The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-04-26
EXTRA SESSION
TO Be CALLED
Legislature VIII Probably be As
sembled First Week in May.

Governor Harrington having virtually
decided that the extra session of the
Legislature will be called to meet about
the first week in May--which is about
two weeks away-the State officials
and the Preparedness and Survey Com
mission are preparing to whip into final
form the measures that will be needed
to put the State upon war basis.
None of the officials seem to be sure
just what agriculture or labor legisla-
ton will be asked. 1t is not certain
that any agricultural bills will be pro-
posed, some of the agricultural experts
believing that the existing legislation
is sufficiently broad to meet all needs.
However, there is a feeling among
members of the administration that the
agricultural situation should be examin-
ed closely, in order that there may be
no omission of any enactments that
may become necessary to handle the
food situation. AS to labor, it is
probable that the Legislature will be
asked to provide machinery to compel
loafers and Migrants to work following
the idea of Governor Harrington
slogan Farm or fghtw
Measures will be introduced to pro-
vide whatever machinery may be need
ed to use prison labor on farms or
roads, or both. Some steps have been
taken toward locating land that the
State or public spirited individuals
might farm for the public benefit,
and, if the tentative plans along
these lines are effectuated. prison la
Dor may be used. The use of this
labor on the roads is said to be favored
by Chairman Frank H. Zouck, of the
Roads Commission. He fears that it
will become impossible within short
time to obtain anything like sufficient
labor for bodybuilding, and that even
the maintenance work may be endan-
gered.
Of course, there will be legislation to
create military force for home de-
tense purposes, which probably will be
known as the State Guard, and will be
separate from the National Guard the
latter beng subject to the call of the
Federal authorities. How many men
will be in the guard, the terms of en-
listment, compensation, ETC., are not
known. The details are to be worked
out within the next 10 days or so. There
also will be measure to provide mill
tary training for schoolboys, but the
terms of this bill too, are not settled
If the Federal Government orders uni
versal military training, the State law
will be framed to apply to boys under
the age at which the United States
would take them.
There probably will be bill to au-
thorize the Governor to suspend the
compulsory School Attendance laws,
and the various laws restricting the
labor of women and children, as to
hours of work, character of employ
ment, etc. This bill is expected to be
in accord with the recommendation
recently received by Governor Har-
rington from the National Council of
Defense. IN which it was urged that
the labor and health laws be not re-
pealed in the stress of current labor
conditions, but that power be given to
the Governor to suspend them, this
power to be used upon a declaration
from the Council of Defense that such
action is necessary.
A law will be enacted regulating the
! conditions of sale Of explosives, along
the lines followed by Governor Harring-
ton In his regulation proclamation is
sued some weeks ago. There also will
be bill to permit the Governor to de-
clare successive legal holidays, it is be-
lieved. Some of the bankers have
been talking about this as a good thing
to have in case of emergency. 1t is
likely that other legislation designed
to provide fieXibility in the financial
laws, for use in emergency, will be
passed; but the gentlemen who are sup
posed to do the heavy thinking about
these matters are keeping as quiet as
if their decision were a matter of i'm
portance to the Germans.
The Administration will ask a war
loan, it is taken for granted. The
amount, however, has not been deter
mined, as tar as known. 1t probably
will be $4,000, 900 or $1,000, 900. This
will not be issued unless needed, of
course.
/ 1t seems certain that the extra ses-
sion will be conducted at very mini
mum of cost. The chances are that it
will not last more than a week, and
most of the members have offered to
serve without pay or mileage. There
r will be no difficulty in getting all the
t desk and clerical assistance needed
without expense. Several of the off,
GERS and clerks of the last session have
offered their services without compensa-
tioy, opI fayu 1orC oxa Mo-, Uo- -