rightly con-
tend that every possible effort should be
employed to put through the Legislature
now all bills concerning party pledges
and the general policies of the Demo
cretic party. There is not much doubt
but that this will be done.
Seldom in the history of the State has
such headway been made on the framing
OF the big appl opration bills as has been
done at this session. Both the Finance
Committee OF the State Senate. of which
Senator Peter !. Campbell, of Baltimore
City, is the chairman. and the Ways and
Means Committee of the House of Dele
gates. of which Mr.. Lloyd Wilkinson, of
Baltimore City, is chairman, have made
considerable headway in compiling the
various appropriations. Each committee
has held scores of hearings and these
will be continued during the next several
weeks. As was expected the demands
for State appropriations are much larger
than usual this year, and this means that
both committees will have to use the
pruning knife very effectively If they de-
sire to keep down the State tax rate, and
this they are apparently determined to
do. In the past all Of the big appropria-
ton bills have generally been reported to
the Legislature during the closing weeks
of the session. and then put through
without the Senators and Delegates
knowing much about their provisions.
The situation will be reversed this year,
and from present indications every SEN