The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-02-19
SENATOR SPEICHER FOR THE
STATE ROADS COMMISSION
Wants To Be Named the Republican
Member of that Body.

SldIe I1OuSe, AIlIidpOllS, Mu., eDru-
airy 10 (SpeciaD-The new State Ad-
ministration is "functioning," to use
recent expression, in a manner never
before witnessed in this conservative
| old State, and in a manner to make
the ghosts of the staid, old, dead and
gone predecessors of the present of
ficials turn over in their graves and
cry out in surprise at the modern and
energetic way things are going. The
Governor is really Governor in fact.
as well as in name. Wherever he goes
and wherever he is there is something
doing with vim, contrary to all the
easy going presidents of generations
and Annapolis has walked up, as the
aristocratic old capital of this highly
respectable and precedent-loving old
State, has never been Weakened up be-
fore after two centuries of sleepy
quiet and peace. Things are doing
here now, and there is no complaint
of dullness and inactivity in the State
House. Even the Baltimore Sun,
which started to run the Governor.
the Administration, and the State
House, has been founted, spurned and
treated with contempt by the Govern
or and his followers, and practically
and emphatically told to mind its own
business, and that its advice was not
wanted, and would not be asked Never
before was such a thing heard Of
whether the administration was Re-
| publican or Democratic, the word and
wishes of the Sun were always law to
| both the Governor and the General
Assembly-and now this great organ
or public opinion has been openly de-
spises and defed, and its wishes and
opinions thrown into the discard. Such
action is enough to make people stand
aghast and hold up their hands in
amazement and surprise. And the end
is not yet.
The new Comptroller of the State
Treasury, Major Brooks Lee, has TAX
en- hold of his official duties with much
| interest and vigor and, unlike many of
his predecessors. is davoting a large
amount of his time to the actual man
agement of the work connected with
/ his new position. For a long period
of years, the part the several Comp
( trollers have taken in public affairs
has been largely perfunctory, the head
of the department has usually con-
tented himself with weekly visits of
day, or part of day to Annapolis,
has signed the papers submitted to
/ him by his subordinates, who ran the
/ Office, and then has departed. As
/ member of the Board of Public Works
| he has generally been a "me too" to
/ the Governor, and, in making appoint
ments he has acted with the Governor,
and has been little more than a clerk
/ in the official work of the Administra-
ton. Major Lee evidently has differ
/ ent ideas in regard to his official re-
! sponsibility and intends to carry them
/ out In the schme of the State gov
eminent his position, to a great ex-
( tent, corresponds to that of Secre-
tary of the Treasury in the Federal
/ Government, and his duties in that
regard have great Importance to the
people of the state. He is at his desk
great part of the tine, and to all ap-
pearances knows what he is about,
and his influence in this strenuous
administration of young and aggres-
sive men is already known to an ex-
tent heretofore unknown at the State
House. His popularity among the
members of the General Assembly is
second to that of no one here, and his
growing influence argues well for the
future good government of Maryland
1t should be matter of qualification
that he and Governor Richie are in
thorough accord in all matters af-
fecting the public welfare, and that
his Excellency consults him on all
affairs of Importance in connection
with the administration of the Gov
eminent.
. Senator Harvey J. Speicher, of Gar
rett county, is a candidate for the
position of Republican Member of the
State Road Commission, and no man
ever applied for that place who had
more influential backing from people
whose word should have weight with
the appointing power. Mr. Speicher
is the Oldest member of the Senate
in point of service, although by no
means the oldest man here in point
of years. He has always taken great
interest in road construction, and as
a farmer and countyman of much ex-
perience in the road building line, he
will be a decided acquisition to the
Board which has been lacking in men
Of practical experience ever since the
State took IN the ioh of building