The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-03-04
MARYLAND LEGISLATURE

! The Joint resolution requesting
Congress to enact legislation per
hitting the States to determine the
percentage of alcohol which may be
contained in Notwithstanding bever
ages was passed in the House
Wednesday by vote of "a to At.
The bill had failed to pass for want
of constitutional majority Tues
day Many members of the Balti
more city delegation who were
absent Tuesday were in their seats
Wednesday, under pressure of the
Baltimore whiskey ring, when the
bill was brought out.
Speaker Lee voted with the vets
Many Eastern Shore members and
representatives of western counties
lined up with the drys.
The Republicans having lost thei
move to have an Investigation made
of the States grant to the Susque
hanna Power Company, the Demo
Gratis in the Legislature Wednesda!
started to play with it. Anothe,
bill to alter the charter of tho
company so that power generated
at Conowingo can be brought to
Baltimore was introduced in the
House by Delegate Charles w
Grant, chairman of the Baltimore
City delegation A similar bill haf
been before the House several
weeks.
| Grants action was taken to in
dicate that if the present Legislature
does anything to the charter, as il
effects Baltimore City, the Demo
Gratis will have the credit of bring
ing about the cnange.
The Senate committee on thu
Chesapeake Bay Wednesday reported
out the various oyster conservation
measures, with amendments, elm
mating many of the original features
of the bill, which caused widespread
objection The bills, with favorable
reports, were made the special orde'
for consideration Tuesday March l
The legislation, with the amend
ments, is the compromise agreed or
between Governor Richie and repre-
sentatives of the tidewater counties
and eliminates the clause that woul6
have set aside 10000 acres of the
bay for private planting.
The amendments reduce the size
of culled oysters, shorten the season
for the bivalves and increase the
tax per bushel. They also provide
for confiscation Of 10 per cent of
shells from packing houses for re
planting purposes. The bill limiting,
the size of dredges was unfavorably
reported.
Announcement made by Governo'
Albert C. Richie of a modification
4 OF the recommendation in hi
message concerning the proposed ta
on gasoline is expected to aid tho
passage of the lateral roads ia
through the Legislature, provided
amendments are framed and intro
duced to carry the Governors view
into effect. The Governor said his
suggestions were made to express
his belief that the bill as drawn is
not fair to certain extensive opera
tors of motor vehicles which seldom
use lateral roads.
| Proponents Of the tax for latera
/ 81 n
put it through both houses. This is
denied by opponents Of the meas
ure, who claim the Republicans, or
majority of them, will go with the
Senate and House to defeat the
administration program. A few
county members, also, are men.
toned as being against an increase
in the tax.
Provision for tax vi five per
cent on the gross sums wageFed or
pari-mutuel betting machines at rae
tracks, the proceeds to be used for
the elimination OF grade crossings
and the construction of lateral
roads. is made in bill introduced in
the House by Paul Berman, Fourth
Legislative district. The biii is
to become effective in June, 1927.
| MIR. Berman said there were
$50, 900 wagered in the ma
chimes last year and that the tax
he proposed should bring s2,5e0,0 600
to the State Treasury.