Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-03-16
ANNEXATION FIGHT
AT A STANDSTILL
Republicans Could Play Important
Part Should They Act As
Unit.
ANNE ARUNDEL BILLS.
Provide for School Purposes Carving
Aggregate Bond Issue Amounting
TO $4,000,

=
bur not likely 10 come up in open ses-
sion. the House and Senate today are
lighting respectively over the Mary
land State Board of Agriculture with
changes i. administration of affairs Of
the Maryland Agriculture! College ,and
the Warheld statewide automobile Ii
cense law
The annexation fight appears likely
to remain at a standstill for the time
beng. the principal difficulty being TO
get the city Senators together on some
measure that will at the same time be
acceptable to the Kelly Democrats from,
Baltimore in the House. Senator Og-
n,ieading the opposition To thei'I iclI-
Furst bill in the Sc ate. admitted this
laorning that he had received fl m the
other side intimations OF willingness
10 compromise with him
a deal of some sort may at any mo-
ment throw the balance in both hous-
es OF the Assembly in favor OF annex
alton OF the sort the Baltimore city
people want During the morning
there were repeated rumors that the
Baltimore city people might be able to
make some sort of a deal, which ould
insure the passage of the Fie.d-Furst
annexation measure, but UP TO early
afternoon none Of nte dickers had heen
completed.
Governor Harrington is the center
of the situation at this time The Elk
ecutye, his friends frankly admit, is in
a tight and most embarrassing posi-
ton On the one hand Frank A. Furst,
aided by Senator Smith. is demanding
that the Baltimore people be given at
least a large measure of what they are
asking IN the Field-Furst bill, while
Congressman j. Fred c. Talbot, Dr.
George Wells and their adherents are
as vehemently demanding that the
Governor not throw his influence in
any way toward the legislation de-
sired by Baltimore city and Mr. Furst
Alarmed at the outlook and answer
ing calls for aid from his lieutenants.
"Marse Fred" Talbot broke a rule
long years last night by journeying
here during a legislative session. The
"Old Master" of Baltimore county had
a long conference with the Governor,
beginning at 9 o'clock last night and il
is said that the proceedings were
bit warm between the two
To-Day the Governor is like a Sphinx
Further than to say he had a call from
Mr.. Talbot, and that today he has nc
engagement with Mr. Furst, the Exec
utiye absolutely refused to discuss an
nexation even with men to whom he
has freely confided other matters Of
legislative interest earlier in the ses-
sion The appearances are that at this
time the Governor is on the fence and
that he does not know lust which way
to hop.
Mr. Furst was also here yesterday
with Senator Smith, and the two talk
ed with the Governor Mr. Furst has
made plain that he proposes to force
the Democratic administration and its
allies within the Assembly to toe the
mark and either carry out the party
platform pledge of reasonable annex
alton for Baltimore city, or be placed
in a position where they viii ultimate
ly be forced to do some explaining to
the people Of Maryland on the subject
of broken platform pledges
The Republicans, if they should act
as unit, could play an important part
in the annexation doings Indeed, il is
said there have been some efforts to
have the Republicans of both houses
caucus on the annexation subject and
TO use their decision 8 club 10 obtain
legislation favorable 70 the minority
party Up to this time there has been
marked unwillingness among some
members of the minority to approve
the caucus plan. These men. il is
said, prefer that the Republican legis-
lators shall handle the annexation
proposition individually and on its
merits as they see them.
The Anne Arundel and Baltimore
county forces are constantly placing
before the Republicans their platform
pledge of annexation only by refer
enium The county people who
would be affected by annexation leg
islation are wiling now to end the
present scrap by letting a bill go
through carrying a referendum on the
subject for the voters of the sections
affected. This alone is a distinct ad-
vantage for Baltimore city as less than
a week ago the anti-annexationists
were as bitterly opposed 10 referen-
dun as to any other feature Of ali an
neXation plans
Two Anne Arundel county bills. both
proyiling for buildings for school pur-
poses and carrying in the aggregate
bond issues aEnnpnting to $4,000. were
thrown into Nff1e legislative homer
today
Senator Duyall put in a measure au-
thorizing bond issue OF $4,000, the
proceeds of which are to be used in
the construction Of additions or an
nexes 10 seven Of the present rural
schools in the Third district. and each
IN the First. Fourth and Fifth districts
A $4,000 bond issue for the consuuc-
] ton Of a high school at Glen Burnie
is provided in bill offered by Dele
afn SoIiey. Of the Anne Arundel dele