The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-09-09
FORMAL CALL ISSUED FOR
THE SPECIAL SESSION
Governor Sets $50 p. NJ. Sept. 20 as
Time For Legislators to Assemble

Governor Richie yesterday issued
the formal call for the extra session of
the Legislature, which is to meet on
Monday, September 20, to provide adj
ditional machinery for the coming reg
istration and election, made necessary
by the ratification of the Suffrage
Amendment. The call sets $50 P. NJ.
as the hour for converting the session.
After stating the proclamation of
the Nineteenth Amendment by the
Secretary of State, and the consequent
fact that women may vote, the Gov.
ernOr's proclamation reads as follows:
Whereas it is manifest that the
existing registration and election
laws of Maryland do not provide
adequate facilities for the regis
tration and voting of the female
population of the State, particu-
larly in view of the limited num-
Der of registration days fixed by
law for the months of September
of the election to be held in the
month of November, and for the
afOregoing reasons an occasion
exists which requires a special
or extraordinary session of the
General Assembly of Maryland.
Now, therefore, |, Albert C.
Richie, Governor of Maryland, by
virtue of the authority conferred
and duly imposed upon me by the
Constitution, do hereby call a spe-
cial or extraordinary session of
the General Assembly of Mary
land to consider and act upon
measures necessary to afford the
female population of the State OPP
portunity to register and vote in
all elections held hereafter under
the laws of the State, said session
to begin at $50 P. NJ on the 10Th
day of September, in the year Of Y
our Lord 1920 in the city of An
napolis.
1t is understood that President Will
liam |. Norris, of the Senate, and
Speaker Willard F. Tydings, of the
House, will be continued in their Of
fees without the formality of an cleo
ton. There is some question among
lawyers as to whether the presiding
officers in regular sessions hold over
in extra sessions, but no disposition
to raise an issue is apparent.
In the extra session of 1917 the
late Peter ]. Campbell remained in
the chair of the Senate without ques-
ton. On the House side the Speaker
in the preceding regular session, the
late Philip D. Laird, had resigned
from the House to become a member
of the Public Service Commission, and
David G. Mcintosh was selected in his
stead.
Such of the other officials and clerks
of the regular session as will be need
ed will be employed, it is probable,
without contests.
The fighting that will occur will be
over legislation, and if the Democrats
follow the judgment of some of their
leaders and support repeal of the Dec
laration of Intention and the Affidavit
of Removal acts there may be little
of that fighting. {.
Attorney General Armstrong yes
terday prepared his opinion as to
whether these acts apply to the women
voters. Governor Richie asked him
for the opinion last week. Mr.. ARM
strong mailed the opinion to the Gov
ernor last night, but declined to make
it public until it was in the Governors
hands.
Among lawyers there is a strong be-
lief that he will hold that the laws do
not apply to the women voters, not
outstanding his informal view some
time ago that they do. Lawyers have
said lately that the off-hand view Of
any lawyer would be that the laws ap-
ply. The reasoning, they say, would be
that the laws apply to voters, and that
if women become voters they come
within the scope of the acts. But care
full study, it has been said, is very
likely to cause changes of opinion.
If, however, the Attorney Generals
opinion, based upon careful examina-
ton of the law, is the same as the off
hand view he expressed informally
some time ago, the Democrats are GER
tain to offer bill in the extra session
to exempt women from the application
of these laws this year. If they go no
further than this they will collide with
the Republicans, for the latter want
these laws wiped out entirely.
Library Notes.