Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-09

Speaker Lee, when Delegate Paul Ber-
man of the Baltimore City delegation
offered a lengthy resolution, and asked
immediate consideration, which would
direct Speaker Lee to take the floor of
the House and disclose to the delegates
all the information in his possession
about the alleged financial lobby which
was using money to have passed or pre-
vent the passage of certain legislation
which is to come up for consideration.
Berman pointed out that the speaker,
January 2. told the House that he had
certain information of this kind in his
pose those being supported by this al
legged financial lobby. The Baltimore
City delegate said that if the speaker
had such information he was In duty
bound as delegate to expose 1t to the
House and the people of the State, so
that the lower body could take prompt
action. The charges have been made
generally, Berman continued, and the
people OF the State believe that such
lobby exists, and they have q right
to know the details. The charges, he
said, were not made in the heat of
debate, but were coolly and calmly made
on the floor by the speaker. He told
the delegates that they owed a duty to
their constituents to vote for the i'm
mediate passage of his resolution. be-
cause punishment should be melted out
promptly to those engaged in such
work. If the charges are true.
Delegate Merryman of Baltimore
County, a regular, moved that the reso-
luton be tabled. Berman demanded a
roll call. but failed to get even the
support OF his own delegation for the
requisite five to stand with him in de-
manding the call. The resolution was
tabled by viva voce vote.
AT this point the House recessed for IS
minutes, on motion OF Delegate Michels
or Baltimore City, to permit the dele
CATION to organize.
upon converting the report was pre-.
sented, naming Alfred e. Phelps as
chairman of the delegation, and il was
promptly ordered spread on the min
utes and journalized. Delegate joseph
sought to attack this, but was ruled
down by the speaker, as there was moth
ing before the House. Joseph insisted
on talking. but was repeatedly ruled
down, until Delegate Fred Coburn of
Hartford County moved that the report
be not received and be not journalfzed.
Joseph. then attacked the report.
charging that 1t was not the report
OF the majority of the Baltimore dele
CATION. but only group of the regu-
lars. He said the House could not re-
ceiye such a report. Speaker Lee said
That the House as body had nothing to
do with the troubles in the delegation.
but Joseph still insisted that the House
had not even the right to receive the
report If it was not from the majority.
COburn Motion Defeated.
But Delegate Michel said that the
delegation had met, and had given
notice to the insurgents, as they had
before invited them to repeated cau-
cuses and meetings. If they did not
see fit to attend, then the business of
the House could not await upon them.
Joseph expressed the hope that the re-
port would not be received until the
whole delegation got together. Coburn's
motion was lost by 80 to SO.
Delegate Lindsay of Baltimore County,
majority leader, then took the floor on
question of personal privilege, to answer
certain attacks made in newspapers by
Delegate Joseph. and dealing particu-
larry with the alleged railroading of
the teachers retirement bill at the last
session. It was to prevent the passage
Of legislation in this matter, that Joseph
sought to put over his amendment to
the rules. Joseph had charged, accord
ing to the clipping read by Lindsay,
that no one in the House knew what
the measure would cost, and that the
heaviest expense had been saddled on
Baltimore City. Lindsay said that he
could not be held responsible because
the delegates of the House did not see
fit to study legislation and acquaint
II &c rNyyl0f hat
they voted on it, as the bills were all
printed and were on the members desks
in ample time for them to make a
study.
Rising to answer, Lindsay joseph
warned that if his resolution amend
ing the rules was not adopted. the
delegates would awaken at the end of
the next session to find that they had
passed legislation, the full purport and
effect of which would not be known or
could not be known under the railroad
ing methods usually followed at the
end of the session. Speaker Lee, from
the rostrum, said that there was no
legislative jam at the end Of the last
session, and there was ample time for
the study of all legislation and for
debate on 1t.
After full evening of attacks of this
kind, during which the regulars were
satisfied that they had lost none of
their strength, the House adjourned
until this afternoon. After brief
session today adjournment will be
taken until next Tuesday night at 8
o'clock, to give opportunity for the
members to prepare bills and for COM
mittees to be organized and announced
and act on such legislation as has been
introduced, including a number of ad-