The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1916-01-29
THE MARYLAND
LEGISLATURE


of Delegates, on Tuesday, by Delegate
Brown, of Allegany county, to compel
the reading of the Holy Bible in the
public schools of the State at the
opening of each morning session.
Senator Duval introduced a bill on
Tuesday taking from the Board Of
Public Works the authority to lease or
rent any building or part of building
at any place other than Annapolis az
the expiration of any lease now in
force. Included in the offices to be
transferred from Baltimore to An
napolis are those of the State Road ;
Commission, Public Service Commits
sion, Commissioner of Motor Vehicles,
Fish commissioners, State Board Of
Education and all other state agen-
cies.
One million four hundred and
twenty-seven thousand three hundr I'd
dollars will be asked by the State Lu-
macy Commission for maintenance and
new buildings at state hospitals for
the insane during 1917 and 1918. The
commission on Tuesday turned over
to Governor Harrington it's biennial
report, in which the proposed appro-
priations for the next two years and
the specific uses for which they will
be expended are outlined.
Delegate Wilkinson, on Wednesday
introduced a bill to provide for the
election of State Treasurer and Stat4
Comptroller every four years by Il
popular vote and increase the salar-
les Of each to $4,000.
On Wednesday Delegate Metzerott
introduced a bill to abolish the tax Of
So for professional chauffeurs and to
put commercial automobiles on the
same basis as passenger automobiles
with regard to taxation.
A resolution was introduced on
Wednesday by Delegate Mitchell that
the Congress of the United States au-
thorize the construction of Federal
road connecting Annapolis, Washing
ton and Baltimore to facilitate trans
portation of troops in time of war.
A bill was introduced on Thursday
by Senator Cooper, authorizing the
Public Service Commission to revoke
licenses of any owner or driver of a
public motor bus, who fails to comply
with commissions regulations.
Governor Harrington on Thursday
afternoon received from DR.. Frank j.
Coodnow, chairman of the Economy
and Efficiency Commission appointed
bN the Democratic State Convention,
q bill to submit to the people an
amendment to the State Constitution
designed to put into effect the Budg IT
plan.
1t is worth noting that the Legisla-
ture has at last elected State Treas
urer and the Democratic "row" over
that matter is set at rest-for time
at least. Finding that the vote TO"
Mr.. Nandiver was gradually dwindl-
ing and that his election was hopeless,
Governor Harrington, U. S. Senator
John Walter Smith and others had a
long conference on Tuesday in Annap-
oils and agreed to have Mr.. Vandiver
withdraw and let the Democrats unite
in naming Mr.. John M. Dennis, Presi-
dent of the Union Trust Co.. Of Balti
more. This program was carried out
on Wednesday and Mr.. Dennis is the
new State Treasurer and third mem
Der of the Board of Public Works.
One of the notable revelations of the
week came, when the Legislature had
its attention called to the fact that
the new constitutional amendment,
adopted at last Falls election and en-
titled Referendum" forbids any law
becoming effective until June 1st. eX-
cept one dealing with an urgent meas
ure for the public health or public
safety. Senator Williams called tn 2
matter to the Senate's attention, say
ing he had earnestly opposed the Re-
ferendum amendment and had attack.
ed this very feature of it in the ses-
sion of 1914, and wanted now to suG-
gest to it's advocates that they are
already beginning to suffer some of
the hardships which he predicted the
measure would entail
The Blanford Lime Bill has been
again introduced in the Senate-a Bill
calling for State appropriation to be
used in constructing plants for the
manufacture of oyster shells into lime,
one such plant to be placed on the
Eastern Shore and the other one in
Southern Maryland.
The State Tax Commission is likely
to get its raps in this Legislature.
Delegate Shartzer, of Garrett county,
has introduced a Bill to repeal the
entire law, creating the Commission
While this particular Bill is not likely
to pass in just that form, it is yet evi-
dent that from all quarters OF the
State there comes strong sentiment
against the State Tax Commission.