The Washington times., 1922-03-12
h|ARY[ANDDRY
FIGHT To CONE
| UP IN SENATE
Fate Of Moral Issues" viii
Depend on Action Of
Upper Body.
HOUSE voTE SURPRISING
State viii Lose 500, 900 An
nuaIIy If Anti-Racing
Bill Passes.

AANNAT obAoS mdICn H. Nc
zone Of active operations as to
Maryland legislation has been
transferred during the present
week from the house Of dele
gates, the popular branch, to the
senate. State enforcement of
the eighteenth amendment, aboli-
tion of race-track gambling
licensed by the State, the reor-
ganization Of the public service
and the gasoline tax, coupled with
the expansion of the State road
system, have all been fought out
and won in the lower branch, and
the finak fight is to be made in
the smaller body.
House Vote Surprising.
The surprise OF the session con-
unues to be the overwhelming vote
by which the moral movements
State enforcement OF prohibition and
ruce-track gambling inhibition--were
carried through the lower house.
Men experienced In influencing legis-
tation at Annapolis were swept off
their feet. and while some of them
feared defeat by a close vote. not
2fle dreamed Of the three-to-one vote
~ which the arrangement between
.he State and the tracks was over
whelmed.
Neither Is there any great hope
ef. retrieving their position through
.he action of the senate or Governor
1tftchte. The latter has made no re-
cent declaration, but every sign In
dicates that he will not think of re-
2udiating his announced position,
that OF signing any bill on the sub
sect OF enforcement or against race
track gambling that is passed by the
iegislature. The overwhelming vote
IN the branch of the legislature most
recently selected as q whole, is un-
derstood to be convincing to the gov
ernor, and there Is every reason to
believe that he will sign such bills
on the subject as are presented to
aim.
Many hold the view the Governor
Ritchie would like to see the senate
attach a referendum amendment to
the enforcement bill and also to de-
feat the anti-race track bill alto
gether on the ground that the reve-
nue. Ia absolutely needed by the
state. However. there is no indica-
tion that he is taking active steps
to this end.
Pruning Expense Bills.
There is every reason to believe
that the leaders in public affairs In
Maryland have accepted the view
that the State win lose annually the
500, 900 which the race tracks con.
tribute under the present arrange
ment. A very strong indication OF
l. L. IL
department Of the State and the
tion TO q general pruning of the ex-
penditures outlined by bills intro
duced during the present session,
based upon the expected receipt Of
this sum. Various suggestions have
been made as to the curtailing of ex-
penses.
One suggestion has been that there
be. q general cut In salaries Of State
officers. It may be. also, that the
ambitious scheme OF road public
building construction VIII not be
carried out completely. Though
Governor 'Ritchie and his close
friends had been extremely desirous
OF carrying out these plans, IL Is
understood that he Is reconciled to
the changed condition and will "cut
his coat to his cloth"
II fs also possible that q sum Of
$500, 900, to be obtained from the
sale OF the lot in Baltimore City
obtained for the erection OF m
armony for the Fourth Regiment,
not now in existence, may not be
expended on other armories, as con-
templated, but be devoted to partial
ly making up the losses In expected
revenue.
The opponents Of the State enforce
ment Of prohibition will bend their
energies toward attaching a referen-
dunn amendment to the bill in the