The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-02-12
BLUE LAW REFORM BILL
INTRODUCED In HOUSE
Would Give Local Sections the
Power To Decide Sunday
Amusement Question
CHANGES IN AUTO LAWS

Annapolis, Nd, Feb. 1.-THE long
awaited Blue Law bill, giving to the
local legislative bodies of the State
power to decide the Sunday question
for themselves, was introduced in the
House of Delegates today by Speaker
Francis A. Michel, in company with
several other measures of Statewide
import.
In one of these measures, increased
representation for Baltimore City on
the Court of Appeals bench is sought
by Delegate Alexander Goodman of
the fourth district through an increase
of the court membership by two. Last
week he introduced bill asking for
two additional State senators and II
additional members of the House from
the city.
Under the measure introduced to-
day the Court of Appeals would be
increased from eight to ten members,
the two new ones to come from the
Supreme Bench of Baltimore City.
Senate Wrangles Over Judges
These and several automobile regu-
lation measures and the approach to
passage of an appeal for immediate
cash aid to veterans marked the ses-
sion in the lower branch before ad-
iournment until tomorrow.
The Senate spent practically its
entire session in wrangle over the
extension of the retirement time of
judges past the constitutional age Of
70.
Under one measure, introduced by
Delegate William I. Norris, Jr., Of
Baltimore City, a fiat rate would be
paid for motor vehicle license taxes
on a downward revision of the exist
ing scale.
Would Change Automobile Laws
= NCn all vehicles under class A pleas
ure automobiles and those for hire, a
reduction from the 80 cents per horse-
power to a fiat rate of 81 per year
would be charged. Class c, motorcy-
cles and bicycles with motor attach
ments, would pay So for each license
plate rather than the flat sum they
now pay for operation.
Raising of the speed limits for mo-
tor vehicles on State highways was
provided for in a measure introduced
by Delegate Robert Benjamin, of Bal
timore City. The limits would re-
main the same in the cities and towns
where it is set low for safety.
In the rural districts, where the
speed laws now are IS or 40 miles
per hour, they would be increased to
40 and 45 miles.
A third automobile measure was
offered by Delegate Milton Tolle, OF
Baltimore county, requiring that all
liens and mortgages on motor vehi-
cles be filed in the office of the Com
missioner of Motor Vehicles in Bal
timore, rather than be scattered in
each of the counties and recorded in
the offices of the clerks of the courts.
All the proposed motor laws were
sent to the Judiciary committee for
consideration.
Fix Responsibility For Fires
Owners of property on which they
start fires to clear brush and stubble
would be made responsible for dam
age to other property through spread
of the flames, in measure introduced
by Delegate Charles Carroll, of How
ard county.
Additional aid was asked for agri-
culture in a measure dropped into
the House hopper by Delegate Philip
Miller, of Washington county.
By the Miller measure, all live stock
used in farming and all farm machin-
cry would be exempted from taxation
to the total of $1,000. The small far
mer, Mr.. Miller said, who has little
equipment, would be the chief benefi-
ciary.
Local Measure introduced
In the House on Tuesday meas
ure, introduced by the Garrett dele
cation seeks to revise and increase
fees for constables serving in Garrett