The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1920-02-06
STATE
CAPITAL

fGulCuCCu OiSooIiohCu WALL CAiS
present location. Attention is called
to the fact that the seat of county
government was established there over
100 years ago, when it was the center
of county population, which is not now
the case.
After having the county seat moved
by legislative enactment and putting
up new courthouse, erected on land
to be donated by the citizens of Seat
Pleasant, the plan is to have the pres
ent courthouse and grounds at Marl-
soro turned over to the school board OF
the county for use in an educational
line
Evidence in the contested election of
Frank T. Benson, Republican Delegate
from Cecil county, was filed in the
House and referred to the Committee
on Elections. Mr.. Benson was elected
by 16 votes. Various allegations were
made in support of the claim of the
Democrats that their candidate had
won the right to seat, but it Is the
belief that Benson will be confirmed.
He was sworn in on the opening day.
Senator Bartlett launched his legis-
lative fight to abolish the office of
state commissioner of motor vehicles.
He offered two bills designed to place
the issuance of automobile licenses in
Jo of ho oil Of tho Gnnorinfs
Court of Baltimore City and of the
clerks of the circuit courts in the sew
eraI counties. The corps of traffic po-
iice maintained under Commissioner
Baughman to enforce respect for the
motor traffic regulations is also abol-
ished and their duties placed in the
hands of the sheriffs and similar po-
licing agencies.
The bills, against which fight will
be made by the state administration
ais well as the Automobile Club OF
Maryland, were referred to the FL
nance Committee.
Governor Ritchie will consider the
OuSI VI JOuu otoAC, pA AColoCAG VI
the Maryland Casualty Company, to
sell to the state the tower building
vt Baltimore street and Guilford ave-
nue, for use as headquarters for the
state boards and commissions which
require offices in this city.
Protection of the employe or other
victim of accidents ON railroad from
the technical bug-a4boo of "contribu-
tory negligence is provided in a bill
offered by Senator Eppler, Of Allegany.
Senator Eppler's bill is designed to
nave the state courts apply the same
rules against both interstate and in
trastate railroads as apply under the
Federal statutes in United States
courts, where damages are sued for
against interstate lines. The bill has
the endorsement of the railroad broth
erhoods. 1t will just as certainly meet
with the active opposition of the rail-
road companies.
Dimarco, of Baltimore city, was
sponsor for a bill asking for the in
crease of the pay of police matrons
from $1,000 to $1,000 a year, and for
the increase of the pay of the police
department charwomen from SO to
SIS week.
Speaker Tydings assigned all the
nj n thar dyJtioc EHnnr
stenographers are still needed. There
will be some switching of members of
committees, found necessary in order
to expedite coming work.
Governor Ritchie sent to the Senate
for confirmation the following nomina-
tions, all for the position of notary
public: George H. Seller and Frank
Willenburg, Jr., both of Baltimore city,
and Effie Clarkson, of Anne Arundel
county.
The suffragists have begun their >di-
rect attack. The other morning every
member of the General Assembly found
on his desk a petition signed by Post
Adjutant F. Grace Bell Micheau, Post
No. "A. a feminine auxiliary of the
American Legion, asking him to vote
for the ratification of the Federal
suffrage amendment.
Every voter In Maryland, counting
each voter as the head of a family,
has upon his shoulder combined ma
tional, state and county debt which
totals $780, declared Delegate Ver-
non N Simmons, minority floor lead
er. "This is more than most voters
can save in a lifetime. How is this
debt going to be paid?"
"Extravagance in government and
extravaganza in living has brought the
country to this pass; the immediate
stopping of extravagant spending is
the one thing that is going to do much
to remedy our condition"