The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-01-03

be able to get these bills through
without the cooperation of his brother
Senators from the city. Some of
these may be interested in getting ap-
pointments for their friends. But pos
sibly the Governor, who vetoed such
bills once, may sign them this time,
realizing that they will not effect his
power as he is at the end of his rope
in Maryland.
Two years ago these Colgan bills
were passed through the Senate sec
ond time bat when they went to the
House of Delegates they stuck in
committee. The committee in which
they stuck was appointed by Speaker
Brooke Lee. He knew the Governor
did not want them passed. The "ob-
lection" to these bills is well known.
1t is that once the appointments get
into the Senate for confirmation the
politicians may take a hand. This
would be annoying to the Governor
who is not a politician, having grad
uated into the statesman class.
Those Bills Receivable
Still Mystery
The great mystery of the present
and that $4,000 audit of the State
Roads Commissions accounts is the
S250,O00 of bills receivable. Nobody
attempts to give an explanation. The
daily papers leave the question alone
as though it might be poison. Even
the Scrippspost which for several
days manifested activity passes it up.
I ask why this fear of the bills re-
ceivable? Surely none of this money
is due by the newspapers. Certainly
none of the newspaper reporters got
the benefit of the State Purchasing
Agency run under the noses of the
Roads Commission and got goods for
which they have not paid.
The time was when the daily papers
would quickly have dug out those
"bills receivable" But times have
changed Nobody wants to know any
thing about the bills receivable. Any
way, they're only $250,000. And
what's that?
Ferries, Bridges
Seems like when one gets a thing
fixed it doesn't stay fixed. Take the
case or cases of those State subsidized
Chesapeak Bay ferries.
That Clairborne-Annapolis ferry in
which Ex-Governor Harrington and
State Treasurer Dennis have invested
some ducats, has a fine new boat in
the water when along comes the
Stuart Janney Chesapeake Bay bridge
which is soon to be started, if all goes
as we'll as planned. This bridge will
knock the Observation-Disclosures sub
sidized ferry galley west and also
take something from the Harrington
Dennis ferry.
Now a meeting has been held at
Cambridge to organize still another
ferry. 1t is to run from Dorchester
shore to point in Lower Anne Arun-
del County. This, presumably, will
take some trade from the Annapolis
Claiborne ferry. Then another group,
now supposed to be squelched, has
been talking of establishing a ferry
between Sandy Point and Kent Island
All this transportation sounds fine
but we would like to know where all
the people are to be found to trans
port The Eastern Shore popula-
ton does not grow as rapidly as the
population of Chicago.
Grand Jury Grapples
With the Roads Scandal
The Grand Jury of Baltimore City
has evidently been doing its best to
find out something more about the
looting of the State Roads Commits
sion but it seems to have made slow
progress. Evidently the special aud
itors gave the jury too many figures.
When the case first started last win
ter on the basis of the investigation
made by the State Auditor there was
quick work. Now there seems to be a
great deal of fog.
Of course, if there are to be fur
there prosecutions the Grand Jury is
the body to start the proceeding. But
the fact remains that in such case as
is presented by the road frauds the
Grand Jury is not the body to make
a full inquiry. 1t has too much other
work to do.
Meanwhile there is Governor Ritch-
les advisory" committee composed
of three eminent business men. The
Governor has asked them to inquire
into the legality of the road building
contracts, and Lawyer Richard B. Tip
petit has volunteered to help if he is
not hampered by restrictions. This
committee, I understand, has ceased
it's activities because of the Grand
Jury inquiry. The Grand Jury is to
go out in few days. Then perhaps
we will hear from the Governors
committee and Mr.. Tippett. There
should be interesting sessions with
Edwin G. Baetjer, one of the leaders
Of the local bar, assisting the COM