The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1917-11-23
PLANS SHAPING UP FOR LEGIs-
LATURE.
Prohibition, Racetracks And Annex.
alton Eexpected To Occupy
Chief Places.


From the Baltimore News.
With the next session of the Mary
land Legislature less than sever
weeks away, things are shaping
themselves for the big fights that are
to come. So far as can now be seen
the really big contests will be over
annexation, liquor and race tracks
There will be other hot fights, but
these three now loom big and until
they are disposed Of the others will
look small by comparison.
The annexation fight will be waged
between the advocates of the city
bill, which provides annexation with
out a referendum of any kind, and
those who contend that there should
be no annexation except upon a
referendum to the voters OF the ter
ritory to be annexed. And this, con-
cretely, is all the difference between
the Democratic and Republican State
platforms, with some members of the
Legislature on each side refusing to
be bound by their party platforms.
Dry State Fight Coming.
On liquor the Anti-Saloon League
has announced that it is to make a
fight for dry State without refer
endum. They want to dry up all
Maryland at one swoop. On the
other hand, the liquor people, that is,
the distillers and wholesalers, are
saying they will spend no more
money on fight, that the fights of
the last few years and especially that
of last fall, cost them an enormous
sum and they do not feel like spend
ing more on a lobby at the Legisla-
ture in the face of approaching ma
tional prohibition. So if this pro-
gram is carried out it will be for the
wet forces in the two houses to do
their fighting alone without help
from a powerful third house.
Race tracks, of course, will make
a big fight They have an enormous
income at stake, one so large that
they do not take the public into their
concerning their financial
affairs. Report has it that they have
offered the State toll of
$4,000 day to be permitted to con-
tinue as they have been indefinitely.
There will be plenty of other bills
of general or Statewide interest.
Ul O4o4o Goueoruofion Hor,o m ice ion
will have measures to provide for
Statewide gunner's license which
will stir up the usual kick. Another
will deal with the crab law and will
either reduce the minimum size OF
the crabs that may legally be taken
or allow percentage Of understood
crabs, as is allowed in the catch of
oysters.
Automobile Commissioner Austin
E. Baughman will seek revision of
the motor vehicle laws with the view
to getting better regulation of traffic,
but the outline of this measure has
not yet been drafted.
The Legislature, aside from organ
izing and naming the employees has
only one Office to fill-that of State
Treasurer That may or may not
produce a fight among the Republi-
can leaders. The number of minor
places will be determined by each
house for itself, only limited by the
amount of money to be appropriated
with the approval of the Governor.
With the two houses of opposite
politics, each may try to outdo the
other in economy, but on the other
hand, each will have to Withstand
the greatest pressure for places for
he faithful.
And it should be, if not a really
good show, at least interesting.
COURSES IN ENGINEERING