Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-14
new BILL OFFERED
TO KILL BLUE LAW
Baltimore Delegate Intro
duces Measure to Strength
~ en- Previous Ones.

Bythe Associated Press.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, March IA new
blue law abroRation measure, another
seeking an increase in Baltimore City's
representation IN the Senate, two ask
ing revision of the scale of license tax
for automobiles ano regulating the size
of trucks and another oyster conserva-
tion bin found their way into the legis-
lative channels IN one of the shortest
meetings of the session yesterday.
Not q single bill was passed by the
House, though the Senate took flnal
action on a dozen before both Houses
adjourned over the week end until Mon
day night.
New Anti Blue Law.
The new anti-blue law measure was
offered by Delegate D'Alesandro, Bal
timore City, and was designed 20 exempt
Baltimore City amusementS and enter
tai1mentS from the provisions OF the
State law to overcome any question OF
coi1stitutionality in his other measure
and the Michel bill, which already has
passed the House.
The automobile measures Were intro
dueed IN the upper branch by Senator
Mcintosh, Baltimore County. One pro-
vided for a downward revision of the
horsepower tax from 20 to 80 cents and
provided a sliding scale for trucks,
starting at $50 and running to 500 for
1o,O0o-pound vehicles.
In the truck license bill a scale also
was provided to care for the horsepower.
The second bill increased the size Of
trucks, but limited their total weight
and capacity for operation on State
roads. Three inches was added to the
width Of commercial trucks and their
length was limited to IS feet, with any
combination of truck and trailer held
to s5 feet.
To Speed Up Counting Ballots.
A move to speed-up the counting of
ballots after elections was inaugurated
In the House with introduction of a
bill by Delegate RoutSon, Republican,
Carroll County, providing for four
counting clerks for each voting place, to
start their work at noon on the day Of
election.
The counting clerks would be regu-
larry qualified election officials, and
their employment would allow for a
start on the count Of ballots more than
six hours before the polls closed in
many instances.
Delegate Fairbank, Democrat, of Tai
bot County introduced a bill to aid in
the conservation Of oysters in the beds
Of the Choptank River through limiting
length on tong handles to 81 feet and
the weigh of dredges used to 10 pounds
It provided further that the Conserva-
ton Commission erect buoys in the
deep waters of the river where beds
were located and provided penalties for
taking oysters within 800 feet of such
markers.
Deciding of appeals from awards by
the State Industrial Accident Commits
sion on the record and not new testi-
nlony, with clause giving the appellate
body Jurisdiction on questions Of law
and exceeding authority by the COM
mission. was provided in measure in%
troduced by Delegate Lindsay, Balti-
more County, by request. 80
Would Acknowledge God.
Constables would be required to swear
to their belief in God rather than their
religious beliefs with passage of meas
ure introduced by Delegate Gordon, Bal
tirnore City.
A bill offered by Delegate Reynolds,
hibit purchase of raw furs within the
State without license, while another
bill, introduced by Delegates Matthews
and Dyson, Charles County, would au-
thofize q $4,000 bond issue by that
comfy to add high school courses to
the Pomonkey Industrial School.
The House killed, by adopting an lin-
favorable committee report, a resolution
which would have called for an investi-
CATION into the business of automobile
mechanics of the State, with recon-
mendations for laws to cover the bust
ness. 1t was introduced by Delegate
Humn1el, Baltimore City.
The lower body approved favorable
committee report on a bill introduced
by Speaker Michel as an enabling act
for State construction of the new State
penitentiary in Washington County.