Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-24
MARYLAND PROBE
MEETS OPPOSITION
Legislative Investigation Is
Blocked by Floor
Leader Wilmer.
By staff Correspondent of The Star.

By STAFF Correspondent of The Star.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, January "a
Prompt investigation by joint grand
inquest committee of the Senate and
House of Delegates of the Maryland
General Assembly of the State roads
scandal was successfully blocked, for
a time at least, this afternoon when
Republican Floor Leader Joseph Will
mer of Charles County voiced opposi-
ton to immediate consideration of the
Senate resolution providing for a join
ing of the committees of both houses.
The grand inquest committee had
reported the Senate resolution provid-
ing for a joint committee and had
asked for a suspension of the rules so
that 1t could be passed immediately.
Mr.. Wilmer took the floor and adj
dressed the House for nearly an hour.
He charged that the plan of voting in
the committee by giving House men,
bers only one-third vote as against
fun vote for Senate members was a
surrender by the House of Delegates
of the rights of its members as repre-
sentatives of the people of Maryland.
He bitterly attacked the Senate men,
bership Of the committee, pointing out
that only one of the five members was
Republican.
Mr.. Wilmer said that human nature
would prevent full and complete in
vestigation of the State road scandal
under this makeup. He charged that
there could not be any real investiga-
ton. He said the Democrats back
home. more than the Republicans. who
are doing a little chuckling. are ask
ing what their body is doing to in
veStigate the State roads scandal.
Delegate Dan c. Joseph of Baltimore
City, inSurgent leader. at this time came
to the defense of the administration
forces and asked for support for the
motion to suspend the rules so that the
investigation may be gotten under way
promptly.
Assurances that any one found guilty
of violation of the law during the legis-
lative investigation would be promptly
put in Jail were given by James j.
Lindsay, minority floor leader, Baltimore
County.
Later in the debate Speaker Lee
found it necessary to call Delegate Will
mer to order for criticizing a member
OF the Senate when he charged that a
member of the Senate committee was
himself interested in road-eXtension
contracts.
Delegate Michel of Baltimore City
told MIR. Wilmer that he was blocking
the investigation because of his fear
that some members of his own party
would be caught in the legislative in
vestigating net.
Before the final vote was taken.
Speaker Lee explained that he had ap-
pointed on the grand inquest commit
tee Republicans in larger proportion
than that which the people of Mary
land thought fit to send to the House
of Delegates. He told the House that
at any time he became satisfied that
the investigation was not being con-
Quoted thoroughly he would entertain
from the floor and would vote for a
motion for the House to separate from
the Senate and conduct its own inves-
tigation.
The motion to suspend the rules was
lost by SO to Is, which did not give
administration forces the requisite two
thirds vote to suspend the rules re-
quired by the State constitution. The
resolution will now have to lay over
until Monday night.