Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-01
ALMONEy HONORED
BY LEGISLATURE
-------
Silver Service Presented
Chief Clerk at Joint
Session.
Nv = Star correspondent Of The star.

By stan Correspondent of The star.
ANNAPOLIS, Nd, April Mont
gomery County's veteran chief clerk
and parliamentarian of the lower
house OF the Maryland General Assem-
bly,, Albert J. Almoney of Rockville.
was rendered a high honor yesterday
when the Senate and House of Dele
gates met in joint session. and with
the States chief executive, Gov. Albert
G.. Richie, on the rostrum beside
Speaker E. Brooke Lee of Silver
Spring, Montgomery County. and ne
was presented with handsome SILVER
service.
Veterans around the State Capitol
could not recall a joint session OF the
two houses ever having been called
for such a purpose before. Mr.. Al
money has beer serving the State
LEGISLATURES in this position for more
than % years, during which he had
endeared himself to legislators of both
parties The presentation was made
by former United States Senator Blair
Lee of Silver Spring, father of the
Speaker of the present House, who
had served in the Maryland Legisla-
ture when Mr.. Almoney was just
starting in.
Joint Session Arranged.
Immediately after the passage of the
gasoline tax bill. Majority Floor Leader
James J. Lindsay, jr., moved that the
House resolve itself into a joint session
with the Senate for a most unusual
ceremony. Speaker Lee appointed Mr..
Lindsay and J. Milton Patterson of
Cumberland, minority floor leader, to
escort the members of the Senate to
the House chamber. Delegates Louis
Mel. Merryman of Sparks, Baltimore
County, Democrat, and Joseph Allison
Wilmer, Republican, of Faulkner,
Charles County, were appointed COM
mittee to escort the governor to the
chamber,
Speaker Lee called to the rostrum
and seated on his left his father, Sem
ator Lee, and United States Senator
Willard E. Tydings of Maryland On
his right were Gov. Ritichie and David
G. Mcintosh, jr., of Baltimore County,
President of the Senate. AS soon as
the two houses had organized Speaker
Lee surrendered the gayel to President
Mcintosh, who called the session to
order, and then presented Senator Lee
after Chief Clerk Almoney had been
escorted before the rostrum by the
sergeant-at-arms.
ledrS III veterans Eyes.
There were visible tears in the
veterans eyes as he walked with
faltering step down the long aisle of
the House. which was crowded with
Capitol attaches, and with galleries
packed.
1T is unusual in the history of any
man to act for two or more Legisla-
lures as controller of the destinies of
two houses as parliamentarian and
to make friends of his friends and
friends of his enemies. To do this
with the humane hand and with fair
ness to all is great privilege. The
fact that he comes from Montgomery
County makes this event a double
pleasure, and ii is an unusual expert.
ence for man to have.
Legislatures change continued
the Senator, 'and human nature
changes, yet through it all / have
found Mr.. Almoney's universal con-
sideration and good will toward all
men. 1t gives me great pleasure to
make this presentation to him"
Mr.. Almoney was standing at the
desk, shifting before the hundreds of
eyes focused on him, and he hesitated
Tor moment. before he attempted to
speak, with a faltering voice which
indicated that he was almost over
whelmed
While / have always received the
kindest treatment from the members
of all Legislatures, he said, 'at no
session have l received so much in.
dulgent consideration as at the pres
emit. take great pride in accepting
this testimonial"
There was hush for a moment. as
auditors could hardly hear the veteran
employe, when the entire assemblage
broke out into cheers. and applause
that lasted several minutes, until the
gavel fell to announce the adjourn.
ment of the joint session.
The silver service was the present
or the members of the House of Dele
gates and the attaches.