The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-01-26
LEGISLATURE GETTING
UNDER WAY SLOWLY
Delay in Both Branches Probably
Due TO Manocveuring of Opposing
Sides on Annexation, Liquor, Rae
ing, Etc.

State House, Annapolis, Jan. Is
The General Assembly has at last
fairly started on its three months
session, and all the indications are
that it will prove most interesting to
the people of the State until the
final adjournment on the first Mon
day in April.
For nearly half a century, prior to
the opening of each session, an
nouncements have been made by the
newspapers, party leaders and others
Interested in public affairs, that the
session about TO open would be diff
ferent from all its predecess ors--
that all sorts OF reforms were about
TO take place in the methods and pro-
cedure and that drastic economics
We're to be the rule. Solemn warn
ings were published in the Baltimore
newspapers as to what must take
place at Annapolis, that the old
methods and customs must give way
to reforms. or defeat and disaster
would surely overtake those who
might be guilty of preventing these
desirable changes. But General AS
SemblieS have met, have gone on in
their usual way, and have adjourned,
and the way they have followed has
been largely the old traditional way,
which has grown up in Maryland
during the past century, and more,
and the men at Annapolis now are
just like their predecessors-the
will transact the business just the
same as their forefathers have done,
and in no other way. a personal OBJ
servation and close acquaintance
with at least twenty Special and Reg
ular sessions, has convinced the
writer that the General Assembly of
Maryland, no matter what POLITICAL
party may be in control, has always
been d most conservative body, and
that the present session will be no
exception to the rule. In this way
only will the General Assembly of
1918 legislate for the good or evil of
the people and thee public may ex-
pect all the time-honored as well as
the time-diShonored, precedentS Ct
the past to be followed to the closi1
hours. after midnight of the d
Monday in April.
Already signs are not lacking that
the session will be full of excitement
and interest. Measures of great i'm
portance to the people of the State
are already here, among which may
be named the bills to enlarge the
boundaries of Baltimore city, the
Statewide Prohibition Bill, and the
bill to prohibit race track gambling
in any form in Maryland. This bill
is modelled on the laws now in force
in New York, and known as the HUI
ghes laws, after Governor Hughes,
who was the author and patron of
the measures, and which are said to
have proved successful in operation.
The Republicans are not happy, al
though they have nominal control of
the House, and within one vote of
majority in the Senate. They are
torn by factional quarrels this early
in the session. and even Chairman
Tate, with all his skill and suayity
Of manner, does not seem able to
smooth out the rough places, not
Withstanding the fact that he is
here on the ground and is using all
his efforts to bring about peace and
harmony of action. What will hap
pen later on, when things become
red hot. it is not difficult to conjec
ture, and Mr.. Tate's first efforts to
run conglomerate legislative body
will probably turn out as disaster
ously as did the efforts of his prede-
cessors to run the Republican ses-
sions of 1896 and 1898. The Repub-
lican Chairman of that time was
Senator George L. Wellington, who
is admittedly the ablest and most
forceful Republican leader Maryland
has ever produced. He gave up the
attempt to regulate the legislatures
of these dates as an impossible task,
there were so many jealousies, plots
and counter-plots. Mr.. Tate may
succeed, but the chances are that he
will meet with failure.
The retirement of Mr.. John NJ.
Dennis from the position of State
Treasurer will be regretted by all
those who have tthe welfare of Mary
land at heart. Mr.. Dennis has made
an ideal public official Without any
reflection on his long line of worthy
predecessors, ii is no exaggeration to
say that the retiring Treasurer has
eXcelled all in his zeal, and his abili-
ty and devotion to his duties. Mr..
Dennis is first and foremost a bust
ness man, and he has given all that
is best in him as an able and sue
cessful business man to his work in
the management of the State Treas
ury, and as a member of the Board
of Public Works. Should ne be cleo
ted Governor of Maryland next year,
and his name is more frequently
as the successor to Gov
ernOr Harrington than that of any
one else, he would no doubt give the
State an ideal business administra
ton.
PAUL WINCHESTER.