The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-03-12
HOUSE PASSES HOME RULE
BILL ON STATE BLUE LAWS
Michel Measure, Adopted Tues
day By 71-TO-42 Vote, Sent
To The Senate
GARRETT COUNTY EXEMPT

Annapolis, March 1U-Ihe House
sent the Sunday amusement and sales
question to the Senate this Afternoon
after approving the Michel bill, pro-
posing local option on blue laws fol
the various counties, towns and cities
by a vote Of II to AZ.
Possibility that the measure, de-
signed primarily to give Baltimore
Sunday motion pictures, may be
amended in the Senate was talked OF
Immediately after the House had
acted.
The House vote ended bitter fight
between opponents and proponents OF
the measure in which two dissenting
members of the Baltimore city delega-
ton of thirty-six lined up with the
opponents.
Validity Questioned
During the roll call on the bill
Delegate Gorfne, Baltimore, who
stated at the outset in explaining his
vote that he was mot against any
legislation which would tend to liber-
alize the observance of Sunday" rails
ed the question of the measures con-
stitutionality.
It will be to obviate any possibility
of the measures validity being over
thrown by the courts that the amend.
ments will be made in the Senate, il
such course is pursued. Informal
polls of the Senate roster, made by
persons interested in the Sunday leg
islation and from a political stand
point, place the number Of votes in
favor of home rule of the question
between II and 10. Fifteen votes are
necessary to pass the bill.
Eleven Counties Exempted
The Michel measure would add g
new section to the public General
Laws of the State authorizing Coun-
ty Commissioners, the Mayor and City
Council of Baltimore and the legisla.
tive bodies of cities and towns of six
thousand or more population to sci
the regulations for Sabbath amuse.
ments and sales.
On introducing the bill the Speaker
declared that home rule was the aim
Of the proposal and eleven counties
Baltimore, Garrett, Montgomery
Prince Georges Cecil, Hartford, Car
roll, Washington, Frederick, Talbot
and Dorchester-were exempted from
it's provisions by amendments. The
delegation from Allegany was equally
divided on the question and the House
declined to sustain an amendment tc
grant it's exemption.
Advocate Amendment
Opponents of the bill declared dur.
ing hearings that the measure was not
constitutional because the Constitu-
ton of the State declares that the
General Assembly has not power to
delegate it's authority to a lesser law
making body, the exact language OF
Section 33 of Article 8, being in part
that, "The General Assembly shall
pass no special law for any case fol-
which provision has been made by an
existing law"
Those who advocate amendment OF
the present bill in the Senate favor
the repeal and reenactment of the
entire section of the law dealing with
Sabbath observance and its reenact-
ment with provisions exempting Bal
timore city and any county so de-
string and placing the regulations in
the hands of local governing bodies
with any limitations deemed desirable
by the General Assembly.
Those Who Spoke
Delegate Popp, Allegany, when the
Michel bill was.called up, pleaded that
the measure be voted down and was
supported by Delegates Convey, Bal
timore; Benson, Baltimore; Cullers
Garrett, and A. William Murphy, of
Dorchester. Delegates Dawson, Mont
gomery; Alexander, Baltimore county;
E. W. Miller, Washington; Galbreath
Continued on Page Four)