Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-01-01
LEGISLATIVE BATTLE
BEGINS TOMORROW
Bitter Struggle Forecast With Re-
publicans In Control OF
The House.
A SHORTAGE OF LAWYERS
Laymen viii Have Chance AT Last To
Try Their Hands AT
Making Laws

Making Laws
Short OF lawyers. Republicans in
control OF one branch and otherwise
badly demoralized. the Legislature Of
1918 will nevertheless, comply with
the constitutional mandate to meet
ON the iirst Wednesday in January.
which is tomorrow.
Not since 1898 has the Republican
party controlled the House OF Dele
gates. Ia the House of 1918 the Re
publicans have SO members against
As Democrats.
The Republicans this year VIII elect
Speaker. Herbert r. Wooden. OF
Carroll is slated for the job
The Senate remains Democratic,
with IL votes against the Republicans
49, Senator Peter J. Campbell OF
Baltimore, is expected to be the SEN
ete's presiding officer
Selection 0f Clerks.
In picking the presiding officers in
caucus the House and Senate viii also
nominate desk officers, a term applied
10 the reading clerk. the Journal clerk
and the chief clerk, who Ia the Sem
ate is designated as Secretary Of the
Senate Having had control OF the
legislation for many years. the Demo-
erats in the Senate are embarrassed
by the plethora Of material at their
command, and the Republicans in the
House are somewhat troubled By the
inexperienced men from whom they
must make their selections.
So far no Republican has been
mentioned prominently for reading
clerk in the House. ]. ]. Robinson, of
Allegany. is candidate for chief
clerk, and ex-Deiegate Keedy, OF
Hagerstown. is mentioned for the
same post. The chances probably IA
yor Keedy, but Robinson may be ask
ed to accept the job of journal clerk.
q position he filed acceptably many
years ago when the Republicans were
In power.
Eastern Shores Chance.
For reading clerk leather throat
ed Individual is in demand, prefera-
| bly, sleather-throated Eastern Shore
man. Tor Republicans as we'll as Demo-.
Gratis are axnious that the section
| across the bay shall not be sighted
when the jobs are passed around
In the Senate the Democrats havs
contest between John r. Sullivan. Of
this city; Albert J Almoney. Of Rock
vile, and p Watson Webb, Of Cam
bridge for the Secretaryship. Mr..
Webb had the post two years ago
He was both popular and efficient as
secretary. He is handicapped this
year by the fact that Dorchester fail
ed to elect a Democratic Senator.
Almoney viii be named as secretary
with John r, Sullivan as his assist
ant
Jackson Fer Treasurer.
The Republicans will nominate
William p. Jackson. OF Salisbury. as
State Treasurer. and having ma
ioritv Of votes on Joint ballot they are
expected to elect him. John NJ. Dennis
probably VIII be the choice of the
Democrats Mr Dennis new has the
job.
Having disposed of the organization
| the presiding officers will settle down
TO the selection Of floor leaders. The
Democrats have Carville u. Benson
slated for this post tie Is a Baiti-
more Countian with long legislative
career in the Senate as well as in the
House. Of which ne was once Speaker.
| His particular Job IN the coming ses-
sion is TO beat the annexation bill
| The Republicans, it seems. are some
what undecided on their man
Causes For Indeclsion.
Their indecision arises from two
| causes. Formerly the craftsmanship
OF the Ways and Means Committee
carried with it floor leadership in the
| House as the craftsmanship of tie
/ Finance Committee carried the leader
ship in the Senate. Now these two
| committees amount 10 little. for the
| budget plan takes of these commit
tees the task Of making up the ex-
penditures and transfers il to the
shoulders Of the Governor.
| The Republicans are thinking about
/ ignoring precedent by not naming a
LAWYER as chairman of the Judiciary
1 0DAtt11AltN- fAd NtelAAtE va Atta ohWdA-
ders the task OF engineering through
the House the Republican platform
| pledges
TenDes May Get Job.
Edward Tenney, of Hagerstown. is
| mentioned for this Job. Charlie
| Fox. Of Baltimore City, also is spoken
OF in connection with the chairman
ship OF the Judiciary Committee.
This House differs from most 81
them in the scarcity OF lawyers. For
years the counties have not been
J heterogeneous To the legal fraternity
as lawmakers Baltimore City sup
piled a host Of young lawyers. II
was prepared TO follow precedent i
the people had seen fit to elect Demo
Gratis. bat they didn't. and in electing
the Republicans the lawyers were
made to suffer
G. nelly Mcciarg. Fox and posi-
bly, one or two more OF the city Re
publieans are engaged in the prac-
tice of Law. but that is all OF the 5;