The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-02-07
STATE SENATEIS
FOR PROHIBITION
Votes to Ratify National Amend
ment Without Referendum.


recent years the State Senate, by a
vote of 10 to Z, at 9 O'Clock Saturday
morning passed the resolution ratifying
the national prohibition amendment to
its third reading, thereby insuring its
final passage by the upper branch of
the General Assembly.
After session, which lasted almost
continuously from l O'Clock Friday
afternoon, with only two or three short
recesses, the vote was taken on the mo-
ton of Senator Bennett to submit the
minority report of the committee on
Federal Relations for the majority re-
port.
The minority report simply Endorsed
the resolution, while the majority re-
port recommended that The who'll ques-
ton be submitted to a vote by the
people. Within a short time afterward
the Senate voted down four amend
ments providing for referendums which
were offered by Senator Norris.
The Senators who voted to substitute
the minority for the majority report
and thereby put the resolution up for
its third reading. were: Allen, Andrews,
Bartlett, Bennett, Bomberger, Brown,
Crotere, Duvall, Harrison, JOY, Kauf-
man, Legge, Metzerott, Mitchell, Nut
tie, Speicher, Sitter, Warfeld and
Williams.
Those who voted IN the negative
were: Campbell, Eppler, Frick, Gray
son, johnson, Norris and Sproesser.
The Senate adjourned until noon next
Tuesday.
The fight Friday over the ratification
Of the federal prohibition amendment
was marked by more bitterness than at
any previous session of the Senate as
far back as oldtimers can remember.
From the very beginning thinly yelled
attacks rejecting on the honesty of
senators aroused feelings which made
itself manifest throughout the day.
Senators Harrison and Warfeld were
the storm centers. The former aroused
the opponents of the amendment when
he charged that Baltimore city was
drowning the counties with whiskey
and money, and some time afterward
Mr.. Wartield stirred up the Ire of SEN
ators when he attacked the integrity of
the desk clerks. At times the discus
sion was acrimonious in the extreme,
and on several occasions apologies were
in order.
The fight began soon after the SEN
ate convened, when the President read
the resolution, with the reports which
had been reported Friday and Senator
Bennett moved the adoption of the
minority report. Senator Frick made
the motion that it be made the order of
the'daY for Wednesday at noon, and
then the fireworks started.
Senators Metzerott and Allen in
rapid-fire order insisted on immediate
action, the former declaring that this
bill had been used as a snake or coil
about other measures and preventing
action. The Senate had now been in
session 80 days and practically nothing
had been accomplished.
MIR. Allen thought the motion was
made to delay action.
Senator Sproesser stated he bad not
had an opportunity to read or study
the reports and thought the postpone
ment should be granted.
Senator Frick, replying to Senator
Metzerott, declared the indictment of
the Senate at this time wholly .irrele-
want. No question except one like
this has ever been so rushed. Fair
consideration should be given to this
matter. The reports have not yet been
printed and are, therefore, not proper
ly before the Senate. This matter, he
said, had not interfered with any other
legislation. 1t had not affected the
action of any man, nor kept any senator
from acting.
Among the bills introduced in the
Senate Friday were the following:
BY Senator Speicher: Abolishing the
State Roads Commission and providing
for new commission, to consist of the
chairman, the chief engineer and the
governor. Finance.
BY Same: Abolishing the offices Of
school supervisors and truant officers in
the counties. Education.
Senator Speicher has introduced in
the Senate bill to abolish the State
Tax Commission.
1t is almost a foregone conclusion that
all these bills will pass both the Senate
and House.
The Governor and Mrs. Harrington
will give a public reception for the
members of the Senate and House on
the evening of Feb. 6, at the Governors
in Annapolis. This is always
the most brilliant affair of the session.
Spelling Bee.
Recently the seventh grade children