The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1920-04-23
Friday, April 23rd, 1920
THE LEGISLATURE

The recent session of the Gen
eral Assembly of Maryland, while
free of excitement, can be class
ed as working session through
out. The committee work in both
Houses was carefully performed.
and under the splendid guidance
of Governor Richie and the re-
spective presiding officers of the
Senate and House, there was no
congestion of legislation at any
time during the session. The
files were daily cleared, and when
the hour for adjournment came,
both Houses were ready for it's
advent. In the course of the
session much legislation of gener
al interest throughout the State
was enacted. Briefly, the more
important Statewide measures
were as follows.
First. A careful budget bill reg
ulating State Expenditures for
the next two years, under which
appropriations were so. curtailed
as to result in a lower State rate,
Notwithstanding a more extensive
financial policy on the part of
the State toward State roads and
public schools.
Second. The increase in the pay
OF public school teachers through
out the State, and provision for
general school census.
Third. The appropriation for
State roads in cooperation with
the Federal Government, and for
broad and comprehensive plan
of lateral road building i n CO.
operation with the counties of
the State.
Fourth. The passage of the en-
: aiding loans for Baltimore city,
whereby the annex of 1918 may
be promptly developed.
Fifth. The enacting into. law of
a State purshasing bureau,
through when State equipment
will be he en- -er purchased I'M
er a systematic and wholesale
policy, and thousands of dollars
thereby annually saved.
Sixth. Placing tax of $4,000
per day upon race tracks in Mary
land, and limiting the number of
racing days, per annum, to 100.
1t is regrettable that the Nuttle
bill in submitting the question
whether racing shall be permit
ted in the State?) to the people,
was defeated, but in the absence
of a submission of the question
to the voters. there is no sane
reason why racing should not be
regulated in the State, and a sub
stantial revenue derived from
this source. Under the regula-
tory measure. every safeguard
has been thrown around what,
in the absence of some law on the
subject, promised to be a menace
to the fundamental structure of
State government.
Seventh. Improvement in the
State drainage and dog laws for
the benefit of agriculture, and the
passage of every measure asked
for by the Tobacco Growers Asso-
citation: without amendment.
These are but few among
i, many measures of Importance to
the people of Maryland enacted
by the late session. However, a
legislature should not be judged
alone by the laws it passed. 1t
deserves credit alike for many
measures it throws in the discard.
The defeat of the Woman's Suf-
frage ratification bill, and of the
soldiers bonus bill, are but ex.
amples of what we mean. Nc
one contemplates, seriously, what
woman's suffrage will mean in
Maryland, without a feeling of
just appreciation of a legislature
which regardless of party lines,
saw it's duty and had the courage
to meet it squarely. So too, the
defeat of the soldiers bonus bill,
through which a nine million dol
lars bonded debt was sought to
be placed upon the State, deser-
yes the praise of the people OF
Maryland. We make this state
ment full of gratitude to the her
ole part which sailor and soldier
played in the '~ce war, because
patriotism c, ut be measured
in dollars and cents; or can JUS
tice be meteC out to each enlist
ment; if those who saw actual
service on the firing line, and
even these who were wounded,
are to be rewarded to no
greater extent than the drafted
man who spent but a few months
in a nearby. camp. The United
States Government should and
will provide adequate and just
pension laws for all men whose