The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-12-29
MARYLAND'S LEGISLATORS
ARE TO WORK OVERTIME
Plan Is To Have Longer Days At
Annapolis Than Has Been Custom

Annapolis Than Has Been Custom
Because Of the press Of important
Legislation which is being framed for
presentation to the Legislature this
winter, a plan is being started by some
State leaders to enlist support Of
members Of the General Assembly for
longer actual sessions each day dur
ing january and February, with, per-
haps, night sessions during the latter
part of the first month.
Particularly it is planned to get
those most likely to receive appoint
ment to the more important commit
tees to express a willingness to put
in more time at Annapolis during the
1922 session than the members Of
those committees have been called on
to give in past sessions.
The various bills which will make
up the reorganization plan, the bill
for redistricting and drawing new
ward lines for Baltimore, the propos-
ed gasoline tax bill proposed changes
in election laws, including plans for
reducing the number of registration
days, and fewer elections plan and the
State budget-all will require a large
amount of committee work. All of
these measures are likely to percipi-
tate discussions on the floor Of the
Senate and House.
In addition to the measures, prac-
tically all of which will be prepared
for introduction as soon after the or
ganization of the Assembly as pos
sible, it is practically certain that
State prohibition enforcement act will
come from some source and with it
general fight.
There is also likely to appear the
old "blue laws" battles, as well as the
time-honored battles on oyster laws,
the timewasting introduction of Eau
thorization" bills for roads and the
many other little things with which
each succeeding Legislature cutters
its calendars.
Democratic State leaders, on whom
will fall the responsibility for the con-
duct of the Legislature because of
the heavy Democratic majorities, are
trying to work out some plan to pre-
vent an even greater jam at the end
of the 1922 session than has occurred
at previous sessions. They are prac-
tically unanimous in the belief that
the more important pieces of legisla-
ton mentioned will occupy practical
ly all of the Legislatures time until
they are disposed of.
If this should prove to be the case
1t will be late in the session before
action can be taken on the mass of
local legislation and other less i'm
portant bills which it is practically
certain will be introduced by the var
ious delegations. If this less impor-
tant legislation should come up too
late the leaders figure the jam at the
end of the session may bring about
legislative chaos.
The only way to prevent this, thew
believe now, is to arrange for longer
sessions and more active business
during the early part of the session.
While this will apply to the House
and Senate in large measure, it will
be much more applicable to the more
important committees, which first
must sift the legislation before it is
taken up for vote by the lawmakers.
Acknowledgement Armstrong plans
to spend some time at Annapolis dur
ing the session, giving what aid he
can in Strengthening out legislative
drafts and he will also have one of
the Assistant acknowledgements.
probably Allen H. Fisher, at the cap
ital practically all the time.