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erence from the committee on the militia to the commit-
tee on the legislative department, the order was adopted.
The reports of the committee upon the legislative de-
partment and of the committee upon a proper basis of
representation in the two houses of the General Assembly,
and a proper apportionment of representatives in the
same, were taken up on their third reading, and certain
verbal amendment reported by the committee on revision
and compilation were agreed to.
The committee also reported in favor of the transpo-
sition of certain sections, consolidating the two articles,
which were agreed to.
Mr. Barnes asked to open the legislative article to an
amendment providing that the Legislature shall provide
by law for State and municipal taxation upon the revenue
accruing in the State of Maryland from business done by
foreign corporations.
Mr. Barnes said every citizen of the State was taxed
largely, and yet there were immense foreign corporations
doing business in the State, some of them not even pay-
ing a license. The business of the Adams Express Com-
pany in Maryland was said to amount to millions, the
Western Union Telegraph also did a large business, as
also many foreign insurance companies, and it was but
sheer justice that these corporations which were deriv-
ing such handsome revenues from the people of the State
should contribute towards the support of the government.
The committee on revision and compilation recommend-
ed to strike the following section from the report, on the
ground that it would be useless surplusage:
"The legal rate of interest shall be six per cent, per
annum, unless otherwise provided by the General As-
sembly. "
After considerable debate the motion to strike out was
disagreed to.
Mr. Marbury asked to strike out the 37th section, pro-
viding that the General Assembly shall pass no law mak-
ing compensation for emancipated slaves, &c. Mr. Mar-
bury said the retention of this section would very much
embarrass the friends of the constitution, who would re-
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