The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-01-03
REPRISALS MAY RESULT
FROMORGANIZATIONFIGHT
Lees Election Brings Threats
Delegates Attack Gov. Richie
And His Administration

State House, Annapolis, Nd, Jan.
with stormy sessions showing bit
ter factional strife within the Demo-
cratic House ranks, the 1929 biennial
meeting of the Maryland General AS
sembly convened today, organized,
heard Governor Ritchie's message
and then adjourned until next Tues
day night, without further action.
But the action of organizing the
House furnished the fireworks, and
forecast further dissention in the leg
islation to come. E. Brooke Lee, del
egate from Montgomery county, Sc
lected by the Democratic caucus, min
US members of the recalcitrant bloc,
on Tuesday night was elected speaker
by vote of 81 to the Ia cast for Dan
lei Joseph of Baltimore City. j. ALI
son Wilmer, of Charles county, choice
of the Republican caucus, received the
full IS votes from his party.
Gunter Floor Leader in Senate
While the fight on Mr.. Lees cleo
ton was going on in the House, APP
plause from across the hall told of the
peaceful organization of the upper
house, electing David G. Mcintosh, Of
Baltimore county, president. The Sc
lection was made unanimous on mo-
ton of William A. Gunter, Allegany
county Republican, his party's choice
for the office. He automatically be-
comes floor leader of the minority
party in the senate by the action of
the caucus.
Following the organization in the
House, Mr.. Lee called for suggestions
for committee selections and brought
out a resolution to enlarge the COM
mittee of grand inquest from nine to
thirteen members. This committee
investigates any and all matters that
are placed before it.
Precedent Broken.
'1U Sre fight on Mr.. Lees selection as
; speaker brought bitter exchanges be-
tween his hackers and opponents and
ended in breaking a precedent which
has stood since 1904, when roll call
vote was sought and obtained on the
speakership.
Attack Richie Administration
Mr.. Osborne and Mr.. Lawder, Dem
ocratic members from Hartford coun-
ty, attacked the administration of
Governor Richie and limited at fur
Their Investigations of state depart
ments, resolutions for which he init
mated, might be submitted later in the
session. Mr.. Lawdef attacked the
State Roads Commission and other
scandals and declared that the people
of the state were not yet satisfied
with the inquiry into that body which
has recently been concluded. He was
answered in heated terms by Mr. Ed
munds, who charged that the strife
being manifest was the result of trou-
BILE in the ranks of the Democratic
party in Baltimore City.
Mr.. Joseph and Mr.. Lee then each
took the floor in defense of their can
didacy and Mr.. Joseph called for the
secret ballot, which he said had been
in force since the session of 1904.
Backers of Mr.. Lee demanded the roll
call vote and roll call was forced
on that demand, it passing by a vote
of 68 to 48.
Following the vote on the speaker
ship, Mr. Lee was sworn in as speak
err and the meeting was recessed, but
not without threats of future action
by the group of insurgents in COM
ing legislation.
Both houses met in joint session at
$3.50 and heard Governor Richie read
his message, in which he reviewed
the progress of the state during the
last ten years, since he first took Of
fee and embodying recommendations
for legislation. Included in this legis-
lation which he recommended were
funds for the construction of the first
unit of a state prison, appropriation
of S93O,OO0 for construction work in
conjunction with the University Of
Maryland, and other public building
requiring many other thousands of
dollars.
/, Governor Richie also touched on
the State Roads scandal and the re-
tirement fund for teachers, which he
said prevented the lowering of the
state tax rate for the coming two
wears.