The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1929-01-10
UNWRITTEN CUSTOMS AND
RULES ARE OBSERVED
Maryland Legislatures Proceed
ure Is About The Same Since
it's First Session in 1776
(From The Marylander.)

close OF the session of the General
Assembly, but the sixty days passed,
and, as those who are familiar with
the habits and customs which have
prevailed at Annapolis since the or
ganization of the State, expected
would be the case, so far from being
ready to adjourn, less than one-fourth
of the work was actually started on
its way, and the usual jam took place
during the last few days, and the last
night of the term, on Monday, April
A, found the sergeant-at-arms turn
ing back the clocks of the two houses
to prolong the legislative day beyond
midnight, which is the constitutional
hour for the end of business.
Does Things In Its Own Way.
The legislature has it's own way of
doing things-and it does them in it's
own time-honored ways, no matter
what may be the views of newspaper
writer's and general run of citizens.
1t may change certain of its writ
ten rules of procedure from time to
time in unimportant particulars, the
whole membership may change, but
there are certain unwritten rules and
customs which have not changed since
the first session, after the adoption of
the constitution of 1776.
And no matter what may be the
criticism from newspapers, bodies of
citizens or individuals, the same old
customs are followed and the outcome
is always about the same, for when
the members of the two Houses are
gathered together at Annapolis,
whether the control is in the power of
one party or the other, in all impor-
tant particulars, the outcome is about
the same, and the State goes on in
it's old-fashioned, peaceful way, the
government averages about as usual,
and the prosperity of the whole people
of Maryland has never declined, but
slowly and surely has continued to in
crease, from the foundation of the
colony to the present time.
Whether those in control in the old
en- times were Wings, Federalists, or
Democrats, and in these later days,
Democrats or Republicans, the peace,
progress and prosperity, scarcely ever
varied, and a spirit of conservative
justice, decency, and honesty pre-
vailed and still prevails from the
mountains to the sea, and from the
Mason and Dixon line to the borders
and waters of Virginia.
Throughout the entire three CEN
turtles of her existence as colony and
later as a State, the commonwealth
has been noted for her conservative
policies, and for the conservative
spirit evident in those who have been
entrusted with her government, and,
as a result, peace and prosperity,
truth and justice, religion and piety,'
have, as a general thing, prevailed in
all her borders.
From time to time during the hun
bred and fifty years of her history as
a State, there have been threatened
outbreaks of radicalism, sections Of
popular sentiment have appeared
dangerous to the peace and well-being
of the people, but when the General
Assembly has convened after an cleo
ton held at such intervals, the normal
conservative record has been followed
and no signs or traces of radicalism
have left the slightest vestige in the
legislation enacted.
The laws which have been placed on
the books have been of the same safe
and sane character as all those which
have gone through the test of the Cen
eral Assembly since the colony be-
came a sovereign state, and in the end
all have been satisfied.
COnOwingo Under Control of Mary
land Laws.
And, despite all the warnings and
prophesies of changes and unfortun-
ate enactments, despite all the fears
of evil and dangerous legislation, des-
pite all the forebodings of the extrav-
agance and waste, this Legislature will
doubtless pass it's time without any
really dangerous signs or tendencies
of any sort. The oyster fisheries, as
well as all other fishing and tide
water privileges, will remain subject
to the riparian rights of those who
dwell on the shores of the bays and in
lets of the State; there will be no
reckless expenditures of the public
funds, Conowingo will remain under
the control of Maryland laws, the pub
lie highways will continue to be i'm
proved, the Sunday laws will remain
as they are, the State Prohibition laws
will keep on being enforced in the
mild and not drastic manner the mas
ses of the people prefer, and when the
final adjournment takes place, at mid
night on April l, the population of the
commonwealth will find everything
going on as it has always been going
on and there will be satisfaction evil
dent on the faces of all, except pos