Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-02-06
COMPROMISE PROPOSED
ON ANNEXATION BILL
New Scheme Advanced at the State
House Today for Extension
Plan
MAY ALL GET TOGETHER
Baltimore City aad the Two Counties
Affected Would Settle Differences
Themselves and Ask Assembly
to Ratify Them


With the Drys urging that the
House take up the prohibition ratif-
cation resolution today the annexa-
ton situation is now peculiar one
From Anne Arundel and Baltimore
counties this morning came a propo
sal that a conference of legislative
representatives Of the TWO counties
and OF Baltimore city be held with n
view of eliminating some of the So
called "stings" in the Greater Balti-
tiiIore measure.
The plan is still in the making and
so far the city's representatives have
not indicated that they will agree TO
the proposition.
On the other hand the so-called
anti-annexatio1i.t conceae tEat the
Greater Baltimore bill under exist
ing conditions will not pass the House
but they predict it will be amended
at least partially to accord with their
views in the Senate In other words,
they claim that they have sufficient
votes in the upper house TO DreYens
the same speedy passage Of the bill
there as in the House. Annexation.
lists, however, say the Senate still
holds a majority favorable to the
unamended bill.
Baltimore. .countains who originated
the compromise proposition say that
u fair conference Of the city and at
fected county elements would result
in agreed amendments 10 the Greater
Baltimore bill along taxation and
financial ines and would result in
an acceptance OF Che measure and the
elimination Of any possibility Of an
attack on its constitutionality before
The Court of Appeals.
AS an anti-anenxationists summed
up the proposal today is was as fol-
lows:
Let the Legislature settle this
question and eliminate interference
either by Senator Smith, Mayor Pres
ton. o. +. Weller, Governor FTarring.
ton. Mr. Field or any outsider AS
now see the situation a Joint reso-
luton viii be proposed in the Senate
providing for . legislative conference
committee composed Of the Senators
from Anne Arundel and Baltimore
counties, two Of the city Senators
and a representation from the House
Of Delegates from these two coun-
ties and the city 1t is my belief that
such a committee could eliminate the
sting of this bill p"
AT noon there was no indication
That the Republican leaders pledged
30 passage Of the Greater Baltimore
bill unamended would agree 10 any
compromise Instead hey seemed to
prefer that the House pass the bill in
its original form and put the matter
squarely up to the Senate.
The C. 0. P. forces realize that the
/ emasculation or killing of the Greater
| Baltimore Bill by the Democratic
Senate would be deliberate playing
| into their hands from a political
standpoint The Republicans would
| thus have fulfilled their party plat
| form pledge of 1917 and would then
have grounds for an appeal to Bal
timore city next year to elect Re-
| publican Governor and a Republican
assembly which could put the bin
over.
With the Anti-Saloon League forces
| apparently willing to go TO the mat
at once on the. prohibition resolution
| an attempt probably will be made
after the House conyenes today K
/ dispose Of the Wilson Ballot Law re
/ pealer, the Absent Soldiers and Sol
diers' voting bin and the annexation
measure, which are now on the thirc
reading file and then take up prohi
bition.
/ To carry out this program it vii
be necessary to secure the two-third
majoritg in the House, as the latte
! is now meeting officially on Tuesday
ment after last nights session, bu
| February 5 There was no adjourn
merely a recess until II o'clock thi
morning hence the House viii havr
to adjourn today and reconvene be
fore it can take up prohibition which
is the special order for the 9Th Til,
House went into session this morning
at 1150
There are on the third reading 81,
fifteen bills with annexation the las
on the list The latter is headed b.
the Wilson repeater with the Soldier
and Sailors Voting bill next. and th
calendar includes six general bill
/ the two-thirds vote to suspend th
/ rules and bring out annexation ahea
OF these other waiting bills tn
House would probably not get any
where today as an adjournment i
| proposed 3r late aftern9n until tc
| morrow on account Of Governor an
Mrs. Harrington's reception tonigh
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