Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-09
LEE STEMS FIGHT
BY |RREGULARS
Threatens Exposure of Lobby
When Organization Meth
DDS Are Hit.
BY WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY.


BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.
staff Correspondent of The Star.
STATEHOUSE, ANNAPOLIS, Md,
January Off to fighting start, the
Maryland Legislature, convened at
o'clock last night, and while the upper
house peacefully met and adjourned,
the House of Delegates, the lower
branch, passed through number OF
sharp SkirmiSheS, during which verbal
fusillade was directed at Speaker E.
Brooke Lee of Montgomery County and
the Democratic regulars. There were
attacks on the methods of the organiza-
ton, sponsored by the insurgents, under
leadership of Daniel c. Joseph of the
Baltimore City delegation and defeated
candidate for speaker
It was clearly evident that the in
surgents who started their attacks at the
first session last week, had not buried
the Ratchet as the result of the show OF
strength by the regular Democratic ma
iority and the trend of the debate in
dicated that the session is likely to be
stormy one, particularly in the lower
branch, where the insurgents are dis
posed to make much of the State
Roads Commission scandal. There also
is expected to be flank attack on the
success of the majority in putting over
the 100000 for park purchase and i'm
provement in Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties at the 1927 session.
Despite several efforts to draw the
regulars into the open and start a fin
iSh fight, the insurgents were again met
with a show of the power of the major
ity when their resolutions were either
tabled or sent to committee. There
was an effort to force Speaker Lee to
take the floor and expose to the House
of Delegates the facts which they al
legged he said he had on so-called
financial lobby which is behind the in
surgent group in the lower house,
Lee Threatens Exposure.
Speaker Lee, during the fight for the
speakerslip, held out threat to the
insurgents that unless they ceased their
attacks on the Richie administration
Prince Georges and Montgomery Coun-
ties he would take the floor and expose
the financial lobby. It was indicated
by those close to the Speaker that he
will voluntarily take the floor and give
to the Legislature and the people of the
State the facts alleged to be in his pos
session, but the regulars are not dis
posed to have the insurgents direct him
to take the floor by resolution. Every
move of the regulars last night was
beset with obstacles which were sue
cessfully surnounted and Squelched
with the efficiency of tractor by the
mere force Of the regular Democratic
majority.
While none of the standing commit
tees of the present session, up to last
night, had been announced, the steer
ing committee, anticipating a fight on
the rules by the Joseph adherentS, held
q meeting prior to the converting Of the
night session and prepared and signed
report recommending that the rules
of the 1927 session be made the rules
of the current session.
Soon after the session was organized
and the routine out of the way, Joseph
took the floor and offered resolution
which would direct that each committee
chairman be required to explain to the
House of Delegates every measure
which is reported favorably to the
House. The new rule, according to
Joseph, would prevent any one from
railroading through any legislation ur1-
til the lower house had been fully in
formed as to its purpose and effect.
Speaker Lee promptly ordered the reso-
luton sent to the committee on rules.
and when Joseph sought to talk on his
resolution. the Speaker informed him
that there was nothing before the
House. Joseph was raped down by the
Speaker, but, not to be souelched SO
easily. he started an attack on the
methods of appointment of committees.
He charged that there was no commit
tee on rules until it was publicly an
nounced from the rostrum. He asked
whether the business of the House was
to be conducted on the floor or in the
newspapers, and alleged that the only
appointment of q rules committee was
in the newspapers. Speaker Lee insisted
that there was rules committee, and
then left the Speakers rostrum and
went to his place with the Montgomery
County delegation and presented the
rules committee report This was
promptly adopted. This was the first
test of the strength, and the regulars
won.
Caucus in Afternoon.
Early in the afternoon the Demo
Gratis held a caucus for the purpose OF
preparing for the appointment of the
employees necessary to carry on the
business of the House. The insurgents
did not attend, and the regulars de-
livered q mild spanking to them BY
offering them Ave out of about forty
appointments to be made, but 1t was
said that they will have to be quick
if they expect to get these.
Speaker Lee at the night session, q:
head of the majority, presented TIT
organization committee report, which
after providing for the special EN-
ployes, also provided for appointment
of certain supplemental employees.
The latter provision brought Joseph Il
his feet to ask Of the Speaker wha
supplemental employees meant, and wa
promptly referred by the Speaker t
the dictionary. Joseph charged tina
| the words supplemental employees
were synonymous with footing of the
treasury"
There has been enough looting of tn,
treasury now, Joseph remarked, and III
and some others in the House wer'
fighting for good government, which HI
alleged could not exist with such pro
visions that would cost the Stat,
several thousands of dollars. He sait
these supplemental employees, when ap
pointed, did nothing, and to make pro
vision for them was nothing more thar
a grab into the treasury of the State
But the report was adopted withou
amendment, IS to Is.
Immediately there was another fianl