The midland journal., 1916-02-25
MARYLAND LEGISLATURE.
Some OF the Measures Before the
General Assembly.

House Bill 13, by Delegate Bal
derston, to require petition OF 20
per cent of voters before question
of prohibition can be submitted to
Cecil county voters has passed the
House.
To meet the deficiency now con-
fronting the state government, SEN
ator Cooper has introduced bill
providing for serial bond issue of
$2,0OO,OOO, to be dated from Aug.
l, 1915, and the last to mature Aug.
IL, 1881. A tax of y per cent is
levied for the years 1917 and 1918,
and for each Of the following years
until the bonds are redeemed, IL
cents.
Senator johnson has introduced
bill which seeks TO amend mater
tally the Shoemaker road law.
The measure increases the amount
to be paid to the several counties OF
the state from SO per cent of the
whole cost to Is per cent, and inn
poses the counties cost upon the
property directly benefited, instead
of on all the property, and allows
five years for the payment.
Mr.. Dempsey introduced a bill.
under which, If it becomes law,
any form of power can be employed
in taking oysters in the Chesapeake
Bay as substitute for hand power,
to which the industry is now limited.
Delegate Linthicum has introduce
ed bill to standardize the size OF
barrels used to measure vegetables.
On Thursday last John M, Dennis
qualified as State Treasurer. sue
ceeding General Murray Vandivers
who filled the Office for 16 years.
The statewide prohibition bill
was favorably reported ia the Sem
ate, on Friday, with an amendment
which exempts Baltimore city from
.he provisions Of the measure. It
was made the special order for
Thursday of this week.
Bills were introduced in both
houses which, if they become laws,
will revolutionize the farming in
terests Of Maryland and place the in
dustry on a higher scale.
Bills were offered in the Senate
and in the House providing for an
additional loan of $2,5O0,O0O for inn
proved roads and for new bridges.
Senator Duvall declares his bill to
erect state oficeabuilding at Anna
polls and requiring that all state
business be transacted there will be-
come a law and that Governor Har-
rington will sign it.
The Administration bill to abolish
the envelope system or voting in the
counties was introduced in the
House by Delegate Wilkinson last
week, who also introduced a bill
providing for one extra registration
day to be held at least five days,
before the State primaries, so that
new voters would have an oppor-
tunity in such primaries.
Delegate Bouchelle introduced a
bill to provide for the holding of pri-
mary elections throughout the State
on the third Tuesday in May instead
of in September as at present.
On Wednesday of last week Dele
gate James (by request) introduced
a bill to authorize the town of Rising
Sun to issue bonds for water sup
ply. i
Delegate Balderston introduced
last week the Bill calling for bond
issue of $4,000 by Cecil county
for the purpose of rebuilding the
Court House.
Senator Williams has introduced
a Bill, calling upon the State Road
Commission to complete the macad-
am road leading from Cecilton to
the Delaware State line.
Delegate Tydings has introduced
a bill to abolish the office OF state
lire marshal.
By Delegate Metzerott-A bill to
prohibit the use for any other pur-
pose than food of fish caught or
brought into the state.
BY Delegate Shartzer-A bill to
make payment of a poll tax of 81 q
prerequisite to an electoral fran
chise.
Woman suffrage scored on Tues
day, when the Senate, by a vote Of
IL to 10, substituted the bill which
refers the question to the electorate,
for the unfavorable report of the
committee. The result was great
for it showed enough votes
to pass the measure. This is Con-
stitutional amendment and, there
fore requires a three-fifths vote.
and if all who favored the substi-
tuition will favor the bill when it
comes up on third reading, it will
be the first time that either branch
OF the General Assembly furnished
the needed votes to assure passage.