Evening star., 1922-01-19
R|TCA|E MEASURES
GET INITIAL ACTION
Legislators Adjourn Over to
Monday at Annapolis.
Session to Be Lively,
Special Dispstch to The StaI

Special Dispa tch to The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, January 19.-After. the
introduction and reference to com
mittees of the various bills relating. to
state administration which were. in
large measure. the products Of Coy.
Ritchie's efforts. the Maryland legisia-
ture adjourned yesterday afternoon, 20
meet again Monday evening.
So far. the promised effort to trans
than usual has not been in evidence,
but substantial reason for the delay
is found in the illness Of Gov. Richie.
The governor wishes to consult with
party leaders as to his program. and to
put them In a position to explain every
feature OF those measures
The governors physicians are still
obdurate on the matter Of his transac-
tion of public business. though they
have permitted brief conferences once or
twice. The governor is improving Zap
idly: however. and by next week. with
that he will be able to take a more
active part in public affairs.
Expect Bitter Contests.
1t is clear that the session is to be
busy and lively one, and that
the bitterest kind of legislative fights
will be engendered by some of the
questions which are to be settled.
Even now. the questions which Gov.
Ritchie has been trying to avoid and
give 4 subordinate place. are the ones
which are being discussed in An
napolis and throughout the state,
rather than matters Of state admins
tration and judicial reform.
More interest. for instance. was
! manifested in the selection of the
members of the judiciary and tenn
perance committees than any other.
these being bodies which will first con-
slider legislation aimed at race track
gambling and that which has to do with
enforcement Of the eighteenth amend
ment by state agencies. The former
committee has many other important
functions. but itS membership was
scanned as soon as 1t was announced
in order to determine it's attitude to-
I ward race track gambling.
Delegate William p: Hafl Of Baiti-
more city, who shared with Stephen
Gambrili. the floor leader. the repu-
/ tation of being among the strongest
and most active opponents OF the
tracks in public life in the state to-
day, was made chairman OF this com
mittee, and seven Of the eleven other
members are believed to share his
views. ;
On the other hand. Chairman Cook
and five others. the membership be-
ing nine in all, OF the temperance
committee are known to be against
any sort Of legislation on the subject
by Maryland.
Estimate In Disputed.
Opponents OF betting at the tracks
state that the recent estimate of a
majority for a continuance of the
present status is far from accurate.
This forecast was that every member
from Baltimore city. except Mr.. Hall.
oil = ha
del. Baltimore. Prince Georges and
Hartford counties, in which tracks are
situated. would vote against the bill.
1t is pointed out that Holiday Of
Anne Arundel. was a strong opponent
of betting at the last session ant
others from Anne Arundel count,
stand with him. 1t is claimed that
Miss Risteau of Hartford. the only
W oman delegate; two from Baltimore
county, one more from Baltimore cit!
besides Mr.. Hall, and possibly on,
| against the bill. This would cut t.
| pieces the assumed majority in favo
Of race track betting.
President Norris, Of the senate, on,
Of the representatives of Baltimore il
| that body. has made an effort to re
| move the question Of state bonus from
| consideration by the legislature, b.
offering bill for cash bonus to thos
| of the state who served. in the worl'
| war, but with a referendum to tn
voters Of the state. A bill for a bonus
without q referendum, was offered a
the last session and defeated over
whelmingly.
| Bonus Approval Likely.
It is believed that the bill will pas:
It calls for the expenditure of min
millions Of dollars, for which bond
are to be sold. Several tax measure.
to be effective il the bonus is ap
proved, were also offered. They pro
| vide for direct and collateral inner
itance taxes, a tax on gasoline and
poll tax. The last mentioned
coupled with a provision for the sub
mission of constitutional amend
ment, poll tax being contrary to tn
state constitution.