Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-04-04
U.OF N. PLAN BEATEN
AS ASSEMBLY ENDS
Curran Bloc Defeats Proposal
to Dissolve Merger
THE ENTIRE BILL LOST
Confusion Marks Sessions Close
Tax Rate Fixed - Flood Relief
Passed Last = Confusion
in House

Annapolis
The General Assembly of Maryland
ended its 1924 session early Tuesday
morning with a congestion of legisla-
tion and confusion among the mem
bers worse than has been the case
for several sessions.
Unless called in extra session the
Legislature will not meet for three
years, the extra-year interim being
due to the fewer-election amendment
adopted two years ago.
In the closing moments of the ses-
sion, Governor Ritchies proposal to
give the University Hospital S50O,O00
on condition that the College Park
unit Of the University of Maryland be
separated from the Baltimore group
Of the institutions activities was de-
feated.
Final action was taken on the bill
fixing the State tax rate for the next
three years,
The defeat of the Governors plan
for aiding the University Hospital
was due to the refusal of the Curran
bloc to agree to the separation pro
posal.
Amendments sent down by the Gov
ernor to increase the 100000 pro-
vided in the bill he submitted last
week to s500,000 were adopted with
out division. Senator Curran then
offered an amendment to strike out
the separation condition and make
the donation OF the 100000 condi
tional upon the hospital securing
s5O0.O00 from other sources.
This was adopted by the following
vote Yeas; Adkins. cantwell. Cham
bers, Colgan. Curran, Fox, Harrison,
Harry, Levin, Norwood. Parran, Robb,
Roe, sasscer, Towers, Wade. Total
16.
Nays: President Mcintosh, Byrn,
Copper. Frick. Gambrill, Hesson.
Jones, Lankford. Mccullough, Nc
Daniel. Mitchell, Peverly, Strange.
Total 1s
It transpired, however, that the bill
as amended could not be passed be-
cause 1t was neither printed nor en-
crossed. Mr.. Curran tried to make
an arrangement by which it could be
sent 70 the House and voted upon
while the Senate was having it en-
crossed. but President Mcintosh said
he could not assume what action the
House would take. Senator Frick
pointed out that the Constitution
plainly directs that bill must either
be engrossed or printed before it can
be passed.
Curran then moved to suspend the
rules and put the bill on passage, al
though Senator Frick said 1t could
accomplish nothing. President Me-
Intosh put the question anyway and
the vote was Is to 10, Senator Sass
Ger changing from aye to no. The
bill then was dead. as it could not be
passed in any form without suspen-
sion, which would require 20 votes.
The State Tax Rate bill was passed
with slight amendment providing
for the payment of interest and sink
ing fund of the $4,000 given to re-
move the fire risks at the University
of Maryland
The rates, as established for the
three-year period, follow: 1925, 81 Is
cents; 1926, q IA cents; 1927, q II
cents
The bill as introduced made the
rate 27 1-s cents. for 1926 and 27 Is
cents for each of the years 1926 and
1927
Senator Robb's bill to appropriate
$4,000 to repair flood damages TO
Cumberland streets was the very last
measure to be acted upon, being re-
ceived in the Senate as passed by the
House.
President Mcintosh. upon miiourn-
ing the Senate. said that the pledges
Of economy had been fulfilled.
In the mad rush of legislation
strange trick was played on the bill
increasing the salary of the states
Attorney OF Baltimore City to s7,500,
and corresponding raises for his depu-
ties and assistants.
The bill was Senate Bill No. 90.
But Bill No. 90 as it was passed pro-
vides for the curing Of mosquito
nuisances In Maryland
Bill No. SO was passed by the Sen
ate on February 26 and on February
27 was referred to the Judiciary Com
mxtee of the House. Chairman
Joseph, Of that committee. explained
that it was dead" as it had been
found that constitutional amend
ment was necessary to change the
States Attorneys salary.
The Mosquito bin then was tackled
onto it as an amendment in order to
escape the constitutional prohibition
against new measures being intro
duced within 10 days of the end of
the session.
The closing hours of the House ses-
sion were marked especially by con
fusion. Bills were in a jam and mem
bers aud lobbyists were crowded
around the reading clerks desk try